COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) makes it hard to breathe. When you breathe in air, it travels down your windpipe into tubes that carry the air to your lungs. These tubes branch out into smaller tubes that end in tiny air sacs. Oxygen in the air you breathe is absorbed into the blood through these air sacs. When you have COPD, the lungs don’t work as well as they should because they’re damaged in some way. 
 
COPD refers to a group of lung conditions. The two most common are chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Most people with COPD have both conditions, and many who are at risk ignore the warning signs. That’s why it’s important to take notice of any COPD symptoms you might have. These include:
- Chronic cough
- Smoker’s cough when waking up
- Expelling mucus when coughing
- Shortness of breath that gets worse with activity
- Wheezing (whistling or squeaking when breathing)
- Chest tightness 
- Fatigue
- Frequent colds or flu
- Lung infections (more than one per year) 
 
If you have these symptoms—especially shortness of breath—see your doctor right away. There’s no cure for COPD, but finding it early can help you slow it down and manage it. Work with your doctor on a treatment plan to ease your symptoms, help you stay active and improve your overall health.