Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

COPD Facts

• More than 15 million people in the United States have COPD
• Cigarette smoking is the cause of 90% of all COPD cases
• COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States
• 105,000 people die from COPD each year
• Approximately 12 million people suffer from chronic bronchitis alone

The definition of COPD is:

CHRONIC - refers to a condition that never goes away

OBSTRUCTIVE - refers to blockage; Air flow from the lungs is partially blocked

PULMONARY - refers to the lungs or breathing

DISEASE - refers to a condition with specific symptoms

COPD is a group of diseases including emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthmatic bronchitis or any disease which may impair the flow of air from the lungs (obstruction), leading to shortness of breath, especially with mild exertion.

If you suspect that you may have this problem, please consult your physician immediately for a thorough workup and diagnosis.