condition in the lungs that causes the respiratory passages to be swollen and irritated, increases the mucus production and may damage the lungs. The symptoms are coughing and breathlessness, which will get worse over the years. The definition of is chronic cough or mucus reproduction for at least three months in two successive years when other causes have been excluded. The most important 'treatment' is to quit smoking - most people who develop are smokers. When lung damage results in airflow restriction, the term 'COPD' (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is used. COPD accounts for about 7 per cent of all days off work from sickness and the annual NHS workload for COPD exceeds that for asthma. | 
