Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) ranks as the 4th most common cause of death. COPD causes approx. 123,884 deaths per year or 42.2 deaths per 100,000 population.
Smoking cigarettes causes about 90 percent of COPD cases. Other causes include:
- Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (a rare genetic disorder).
- Second-hand smoke
- Work or environmental pollution.
- Chronic lung infections
COPD symptoms include:
- shortness of breath,
- increased mucus and
- coughing.
- If you have COPD, you are more likely to get colds and the flu.
The most common signs of COPD are chronic coughing and shortness of breath. About 14 million people in the United States have COPD. The disease develops over many years. And it is almost always caused by cigarette smoking. The best way prevent or keep COPD from getting any worse is to quit smoking.
Oh! I forgot people with advance COPD have to walk around with oxygen tanks because they get out of breath with the most minor forms of exertion. Imagine feeling out of breath every minute of everyday, even while you sleep.
If you have COPD, the most important thing you can do is to stop smoking.
[widget id=”related_widget-1256023952″]Related Widget[/widget]
