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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of lung diseases that make it harder to breathe over time. It's also sometimes called chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD) or chronic obstructive airway disease (COAD).

People with COPD often have symptoms like feeling short of breath and coughing a lot, especially coughing up phlegm (mucus). The main cause of COPD is usually smoking cigarettes. About half of people who smoke for their whole lives will get COPD. Air pollution can also cause it, especially in places where people use indoor fires without good ventilation.

At first, you might only notice difficulty breathing when you're exercising. But over many years, it slowly gets worse. Eventually, it can be hard to breathe even when you are sitting or lying down. COPD can also lead to serious lung infections, which can be very dangerous.

The most important thing to do if you have COPD is to stop smoking. Staying active and taking certain medicines can also help. The most common medicines are called bronchodilators. These medicines help to open up your airways, letting more air into your lungs.

COPD is a major cause of disability around the world. It can also lead to death. The World Health Organization thinks that by 2030, COPD will be the third biggest cause of death globally. This is partly because people are living longer, and more people around the world are smoking.

Types of COPD

COPD is a general term for several conditions that damage your lungs. The main types include:

  • Emphysema: This happens when the tiny air sacs in your lungs (called alveoli) get damaged. This makes it hard for your lungs to take in oxygen and get rid of carbon dioxide.
  • Chronic bronchitis: This is when the tubes that carry air to your lungs (called bronchial tubes) get inflamed and produce a lot of mucus. This causes a long-lasting cough.
  • Bronchiectasis: This is a condition where the airways in your lungs become permanently widened and damaged. This makes it harder to clear mucus and can lead to infections.

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica para niños

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