Otília Jurema de Carvalho

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a respiratory disease characterized by airflow obstruction, generally progressive and associated with a chronic inflammatory process. It is a pathology on the rise worldwide, being attributed mainly to smoking and environmental pollution. Dyspnea, cough, and phlegm production are the most frequent symptoms in COPD and may precede spirometric changes by years. Dyspnea on effort, chronic and progressive, is the most characteristic symptom of the disease and its perception is variable, in which many patients do not mention it or find the reduction in respiratory capacity natural as the years go by. Although it is considered an avoidable and treatable disease, with slow pulmonary deterioration, it is essential to understand its pathophysiology in order to control not only the symptoms, but also its risk factors, especially smoking. The present study was carried out as an integrative qualitative literature review on COPD.