TYPES AND SEVERITY
OF COPD
COPD COMPLICATIONS
Conditions associated with COPD
When you have COPD, the flow of air through the lungs is reduced, leaving your body deprived of oxygen. Even in people with mild stages of COPD, there may already be significant damage to the heart and the blood vessels (cardiovascular system) of the body. 20
With every COPD exacerbation, the risk of damage to the cardiovascular system increases, and may lead to thromboembolism (blood clots), stroke or myocardial infarction (heart attacks). 10,21,22 For this reason it is very important to do whatever is needed to properly manage your COPD and prevent exacerbations as far as possible.
Other conditions often experienced, but sometimes missed in people with COPD, include: 10,12
Lung cancer
Kidney disease
Diabetes
High blood pressure and cholesterol levels
Sleep apnoea
Osteoporosis
Depression/anxiety
Gastroesophageal reflux
Lung cancer
Kidney disease
Diabetes
High blood pressure and cholesterol levels
Sleep apnoea
Osteoporosis
Depression/anxiety
Gastroesophageal reflux
Find out more
Classifying COPD
To determine how to treat COPD, your doctor will first need to verify which type of COPD you have, and then determine how severe the condition is.
Exacerbation (flare)
An exacerbation is commonly called a “flare” – it is when you have trouble breathing and/or are coughing with phlegm that worsens over less than 14 days.