Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an all too common lung condition which varies markedly in severity between individuals. The term COPD covers conditions such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and around 80% of cases are believed to develop as a result of smoking. Lung problems, which often fail to improve significantly over time, cause symptoms such as breathlessness, wheezing, coughing, a reduced ability to exercise, and frequent chest infections. COPD: The Facts is written primarily for sufferers and their families, and will help readers to understand the disease and its symptoms. The book describes in detail how COPD is diagnosed and covers tests and treatments that patients are likely to experience. It dicusses modern approaches to the problems COPD sufferers experience and provides and up-to-date and informative guide to the disease. Examples of patients" experiences are included throughout the text to illustrate the problems faced by people with COPD, and advice is offered to help sufferers improve their overall quality of life.