Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an inflammatory lung disease which affects pulmonary pathways and pulmonary parenchyma, and it manifests systematically. This disease combines earlier common diseases such as chronic obstructive bronchitis and emphysema. COPD is characterized by a graduall narrowing of the airways, which is not completely reversible. This disease develops because of the combination of genetic predisposition and external factors such as air pollution and smoking. Even though changes in the lungs are going to appear much earlier than the simpotoms, chlinical signs of disease start to become visible after long – term exposure to adverse effects. Chronic bronchitis is a long – term inflammation of the airways that produces huge amounts of slime, what causes coughing and wheezing. It is considered to be chronic if coughing and the creation of slime last for a minimum of 3 months per year for two consecutive years. Emphysema is a condition thaht leads to destruction of the alveoli and the smallest bronchioles in the lungs, resulting in a loss of lung elasticity. This damage increases the airspace and makes it difficult to breathe. Lung damage caused by COPD is irreversible. In the early stages of the disease, shortness of breath and occasional coughing attack occur. Initial symptoms iclude a general feeling of malaise, increasing shortness of breath, cough and wheezing. How the disease progresses, the symptoms become more severe. In chronic bronchitis, the main problem is the excessive mucus production, which makes air flow difficult and it leads to the development or exacerbation of the disease. COPD treatment aims to relieve smyptoms, prevents the progression of the disease, improves the quality of life and prevents and treats complications and exacerbations. The disease should be diagnosed early in order to apply preventive measures and proper treatment. First and the most important preventive measure is to stop smoking regardless of the degree and duration of the disease. Given that COPD is a chronic disease prone to progression, most of the patients need permanent treatment to keep their symptoms under control. Even though there is no medicine that can cure COPD, many medications can relieve symptoms and treat complications. Patient education is a key par of COPD therapy. Goal of the education is to inform the patients about the disease and encourage collaboration between doctors, nurses and patients to improve health and ensure proper medication.