UNDERSTANDING COPD

Man coughing while sitting on the couch between an EMT and a woman

On this page

Common Types of COPD

Causes & Risk Factors for COPD

Stages of COPD

COPD Symptoms & Flare-ups

Hear What Others Say About TRELEGY

What is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?

Understanding COPD is important in finding the best treatment for you. COPD is a group of lung diseases that makes it harder to breathe. COPD is also progressive, which means it can worsen over time.

Talk to your doctor about treatment and lifestyle changes that may help you manage your condition. If you’d like some help with the conversation, get the free guide.

Common Types

Chronic Bronchitis vs Emphysema

Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are the two most common conditions of COPD. While they both make breathing difficult, they affect the lungs in different ways. It is possible to have both conditions in varying degrees.

  • Chronic Bronchitis

    Chronic bronchitis is a condition where the airways in the lungs are inflamed all the time. This causes: 

    • increased cough
    • reduced air flow


    Bronchitis may be considered chronic (or long-term) if a person coughs and produces excess mucus most days for at least 3 months in each of 2 consecutive years.

  • Emphysema

    Emphysema is a condition where the air sacs (alveoli) inside the lungs are affected. Healthy air sacs expand when you breathe in and return to their original size when you breathe out. But with emphysema:

    • air sacs have become enlarged
    • air sacs cannot return to normal size


    When air sacs are not emptying as they should, it causes air to become trapped, making it hard for air to enter.

COPD Causes & Risk Factors

These are some of the causes and factors that may put you at risk for developing COPD.

Cigarette icon

Smoking and secondhand smoke

CO2 icon

Air pollution

Pollution icon

Chemical fumes or dust

COPD Stages

COPD stages image

COPD can be mild, moderate, or severe.
To make this determination, your doctor will examine you, give you a breathing test (spirometry), and assess your medical history. Based on the amount of limited airflow from your breathing test, your doctor will see where you fall in the GOLD* classification and determine your COPD severity. There are 4 grades or stages in the GOLD classification, with 4 being the most severe. Your doctor will also evaluate your symptoms and previous flare-ups to determine where you stand with your COPD.

*GOLD stands for Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease.

Visit COPD.com to learn more about COPD stages.

Symptoms & Flare-ups

Recognizing COPD symptoms

You probably know the COPD symptoms that are normal for you. But did you know that they can evolve or change over time? And sometimes they can be hard to recognize as COPD. Why? Because people may mistake symptoms for “getting older” in general. Or assume a symptom is caused by weight gain and not COPD.

If your current symptoms change or if you have new ones, don’t dismiss them—tell your doctor. And if you’re currently on a maintenance medication, your doctor may consider switching your treatment.

COPD symptoms include:

Difficulty breathing icon

Difficulty breathing

You may experience shortness of breath and/or wheezing during normal activity or while at rest. 

Chest tightness COPD symptoms icon

Chest tightness

You may have the feeling that something is squeezing or sitting on your chest, making it hard to breathe.

Coughing icon

Coughing up mucus

You may experience a change in the amount or color of mucus coughed up.


What’s a COPD flare-up?

A flare-up (or exacerbation) is when your usual COPD symptoms become much worse for several days or weeks (not simply when you need to use your rescue inhaler) and require one or more of the following:

  • Steroids (like prednisone)
  • Antibiotics
  • Emergency room visit
  • Hospital stay

Respiratory viral or bacterial infections cause many flare-ups. But triggers range from pollution to stress, and they can be different for everyone. Flare-ups often come on suddenly, so it helps to be prepared with a COPD plan. Partner with your doctor to create one. Remember, “toughing it out” is not a plan. It’s just tough. So be sure to tell your doctor how your COPD truly affects you.

WATCH: How Jana faces COPD on her own terms with TRELEGY

PLAY VIDEO | 4:09

View transcript

ANNOUNCER:
Once-daily TRELEGY is a prescription medicine used long term to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, including chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both. TRELEGY is not used to relieve sudden breathing problems and won’t replace a rescue inhaler. Watch the complete video to see additional safety information.

TEXT ONSCREEN:
Once-daily TRELEGY 100/62.5/25 mcg is a prescription medicine used long term to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both. TRELEGY is not used to relieve sudden breathing problems and won’t replace a rescue inhaler. Watch the complete video to see additional safety information.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

  • Do not use TRELEGY to relieve sudden breathing problems. Always have a rescue inhaler with you to treat sudden symptoms.
  • Do not use TRELEGY if you have a severe allergy to milk proteins or are allergic to any of the ingredients in TRELEGY. Ask your healthcare provider if you’re not sure.
  • Do not use TRELEGY more than prescribed.
  • Do not take TRELEGY with other medicines that contain a long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist (LABA) or an anticholinergic for any reason. Tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions and about all the medicines you take.

Please see additional Important Safety Information on this web page.
Please see full Prescribing Information, including Patient Information, on this web page.

TEXT ONSCREEN:
JANA
KILLEEN, TX

JANA:
My background is public safety.

