Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Beyond Respiratory System

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is defined as set of breathing related problems i.e. chronic bronchitis, expectoration and exertional dyspnea characterized by presence of airflow obstruction that is not fully reversible. However, COPD is a preventable and treatable disease with some extra pulmonary effects including skeletal muscle dysfunction, nutritional abnormalities and systemic inflammation that may contribute to the severity of the individual patients. The current clinical focus on respiratory symptom should be expanded to include assessment and prevention of diverse negative effects of the disease.