Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a preventable disease that has detrimental effects on the airways and lung parenchyma (Nazir and Erbland, 2009). COPD classifies emphysema and chronic bronchitis, both characterized by reduced peak expiratory flow and slow but forced emptying of the lungs (Jeffery 1998). This disease has among the highest death rates in developed countries due to the ever-increasing number of tobacco smokers and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality (Marx, Hockberger & Walls, 2014). Signs and symptoms indicating the presence of the disease include productive cough, wheezing, dyspnea, and predisposing risk factors (Edelman et al., 1992). The diagnosis of COPD is primarily based on the results of a lung function assessment (Larsson, 2007). Chronic bronchitis is differentiated from emphysema by the presentation of a productive cough present for at least three months over two consecutive years that cannot be attributed to other pulmonary or cardiac causes (Marx, Hockberger & Walls, 2014) ( Viegi et al., 2007). Whereas emphysema is defined pathologically as the irreversible destruction without obvious fibrosis of the pulmonary alveoli (Marx, Hockberger & Walls, 2014) (Veigi et al., 2007). It is common for emphysema and chronic bronchitis to be diagnosed simultaneously due to the similarities between the diseases (Marx, Hockberger & Walls, 2014).182Epidemiology: The prevalence of COPD is strongly associated with older adults predisposed to various risk factors. risk (Viegi et al., 2001). The prevalence of these risk factors is often a major aspect in diagnosing the disease, the most detrimental of these being cigarette smoking...... middle of paper ......John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Person, A. & Mintz, M., (2006), Anatomy and Physiology of the Airways, Airway Disorders, pp. 11-17, New Jersey: Human Press Inc. Al-Tubaikh, J., (2010), Pulmonary emphysema, Internal Medicine, pp. 131-135, London: SpringerHusain, A., (2010), The Lung, Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, pp. 131-135. 677-737, Philadelphia: Saunders ElsevierVestbo, J., (2011), Clinical assessment of COPD, COPD: a guide to diagnosis and clinical management, pp. 21-33, New York: Springer Science & Business MediaBritish Thoracic Society, (2008), Guidelines for the emergency use of oxygen in adult patients, Thorax: an international journal of the Respiratory Medicine, 63 (6 ), DOI: 10.1136/thx.2008.102947Lung Foundation Australia, (2014), COPD, retrieved from: http://lungfoundation.com.au/patient-area/lung-diseases/copd/