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Airways: Tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency: A rare genetic form of COPD. It is an inherited condition, meaning it is passed down from parent to child. People with this condition have low levels of alpha-1 antitrypsin in their blood, which is a protective protein made in the liver that helps shield the lungs from harmful substances you breathe in.
Alveoli: Tiny air sacs of the lungs, where gas exchange happens. This is where oxygen enters the blood and carbon dioxide – a waste product – is removed from the body through your breath.
Anti-inflammatory: A term for medicines (like corticosteroids) that reduce swelling, redness, or irritation in the body.
Antibiotics: Medicines used to kill or slow down the growth of bacteria. Sometimes prescribed for patients with uncontrolled severe COPD.
Antitussives: Medicines that help reduce or stop coughing. They are also called cough suppressants and are often available over the counter.
Arterial blood gas (test): A blood test that measures how well your lungs deliver oxygen to your blood and remove carbon dioxide. The sample is usually taken from an artery in your wrist. The results can help determine if you need oxygen therapy.
Asthma: A lung condition where the airways become inflamed and narrow, making it hard to breathe. People with asthma often have other diseases as well, such as chronic rhinosinusitis or allergic rhinitis (hay fever).
Asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS): People diagnosed with asthma-COPD overlap syndrome have symptoms of both asthma and COPD. It is a long-term inflammatory airway disease which can be more serious than having either of the conditions alone.
Biologics: Special medicines given by injection that target specific parts of the immune system to reduce inflammation. Used when other options haven’t worked and after a specialist has made a detailed assessment of your condition.
Bronchodilator: A type of medication that relaxes the muscles around the airways, helping them open up and making it easier to breathe.
Cardiologist: A doctor who specialises in the care of your heart and blood vessels.
Chest symptoms: Issues such as coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, or tightness in the chest—often linked with lung conditions like asthma or COPD.
Chronic: Means that something lasts a long time, often for months or years. It usually doesn't go away quickly and may come back again and again
Chronic bronchitis: A condition in which the lining of the tubes that bring air into the lungs, called bronchi, are inflamed, narrowed, and swollen. Moreover, extra mucus is also being produced.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): A long-term lung disease (often linked to smoking or polluted air) where airways and tiny air sacs in the lungs are damaged, causing breathing difficulties.
Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS): A condition defined by long-lasting inflammation inside the nose and sinuses, causing symptoms like a stuffy nose, runny nose, loss of smell, and facial pain.
Comorbidities: Other conditions or diseases that occur at the same time as the main condition. For example, people with COPD might also have diabetes or heart conditions.
Cor pulmonale: Medical term for right-sided heart failure, a heart problem that can happen in people with severe COPD. It occurs when long-term lung disease makes it harder for the heart to pump blood through the lungs, causing the right side of the heart to become strained or weakened.
CT scan: An imaging test that takes detailed pictures of the inside of your body (in this case, your lungs) to check for other problems or complications that might be causing symptoms or making your COPD harder to control.
Diagnosis: The process where a doctor determines what health condition a person has.
Diaphragmatic breathing: A breathing technique that uses the diaphragm to take slow, deep breaths. It is also called belly breathing. The diaphragm is a large, dome-shaped muscle located at the base of the lungs.
Differential diagnosis: A list of possible conditions that could explain a patient’s symptoms. Before confirming COPD, your doctor will also consider other conditions that could cause your symptoms.
Eosinophils: Eosinophils are a type of white blood cells responsible for inflammation. People who have high levels of eosinophils can sometimes quality for more specialized treatment.
Emphysema: A lung condition in which the tiny air sacs of the lungs become damaged over time and don’t exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide well, causing symptoms such as shortness of breath and wheezing.
Endocrinologist: A specialist doctor who treats hormone and gland problems such as diabetes.
ENT doctor: A doctor who specialises in conditions of the ear, nose, and throat.
Exacerbation: A sudden worsening or flare-up of symptoms. If you understand when you’re having an exacerbation, you can see your doctor sooner and adjust medications if needed.
Flare-up: A sudden worsening of your symptoms, also called an exacerbation.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): A common condition in which the stomach contents move up into the esophagus and cause heartburn.
Hypoxic challenge test (HCT) or High Altitude Simulation Test (HAST): A test that measures how well your body can handle lower oxygen levels, such as during air travel. It is also called a fit-to-fly test. It can give an indication for your need for on-board oxygen therapy.
Immune system: Your body’s defence against infections and foreign substances. In some diseases, such as asthma, your immune system may overreact, causing ongoing inflammation.
Inflammation: Swelling or irritation in the body’s tissues, often due to the immune system’s response to infection or irritants.
Inherited: Refers to traits or a higher chance of developing certain conditions that are passed from parents to children through genes.
-itis (suffix): A medical ending that means “inflammation.” Whenever you see “-itis” in a word (like rhinitis or sinusitis), it indicates that the tissue or organ named is swollen or inflamed.
Irritant: A substance or environmental factor that can set off or worsen COPD symptoms by irritating the airways.
Long-acting beta-agonist (LABA): A type of COPD medication that helps relax the muscles around the airways to help open them up. It’s often prescribed together with a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA), either as two separate inhalers or as a single inhaler.
Long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA): A type of COPD medication that relaxes the muscles in the airways, making it easier to breathe. It’s often prescribed together with a long-acting beta-agonist (LABA), either as two separate inhalers or as a single inhaler.
