World COPD Day

YOUR LUNGS FOR LIFE

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a preventable and treatable disease that causes breathlessness, chronic sputum production and cough.  COPD is currently one of the leading causes of death worldwide and is highly prevalent in low resource countries. It is estimated that three million people globally die each year due to COPD. This number is only expected to increase due to the aging world population and continued exposure to risk factors, like tobacco smoke.  Exposure to tobacco smoke and other inhaled toxic particles and gases are the main risk factors for COPD, although recent research indicates that COPD results from a combination of genetic and environmental risk factors that occur over a lifetime.  This significant development in COPD shows the importance of considering lung health from development all the way into adulthood.