[Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is prognosticated to become the 3rd most prevalent cause of early lethality. It’s main etiology is long-term smoking which induces chronic inflammation and obstruction of the airways as well as elastolysis of the pulmonary interstitium which lead to emphysema. Increased resistance of the intrathoracic airways and emphysema induce hyperinflation of the lung and chest which increases the work-load of the respi­ratory muscles. COPD patients are typically hypoxaemic and normocapnic. Finally, fatigue of the respiratory muscles cause the development of global respiratory failure (hypercapnia and severe hypoxaemia). Most effective intervention is smoking cessation. Maintanance treatment includes inhalational long-acting bronchodilators with or without inhalational corticosteroids. Acute exacerbation is treated with O2 supplementation, inhalational bronchodilators, systemic steroids and/or antiobiotics. Frequency and severity of acute exacerbations prognosticate shorter survival. In chronic respiratory failure long-term home O2 therapy can be provided.]

[In chronic obstructive airway diseases there are several unsolved questions regarding the early diagnosis, monitoring treatment, simple detection of exacerbations and the questions of differential diagnosis. These problems indicate the need for the development of new diagnostic methods and their application in clinical practice. This need is further emphasized by the fact that in most chronic airway diseases, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease inflammation has a central role in the pathomechanism and its suppression is the main aim of treatment, but so far, we do not have adequate method for the assessment of inflammation intensity in clinical practice. In recent decades non-invasive sampling techniques directly from the airways have made a progress in respiratory research and at present some of them are available for clinical use. Among these techniques sputum induction, measurement of exhaled biomarkers including exhaled nitric oxide and mediators in exhaled breath condensate samples are used increasingly. The present review summarises our current knowledge on these methods and the most important findings obtained by their applications.]

[Over the past decade, the use of noninvasive ventilation in the setting of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has gained popularity, and is recommended by evidence-based guidelines. The evidence that it should be effective in chronic COPD is much weaker, and large, prospective, randomised, controlled studies that would also provide a guide for the selection of the best candidates, are still lacking. It has bee established, however, that home mechanical ventilation is certainly beneficial for a well-defined subgroup of patients. This includes the so called “blue bloater” patients (with hypercapnia and polyglobulia), other cases with increased hypercapnia, and patients with "overlapping" syndrome (COPD accompanied by sleep apnoe). Also, for patients with acute respiratory failure who refuse intratracheal intubation noninvasive mechanical ventilation remains the only choice. The past years have unequivocally proved the superiority of the positive pressure ventilation mode for either short term or long term use.]

[Cessation of smoking is the primary condition for the successful management of COPD. The aim of pharmacotherapy is to diminish symptoms (dyspnoe, cough and expectoration) to increase cardiorespiratory performance and to improve the quality of life. Pharmacotherapy is based upon administration of bronchodilators (anticholinergic and beta-agonist preparations as well as theo phyllin). In the case of acute exacerbation anti- biotic treatment is indicated. Effectiveness of inhalative corticosteroids is not established well yet, whereas the oral and parenteral administration of corticosteroids is limited by severe side effects. In the advanced stage of disease long term oxygen therapy can increase survival and improve the quality of life. Respiratory rehabilitation is an essential component in the management, it facilitates expectoration and corrects respiratory technique, increases muscular force and performance, improves quality of life. Active cooperation of patients is necessary for the successful management of the desease; the patient should be informed on the particulars of the disease and on the required contribution.]

[Cough by itself is not a disease but a part of a complex defense mechanism protecting from harmful materials entering the airways and cleaning the lungs and airways from potentially harmful materials. Normally, cough is accompanied by other defense mechanisms (bronchoconstriction and secretion of sputum) that increase the effectiveness of cough. Cough generally is caused by intrapulmonary disorders, but may be related to extrapulmonary lesions that are not easy to diagnose. In every case, an etiological diagnosis has to be the aim because this is the only way to proper treatment. From the abundance of reasons for cough, upper airway cough syndrome, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and gastro-esophageal reflux disease are discussed in detail.]