Any difference?

After the sudden death of my mother - I need to know if there is
a difference between COPD and chronic lung disease?  If so, what
is the difference - if not - why not?

Thanks.

[National Jewish]

The terms COPD and Chronic Lung Disease are often used interchangeably but there is a difference.

The term COPD is an abbreviation for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.  It should be used to describe the chronic lung disease linked with cigarette smoking and worsened by contact with industrial dusts and other toxins.  It is a disease that worsens over time.  There is relatively irreversible obstruction of airflow and actual destruction of lung.  This is also called emphysema.

When the term chronic lung disease is used in the generic sense, it refers to lung disease of any cause that is chronic rather than acute.  A chronic lung disease is treated on an ongoing basis to help the symptoms, but will not go away.  An acute lung disease like pneumonia is treated until it goes away.

Asthma is a special case.  While asthma is definitely chronic, it would never be referred to as chronic lung disease.