Emphysema people have heard for years. But to hear COPD, I thought, now where is that coming from, what is that?
Diane: The symptoms, the coughing and problems I was having now I know is COPD. Peter: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, I hadn’t heard of it. Announcer: Now here’s the thing — the number of people with COPD is increasing every year. More than 12 million people have been diagnosed with it and there are 12 million more out there who have the disease and don’t even know it. Look, I’m not a doctor, so let’s go talk to someone who knows all about this stuff. This is Edna. Throughout her career as a nurse and respiratory therapist, she has worked with many, many people, helping them to improve their lung function. And it just so happens, she has COPD. Edna: That’s right. Announcer: Alright, Edna, could you please tell me a little bit about how COPD affects your breathing. Edna: Sure, let me show you. When we’re healthy, the air sacs in our lungs are elastic. They bounce back to their original shape after being filled with air when we inhale, just the way a balloon would. But in people
