What is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)?"Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease" (COPD) is a term used to describe certain types of irreversible damage to the lungs and airways that block (obstruct) the airways and make breathing difficult. If you are diagnosed with emphysema or chronic bronchitis, you have COPD. Changes in the lungs and airways that occur in COPD include: Loss of...