Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an all too too common lung condition - usually caused by cigarette smoking - which varies markedly in severity between individuals, and includes conditions previously known as chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It causes progressive symptoms such as breathlessness, wheezing, coughing, reduced exercise tolerance and frequent chest infections.COPD: The Facts is written for patients with COPD and their families, but it will also be of interest to health professionals. The book describes in detail how a diagnosis is made and what treatments patients are likely to receive. It discusses modern approaches to the management of COPD (both with and without drugs) and includes examples of real-life patient experiences throughout the text, answers to the most frequently asked questions, and advice on how to give up smoking.