Lung cancer: A disease in which harmful cells in the lungs grow out of control. It is one of the most common and serious types of cancer. The symptoms can often resemble those of COPD and may include shortness of breath, a persistent cough, and wheezing.
Lung volume reduction: A treatment for severe emphysema that removes damaged lung tissue or blocks air from entering it to improve breathing and quality of life. This can be done in two ways: by using a bronchoscope to place small one-way valves in certain airways, or by surgically removing the damaged parts of the lung.
Mucolytics: A type of medication that helps thin and loosen mucus, making it easier to cough up and clear from the airways.
Mucus: A slimy substance produced especially by mucous membranes, such as the nose, throat, and lungs, which it moistens and protects. Phlegm is a specific type of mucus specifically produced in the lungs and throat, also referred to as sputum.
Mucus plugs: Thick clumps of mucus that block the airways. They can make it harder to breathe by causing more airway obstruction.
Nasal: Refers to anything related to the nose (for example, “nasal spray”).
Nasal endoscopy: A procedure where a thin tube with a camera is gently inserted into the nose to see deep inside the nasal passages and sinuses.
Obstructive: In COPD, this means the airways are partly narrowed, which makes it harder for air to flow in and out of the lungs.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): A condition where the upper airway briefly collapses during sleep, causing repeated pauses in breathing.
Occupational: Relating to or caused by a person’s work or activity.
Oedema: A build-up of fluid. It causes swelling in the ankles, legs, and feet. It is a common complication of severe COPD caused by issues like pulmonary hypertension and right-sided heart failure.
Oral: Relating to the mouth. For instance, “oral medications” are taken by mouth.
Osteoporosis: A condition that causes bones to become weak and brittle.
Over-the-counter medicines: Medicines that you can buy without a prescription from a doctor.
Oxygen concentrator: A machine used for oxygen therapy. It comes with long tubing to allow you to move around your home while staying connected.
Oxygen therapy: A medical treatment that provides extra oxygen to your body. It is prescribed only when the oxygen levels in your blood are too low.
Pen (prefilled) or Syringe (prefilled): Devices used to inject biologic medicines. Prefilled means the correct dose is already in the device, ready to use.
Phlegm: Thick mucus, also sometimes called sputum, that comes from the lungs and airways. It can be coughed up when you clear your airways, especially during a chest infection or when you have a lung condition.
Pulmonary: A medical term for anything related to the lungs
Pulmonary function test: Another name for a lung function test. It is a diagnostic procedure used to check how well your lungs are working and to help diagnose lung conditions.
Pulmonary hypertension: Medical term to describe high blood pressure in the lung arteries.
Pulmonary rehabilitation: A programme designed to improve your lung health and physical fitness. It combines exercise training with education about your condition and often involves different healthcare providers working together in a multidisciplinary team.
Pulmonologist: A doctor who specialises in lung conditions like asthma or COPD, also called a ‘lung specialist’ or ‘respiratory physician’.
Pulse oximetry: A quick and painless test that uses a small device placed on your fingertip to measure the oxygen level in your blood.
Pursed lip breathing: A breathing exercise that helps you slow your breathing and inhale and exhale more air. It reduces the number of breaths you take and keeps your airways open longer.
Red-flag symptoms: Severe signs in COPD (like difficulty walking/talking, high fever, blue/gray lips and/or fingernails) that mean you should seek emergency care immediately.
Reliever (inhaler): A fast-acting inhaler that quickly opens the airways to make breathing easier. They are prescribed for use ‘as needed’ when symptoms flare-up.
Rescue pack: A set of medications you keep at home to use if you experience a COPD flare-up. The medicines should only be started in accordance to the instructions provided by your healthcare provider.
Rhinosinusitis: Inflammation that affects both the nose (rhino) and the sinuses (sinusitis). Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is when this lasts more than 12 weeks. When symptoms have been present for less than 12 weeks, it’s called acute rhinosinusitis. This is often triggered by a viral infection (like the common cold) or sometimes by bacteria.
Second-hand smoke: Smoke that comes from other people’s cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. It is also referred to as passive smoking.
Shared decision-making: A joint process where healthcare professionals and patients work together to make informed decisions about care.
Short-acting beta-agonist (SABA): A quick-relief medicine that relaxes the muscles around your airways, making it easier for you to breathe.
Short-acting muscarinic antagonist: A quick-relief medicine to be used ‘as-needed’. It helps relax the muscles around your airways, making breathing easier.
Specialist: A doctor with advanced training in a certain area, like ENT (ear-nose-throat), lung (pulmonology), or allergy (allergology).
Spirometry: A lung function test that measures the amount of air you can blow out in one forced breath.
Steroids: Medicines used to treat conditions that cause redness and swelling (inflammation) in the body, such as COPD. Steroids can be used in different forms, such as tablets (oral steroids) or inhalers (inhaled steroids).
Triggers: Things that can set off or worsen your COPD symptoms, like respiratory infections, dust, fumes, or cold air.
Wheezing: A high-pitched whistling sound when breathing, especially when you breathe out.
Workplace irritants: Dust, chemicals, fumes, or other substances at work (or hobbies) that can irritate your nose and airways, leading to inflammation and worsened COPD symptoms.
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