Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Being diagnosed with COPD will change your life. If you smoke, now is the time to quit. Smoking is by far the leading cause of COPD and quitting is the only sure way of slowing its progression and protecting your long-term future from this potential killer disease.

But the reason why COPD is so dangerous for many people is that they don't know they have it. COPD creeps up gradually and many people think it's just a normal part of getting older, or that it's a relatively harmless smoker's cough. It isn't.

The good news for you, however, is that once you know you have COPD, there are many treatments that doctors can offer you to treat the symptoms, with improved medications and devices becoming available every year. There are also plenty of things you can do yourself to help keep your COPD under control.

But the key to effective treatment is to start it as early as possible - which is why it's vital to see your doctor if you think you may have COPD, or if you're a smoker and so are at risk of the disease.

This website explains COPD, its effects and its treatment. You will find practical advice on your medicines and helpful lifestyle changes including exercise, diet and relaxation tips. The site is designed so that you can pick and choose from a range of topics that may be of interest to you. So whether your COPD has only recently been diagnosed and you're finding out about it for the first time, or whether you'd like to delve deeper into the subject after having the condition for some time, you've come to the right place.

And if you're a carer of someone who has COPD, there's also a section dedicated to providing information specifically for you.

In this section, you can learn about the causes and types, signs and symptoms and treatments for COPD. You can also find out about non-drug treatments for COPD, including diet and lifestyle changes you can make, as well as how to get the best out of your NHS services, practical support and information for carers.