S Katiyar Senior Consultant, Department of Chest Medicine, KLS Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the airways and alveoli leading to airflow limitation, giving rise to chronic cough, sputum production and breathlessness. Classically, tobacco exposure has been commonly linked to causation of COPD. However, many patients develop COPD without any history of tobacco exposure. Exposure to indoor pollution in the form of biomass fuel smoke or occupational exposure to smoke, may also contribute to development of COPD.
