Advances in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Treatment COPD is a progressive lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. Over time, COPD gets worse and the lungs lose their ability to fully inflate and deflate properly. This damages the lungs and weakens the muscles that help with breathing. As COPD gets more severe, even minimal physical activity can become very tiring. There is no cure for COPD, but treatment can help manage symptoms, slow its...