About COPD Key points Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) prevents airflow to the lungs, causing breathing problems. It is a leading cause of death in the United States. Smoking is the main cause of COPD, but nonsmokers can get it. Talk with your doctor if you have COPD symptoms or previously smoked., Several organizations offer information and resources about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for patients and their families. Resources are described below., Primary pulmonary disease is often self-limiting. However, approximately 5 to 10% of patients fail to recover and develop complications or chronic pulmonary disease., Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) refers to a group of diseases that cause airflow blockage and breathing-related problems. COPD includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. 1 With COPD, less air flows through the airways—the tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs—because of one or more of the following: 2 The airways and tiny air sacs in the lungs lose their ability to , Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults Adults who report having ever been told by a doctor, nurse, or other health professional they had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, or chronic bronchitis., Some common underlying causes of pulmonary hypertension include high blood pressure in the lungs' arteries due to some types of congenital heart disease, connective tissue disease, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, liver disease (cirrhosis), blood clots to the lungs, and chronic lung diseases like emphysema. Genetics also play a role..