LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Smoking
built 643 days ago
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is most often caused by smoking. Nearly everyone with COPD (80% to 90%) has been a long-term smoker, and research supports the fact that smoking cigarettes increases the risk of developing COPD. 1 At least 10% to 15% of long-term smokers develop COPD with symptoms; some studies indicate up to 50% of long-term smokers older than age 45 develop COPD. 2 This may be in part due to inherited factors (genes) and exposure factors that can affect your risk of developing COPD. 1
Source:
Women have made a good deal of welcome progress in the last several decades, but at least one advance is unwanted: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is on the rise in women in prevalence, morbidity and mortality. By 2000, the number of women dying from COPD surpassed the number of men.
Source:
Various herbs and supplements may interact adversely with drugs used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. For more information on these potential risks, see the individual drug article in the Drug Interactions section of this database.
Source:
As chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) worsens, you may experience increased shortness of breath and more COPD exacerbations, and it will become more and more difficult to perform daily activities. A pulmonary rehabilitation program, which includes activities such as exercise and breath training, can help make it possible for you to perform daily activities.
Source:
Lung Infections -- Chronic lung infections or lung infections that linger for extended periods of time may increase an individual?s risk for developing COPD. Lung infections put stress on the lung and can lead to physical damage. Such lung infections may include chronic pneumonia, active tuberculosis (TB), or recurrent fungal infections.
Source:
Chronic progressive dyspnea is characteristic of patients with COPD, while episodic dyspnea is more common in asthmatics. Unfortunately, there can be a significant overlap between these 2 types of dyspnea, creating confusion in establishing an accurate diagnosis.
Source:
MORE ABOUT
Smoking