Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

COPD is defined as a heterogeneous lung condition marked by persistent respiratory symptoms such as dyspnea, cough, and sputum production, caused by abnormalities in the airways that cause airflow obstruction.
Smoking is a primary risk factor for COPD, with over 80% of patients having a history of it. Patients typically experience progressive dyspnea or labored breathing, frequent coughing, and recurrent pulmonary infections. Many eventually succumb to respiratory failure, characterized by...

COPD: Management Using Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids

COPD: Management Using Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids

Chronic obstructive pulmonary isease (COPD) involves a group of progressive lung disorders characterized by persistent airflow limitation and chronic respiratory symptoms. Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome (ACOS), encompassing features of both asthma and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is a group of progressive lung disorders that includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and refractory (non-reversible) asthma. ACOS leads to complex clinical presentations that combine the inflammatory...

COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features

COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of lung conditions that progressively worsen over time, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. This cluster of diseases collectively leads to a gradual and irreversible decline in lung function over time.
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-I: Introduction

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-I: Introduction

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a long-lasting respiratory condition requiring continuous attention and care. It is a progressive lung disease that leads to breathing challenges due to airflow obstruction. It manifests as persistent respiratory symptoms and restricted airflow resulting from abnormalities in the airways and alveoli, usually due to long-term exposure to harmful particles or gases. COPD mainly consists of two primary conditions: emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD, is a long-term condition marked by persistent and only partially reversible airflow limitation. It involves two overlapping conditions—chronic bronchitis and emphysema—which often co-appear but differ in dominant symptoms and underlying mechanisms.Chronic Bronchitis FeaturesChronic bronchitis presents with a persistent productive cough and thick, sometimes purulent mucus due to airway inflammation, enlarged mucus glands, and goblet...

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-III: Symptoms and Complications.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-III: Symptoms and Complications.

Understanding the variety of primary symptoms and systemic complications that characterize chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is crucial for healthcare professionals.
Symptoms of COPD can be classified as primary or systemic. Primary symptoms relate to reduced airflow, while systemic or extrapulmonary symptoms relate to COPD's broader impact on the body.
Primary Symptoms of COPD:

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Fluticasone-Umeclidinium-Vilanterol and Beclomethasone-Glycopyrronium-Formoterol Single-Inhaler Triple Therapies for COPD: Real-World Observational Study [Letter].

International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease·2026

Same author

Mucus Plug Formation is Associated with Eosinophilic Activation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine·2026

Same author

Airway Mucus Plugs in Asthma and COPD: Pathobiology, Imaging, and Implications for Clinical Trials.

American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine·2026

Same author

Every Exacerbation Counts: Shifting the Dial for Future Exacerbation Risk.

American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine·2026

Same author

Small airways obstruction predicts cardiovascular disease incidence: a longitudinal study of UK Biobank.

ERJ open research·2026

Same author

A Brief History of COPD: As Told by Some of Its Senior Scientists and Clinicians.

Journal of clinical medicine·2026

Same journal

Pneumonia Reimagined: Host, Microbe, and the Shifting Landscape of Disease.

Clinics in chest medicine·2026

Same journal

Advocacy in Pneumonia.

Clinics in chest medicine·2026

Same journal

Vaccines Against Pneumonia: Current Updates.

Clinics in chest medicine·2026

Same journal

Non-antibiotic Treatments for Pneumonia: Host-Directed Therapies, Next-Steps and Future Directions.

Clinics in chest medicine·2026

Same journal

Customizing Antibiotic Treatment for Pneumonia: Can We Have a Single Unified Algorithm for All Types of Pneumonia?

Clinics in chest medicine·2026

Same journal

The Role of Complex Digital Interventions to Improve Pneumonia Care.

Clinics in chest medicine·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 3, 2026

Author Spotlight: Evaluating the Therapeutic Efficacy of Moving Cupping Along Meridians for Acute Exacerbation of COPD

Author Spotlight: Evaluating the Therapeutic Efficacy of Moving Cupping Along Meridians for Acute Exacerbation of COPD

Published on: September 27, 2024

Acute COPD exacerbations.

Jadwiga A Wedzicha¹, Richa Singh¹, Alex J Mackay¹

¹Centre for Respiratory Medicine, Royal Free Campus, University College London, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF, UK.

Clinics in Chest Medicine

|February 11, 2014

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Preventing exacerbations, a major concern for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, is crucial. Infections trigger most COPD exacerbations, but therapies, including medications and non-drug interventions, can reduce their frequency and severity.

Keywords:

Bacterial infections COPD Exacerbations Respiratory viral infections

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Traditional Chinese Medicine for Sleep Disorders in Acute COPD — A Safe, Cost-Effective Approach

Author Spotlight: Traditional Chinese Medicine for Sleep Disorders in Acute COPD — A Safe, Cost-Effective Approach

Published on: October 18, 2024

Author Spotlight: Utilizing Traditional Chinese Acupuncture of the Ear to Improve Sleep Disorders

Author Spotlight: Utilizing Traditional Chinese Acupuncture of the Ear to Improve Sleep Disorders

Published on: August 18, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 3, 2026

Author Spotlight: Evaluating the Therapeutic Efficacy of Moving Cupping Along Meridians for Acute Exacerbation of COPD

Author Spotlight: Evaluating the Therapeutic Efficacy of Moving Cupping Along Meridians for Acute Exacerbation of COPD

Published on: September 27, 2024

Author Spotlight: Traditional Chinese Medicine for Sleep Disorders in Acute COPD — A Safe, Cost-Effective Approach

Author Spotlight: Traditional Chinese Medicine for Sleep Disorders in Acute COPD — A Safe, Cost-Effective Approach

Published on: October 18, 2024

Author Spotlight: Utilizing Traditional Chinese Acupuncture of the Ear to Improve Sleep Disorders

Author Spotlight: Utilizing Traditional Chinese Acupuncture of the Ear to Improve Sleep Disorders

Published on: August 18, 2023

Area of Science:

Pulmonary Medicine
Clinical Research

Background:

Exacerbations significantly impact patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), affecting health status and disease progression.
Preventing exacerbations is a primary therapeutic goal in COPD management.
Respiratory infections, both viral and bacterial, are the leading causes of COPD exacerbations.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the impact of exacerbations in COPD.
To discuss strategies for COPD exacerbation prevention.
To highlight the role of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions in managing COPD exacerbations.

Main Methods:

Literature review of studies and trials on COPD exacerbations.
Analysis of data on triggers, prevention, and management of COPD exacerbations.
Synthesis of information on pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions.

Main Results:

A majority of COPD exacerbations are triggered by respiratory infections.
Pharmacologic therapies can effectively prevent COPD exacerbations and decrease hospital admissions.
Non-pharmacologic interventions like pulmonary rehabilitation, long-term oxygen therapy, and home noninvasive ventilation are beneficial.
Effective management of acute exacerbations can extend the time between events.

Conclusions:

Exacerbation prevention is a critical component of COPD management.
A combination of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic strategies can reduce exacerbation frequency and improve patient outcomes.
Optimizing the management of acute exacerbations contributes to long-term disease control in COPD patients.