Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Cleveland Clinic has a glossary of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease terms that could help when learning about the condition.

The Patient Education Institute has an interactive overview of COPD that includes diagrams of the lungs and how they work, and explains how the condition is caused, prevented and treated. The presentation is also available as a PDF.

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute has a short description of COPD with illustrations of healthy and affected lungs.

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute lists signs of COPD, such as coughing up mucus, chest tightness and wheezing.

The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease has a five-question quiz that can help assess whether you have COPD. This questionnaire isn’t a substitute for a doctor’s diagnosis, but it can be used to talk to your doctor about your concerns.

American Thoracic Society explains, in detail, the tests doctors use to assess a person’s lung function and diagnose COPD or other breathing disorders. Learn what to expect during some of the tests and how to prepare for them.

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute describes the different lung function tests a person may take. Click on “Next” at the bottom of the page to read more. This article also covers what to expect before and during the tests.

National Jewish Medical and Research Center details the different types of medications prescribed to treat COPD and what they do.

eMedicine describes different COPD medications, including how they work, possible interactions, whether they’re safe during pregnancy and other precautions.

The American Thoracic Society briefly describes the surgical procedures available to treat COPD. To read this two-page piece more easily, click on the “Open this document in its own window” link in the upper right of the page.

St. David’s HealthCare , a system of hospitals and other clinics in central Texas, suggests some complementary and alternative medical (CAM) treatments for COPD. Don’t start any CAM treatment or take any supplement without first talking to your doctor. Some supplements may interfere with medications you’re already taking.

The National Lung Health Education Program , a nonprofit organization that raises awareness of COPD, has advice for different treatments, such as using metered-dose and dry powder inhalers, antibiotics and nebulizers.

ClinicalTrials.gov is a clearinghouse operated by the U.S. National Institutes of Health that provides a list of clinical trials currently underway to research COPD. To learn more about clinical trials, speak to your doctor, and read the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's guide.

National Jewish Medical and Research Center has a guide to help people cope with a COPD diagnosis. Learn about using a portable oxygen tank, helping your family adjust to a COPD diagnosis and more.

Cleveland Clinic has an extensive article on good nutrition for people with COPD. Look for advice on improving your appetite, get suggestions on what to eat and drink, and even find recipes for high-calorie snacks that promote weight gain.

Cleveland Clinic has a tip sheet for people with COPD who want to travel. Get special tips for traveling by plane, bus, car or cruise ship.

Emphysema Foundation for our Right to Survive is a group that was formed by three people who have emphysema. This site lists pulmonary support groups in every state and the District of Columbia. Also find support groups in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, India and the United Kingdom.

Let’s Talk: Living Today With COPD is written by an Illinois man who has the disease. His posts discuss sleep, depression, exercise and his life.

Respiratory Report is written by Bob Sherman, a respiratory therapist who owns a medical supply company in the Western United States. His posts are mostly about COPD-related government policies. Some posts are directed toward patients, such as the “Tips for Using a Home Pulse Oximeter.” Sherman posts, on average, about once a week.

Life With COPD has fairly active forums with all sorts of COPD-related topics. Registration isn’t needed to read or post to the forums.

COPD International is a nonprofit organization founded by seven people with COPD and run by a network of volunteers. Look for message boards and chat rooms for those who have COPD, as well as for caregivers, children and teens. The site also has three e-mail lists and a weekly newsletter.

COPD International has a page of news briefs that includes national news items, as well as studies and events within the COPD International organization. Though the page isn’t updated frequently, the posts are highly relevant and of interest to COPD sufferers.

Topix is a news aggregator that collects headlines from around the world. This page is devoted to news related to COPD. Some articles are about government or medical policy, while others are about research.

PubMed Central , a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, is a repository of biomedical and life sciences journal articles. Read articles on COPD or their abstracts. Once you’ve searched a topic, use a tab under the display options to read articles that are free to access. Visit the homepage to create customized updates that are sent to you.