Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of disability and death in the United States. COPD, which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, is a long-term lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. There is no cure for COPD, but the disease is often preventable and treatable.
While more than 12.5 million people have been diagnosed with COPD, millions more may have the disease without even knowing it.
Dr. Panagis Galiatsatos, national volunteer medical spokesperson for the American Lung Association, says 75 percent of the cases are caused by cigarette smoking. However, 25 percent of the cases are caused by polluted air in workforces or in consistently heavy auto traffic situations.
He says that breathlessness becomes worse gradually, and a person may go from walking 6-8 blocks a day to 5 blocks to 4 blocks to where he/she cannot even walk one block without being winded.
Once a person is diagnosed, Dr. Galiatsatos says the disease is graded according to seriousness, much like cancer. Then changes must be made which may include a change in environment or a halt to smoking. Inhalers are often prescribed next. There are also treatment options such as exercises which help strengthen the healthy parts of the lungs, and pulmonary rehabilitation.
For more information including symptoms and treatment, go to http://www.lung.org.