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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Author(s): Dianne Jewell, PT, DPT, PhD; modified from the original summary by Kara A. Schworm, PT, MSPT, Board-Certified Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Clinical Specialist (posted October 21, 2011)
The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) describes COPD as "a common preventable and treatable disease...characterized by persistent airflow limitation that is usually progressive and associated with an enhanced inflammatory response in the airways and lung to noxious particles or gases." (1) Exacerbations and comorbidities contribute to overall severity in individual patients. (1)
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Date: October 20, 2011
Contact: practice@apta.org
Content Type: Clinical Summary
Dianne Jewell, PT, DPT, PhD; modified from the original summary by Kara A. Schworm, PT, MSPT, Board-Certified Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Clinical Specialist (posted October 21, 2011)