Are you a current or former smoker with COPD?
Asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis are grouped together as obstructive lung diseases. While each of these three lung disorders has its own characteristics, all cause difficulty when exhaling. As a group, they cause the small airways of the lungs to become narrowed, resulting in reduced air flow through your lungs.
Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are often lumped together as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD. Smoking is the most common cause of COPD. Persons with chronic bronchitis have more cough and phlegm production than those with emphysema. Therapies for COPD include those utilized in asthma, as well as other medications to thin bronchial secretions.