Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, is a major contributor to deaths worldwide (Olendorf, 1999). What causes it to be one of the leading causes of death worldwide? The goal of this article is to address the disease COPD and evaluate research studies related to this disease. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease affects nearly sixteen million people in the United States alone (Olendorf, 1999). It is also a broad name for other related diseases, such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema (Olendorf, 1999). Background COPD is defined as breathing difficulty caused by irreversible damage to the lungs (Olendorf, 1999). The damage that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease causes to the lungs cannot be reversed (Mayo, 2010). Chronic bronchitis is a type of COPD that inflames the bronchi; which are tubes that carry air to the lungs (Essig, 2008). This produces large amounts of mucus and causes excessive coughing (Essig, 2008). Emphysema causes inflammation in the alveoli; which are tiny air sacs in the lung (Mayo, 2010). This can destroy many resilient walls and fibers, restricting the air that can reach the lungs (Mayo, 2010). Description of the disease: pathophysiology, signs and symptoms Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease develops over time (Editorial Staff, 2010). Cigarette smoking is the leading and number one cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Mayo, 2010). Long-term smokers are more likely to develop this disease (Essig, 2008). Other less common irritants can cause COPD, such as secondhand smoke (Mayo, 2010). Exposure to chemicals and gases in the work environment and, in rare cases, a genetic defect can also be a cause (Ex....... middle of paper ...... & Boyden, K. ( 1999). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine (Vols. 2 CF, pp. 719-722) Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Research emergency care for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Alberta: a population-based study, Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine, 12, 6. P.500 (9), 2010, from General OneFile via Gale: http://find.galegroup .com/8 Schriber, A. (2009, October 9. Retrieved November 15, 2010, from http://www.nlm .nih.gov9. Voelker, R. (2007). New tool helps primary care physicians in diagnosis and in the treatment of COPD, The Journal of the American Medical Association, 298(24), 2855-2856. ama-assn.org/