title: Treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: 'Obstruction' in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) involves the diameters of the peripheral airways becoming progressively smaller so that it becomes difficult, and eventually impossible, to breathe. As the patient's lung function deteriorates he or she may experience exacerbations of the condition with increasing frequency, with sudden and frightening worsening of symptoms. There is no cure for COPD.
authors.affiliation: University of Portsmouth.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sander