Introduction	Evaluation of COPD	Symptoms of COPD
Risk factors of COPD	Investigation of COPD	Physical Findings of COPD

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease state characterized by chronic airflow obstruction.
• Pulmonary function testing is central to its diagnosis

• Airflow obstruction is determined by a reduced ratio of the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV) to the forced vital capacity (FVC).
• Patients suffering from COPD have reduced forced vital capacity.

Symptoms of COPD includes-

• Dyspnea (Exacerbation)
• Cough (Exacerbation)
• Phlegm  production (Exacerbation)
• Rhonchi
• Other symptoms of COPD are wheezing, chest tightness, and tiredness.
• People with advanced (very severe) COPD sometimes develop respiratory failure.

• Cigarette smoking
• Individuals with airway hyper responsiveness and certain occupational exposures
• Biomass combustion with poor ventilation

• The physical examination may be normal until COPD is fairly advanced.
• As disease progresses, signs of hyperinflation may become more prominent.
• Wheezing is occasionally observed
• Persistently localized wheezing raises the possibility of lung cancer.
• During COPD exacerbations, signs of respiratory distress may be prominent, including tachycardia, tachypnea, use of accessory muscles of respiration, and cyanosis.