TEXT ONSCREEN:
Jana, real patient taking TRELEGY at time of filming. Compensated by GSK for sharing her experience. Results may vary.

JANA:
I was a firefighter, EMT, corrections officer. My husband is a police officer. It’s been something that’s been in my family and my heart for years. I started noticing I was having problems breathing, things like that. I was working at a prison, and I'd be so far out of breath I'd have to look at the inmate and say, “Just stay there, I'll be there in a minute,” you know, and catch my breath.

JANA:
When I went to the doctor, they said, “Well, you have COPD.” I'm very hardheaded. So, you know, I was like, I'm gonna keep doing what I'm doing.

TEXT ONSCREEN:
TRELEGY won’t replace a rescue inhaler.

JANA:
Anything I tried to do, I was, I was huffing and puffing and having a really hard time. You know your mind’s saying, “I wanna do it” and your body’s saying, “I can’t do it.” That’s a horrible feeling. I felt like my time was being taken away from my husband.

JOE:
I parked my bike for about a year. I don't have any fun going out there by myself. It wasn't quite the same. You know, she's my partner, too.

JANA:
I don't like being off work and sedentary too long. To me, you know, I was feeling very vulnerable.

JANA:
I don’t want somebody to look at me and go, “There’s Jana, she’s got COPD.” No. Look at me and say, “There’s Jana. She’s a safety and correctional officer and can do her own thing and takes care of her own yard,” that’s how I wanna be defined.

JOE:
Hey, why don't you take a break?

JANA:
Oh, cool.

JANA:
After I got diagnosed with COPD, I tried other medications. Some would give you like, a little bit of relief but your chest would feel real tight. Or it would make you wheeze worse. I thought for a brief second that, you know, things were looking kinda grim. But in my mind, I tell myself nothing's permanent. You never give up.

JANA:
Hey, it's Jana. How are you, ma'am?

JANA:
I got ahold of my doctor. She has a very strong belief in TRELEGY. She said, “I’ll send you a prescription,” and there it was. It was terrific.

JANA:
You got everything or need some help?

JOE:
Nah, I’m good.

JANA:
Alright.

TEXT ONSCREEN:
Results may vary.

JANA:
When I got on TRELEGY, it’s just a world of difference.

JOE:
Okay.

JANA:
I'm able to go to the store now and not have to stop every five or ten feet, and I'm able to walk the dogs.

JANA:
Come on, girls.

JANA:
I can take care of myself. I'm able to do my job, which is, you know, working here at the campus as a safety officer.

JANA:
Make a right, and you'll be right there. And don't be late to class.

JANA:
I'm able to walk around. I'm able to talk to people. I'm able to go up and down some steps. I'm back to being a productive citizen and working in the community, and that's what I wanna do. I'm able to enjoy my life.

JANA:
I don’t like sittin’ ringside.

TEXT ONSCREEN:
For more information, ask your doctor, visit TRELEGY.com, or call 1-833-873-1333.

JANA:
You know, when you can't do something that you have done in the past—when you get to do it again, it's very exciting.

JANA:
You know when your parents would ground you when you're young and you feel like your whole world’s been taken away? Once you get back to it, you're ready to go. Nobody can stop you.

TEXT ONSCREEN:
Results may vary.

JANA:
With TRELEGY, my chest felt opened up. It didn't feel all tight and everything. It really worked, you know, because you can breathe better.

JANA:
My advice for anybody if you’re in a negative situation, focus on positives. Even if it takes, you know, extra time to do it, do what you want to do. With the COPD thing, you just keep plugging away. Get the right medication, and then go ahead with your life.

JANA:
Take a bite. See? I told you. They’re good.

JOE:
It’s good.

ANNOUNCER:
TRELEGY won't replace a rescue inhaler for sudden breathing problems.

TEXT ONSCREEN:
TRELEGY won’t replace a rescue inhaler.

ANNOUNCER:
Tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure before taking it.

TEXT ONSCREEN:
Tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure before taking it.

ANNOUNCER:
Do not take TRELEGY more than prescribed.

TEXT ONSCREEN:
Do not take TRELEGY more than prescribed.

ANNOUNCER:
TRELEGY may increase your risk of thrush, pneumonia, and osteoporosis.

TEXT ONSCREEN:
TRELEGY may increase your risk of thrush, pneumonia, and osteoporosis.

ANNOUNCER:
Call your doctor if worsened breathing, chest pain, mouth or tongue swelling, problems urinating, vision changes, or eye pain occur.

TEXT ONSCREEN:
Call your doctor if worsened breathing, chest pain, mouth or tongue swelling, problems urinating, vision changes, or eye pain occur.

TEXT ONSCREEN:
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

TEXT ONSCREEN:
<TRELEGY ELLIPTA AND WHITE GSK LOGOS>

A FULL 24 HOURS OF BETTER BREATHING

Please see additional Important Safety Information and full Prescribing Information, including Patient Information, on this web page.

For US audiences only.
Trademarks are owned by or licensed to the GSK group of companies.
©2024 GSK or licensor. PMUS-FVUVID240013 November 2024. Produced in USA.

 

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