Final answer:
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the group of conditions that make it difficult to breathe and is most commonly caused by smoking. It includes diseases like emphysema and chronic bronchitis, and is characterized by symptoms such as shortness of breath and chronic cough. The most effective prevention is not smoking.
Step-by-step explanation:
The name for the group of conditions that make it difficult to breathe, and which are most commonly caused by smoking, is called Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). COPD includes diseases such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Long-term exposure to cigarette smoke diminishes the elasticity of the alveoli, leading to these conditions.
The presence of harmful chemicals like carbon monoxide and cyanide in tobacco are primarily responsible for the lung damage associated with smoking. COPD is characterized by symptoms such as shortness of breath, chronic cough with phlegm, and is known for causing difficulty with physical activities such as walking upstairs.
Smoking cessation can slow down the progression of COPD, but unfortunately, there is no complete cure except in extreme cases where a lung transplantation might be an option. Due to the breakdown of connective tissue, patients with COPD have reduced surface area for gas exchange, leading to lower oxygen levels in the blood and higher carbon dioxide levels.
Treatments for COPD often involve supplemental oxygen and inhaled bronchodilators, but prevention by not smoking is the most effective means of avoiding the disease.