What Is the History of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease?
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, also known as COPD, is a respiratory condition marked by symptoms that may include hyperinflation of the chest, wheezing or crackling during respiration, and breathing rapidly. The disease is caused by factors like smoking, occupational exposure to asbestos or other materials, or air pollution. The disease has existed for centuries under various names.
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Early References
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One of the earliest descriptions of the disease is believed to be a 1679 case of "voluminous lungs" described by Bonet (see Reference 1). The first illustration of the condition was drawn in 1721. In 1789, Matthew Baillie illustrated an emphysematous lung. Dr. René Laennec, best known as the man who invented the stethoscope, used the term "emphysema" in his 1837 treatise on respiratory illnesses. He noted that patients suffering from the condition had lungs that did not collapse when autopsied, due to mucus congestion.
First Use of the Term "COPD"
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The term Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) was first used in 1965 by William Briscoe. Since then, COPD has become the preferred term used to describe this condition, although occasionally terms like chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD) or chronic obstructive airway disease (COAD) are used.
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Modern Treatments
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Those diagnosed with COPD are often told to make lifestyle changes, which might include switching careers, moving to a place with less air pollution, or smoking cessation. The disease has no cure, but treatments like bronchodilators (which dilate the lung's bronchi thus easing the passage of air), prescription drugs and supplemental oxygen.
The Aspen Emphysema Conferences
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The increasing number of lung ailments in the United States inspired the organization of the Aspen Emphysema Conferences. The first conference was held in 1958, and topics discussed included emphysema and lung disease topics like "Prognosis in chronic bronchitis." The conferences contributed greatly to the understanding of COPD. The conference is now designated the "Thomas L. Petty Aspen Lung Conference," and continues to be crucial to forwarding the study of COPD.
The Lung Health Study
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In 1982, the Lung Health Study was organized by the Lung Division of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Nearly 6,000 volunteers enrolled in the study, all of whom were heavy smokers between the ages of 35 and 60 who had constricted breathing. This study provided the scientific basis identifying COPD, and for recommending smoking cessation to improve a person's chances of survival from COPD and other lung diseases.
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