Causes
The biggest single cause of COPD is smoking, with estimates suggesting it is responsible for around 9 in every 10 cases1.
The likelihood of developing COPD increases the more someone smokes and the longer they have been smoking.
Over the years inflammation leads to permanent changes in the lungs:
- The walls of the airways thicken and mucus production increases.
- Air sacs become damaged causing emphysema and the lungs lose their elasticity.
- Smaller airways become scarred and narrow.
These changes cause the symptoms of COPD including breathlessness, cough and phlegm.
Occupational factors such as exposure to dust, chemicals, noxious gases and particles such as coal can also cause COPD but this is in a minority of cases.
