How is COPD diagnosed?

Your doctor will diagnose COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) based on your symptoms, medical history, a physical examination and a test of how you are breathing, also known as spirometry.¹

COPD is a group of progressive long‐term lung diseases where the airway is thickened and inflamed.¹ Over time, COPD makes it more difficult to breathe because the airways are partly blocked, restricting the flow of air in to and out of the lungs.

If you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you may have trouble breathing properly. When you breathe in, your lungs may not absorb enough oxygen (O2), and when you breathe out, you may have trouble getting rid of the waste gas, carbon dioxide (CO2)