October is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Awareness Month, and its milder forms, COPD—an umbrella term for lung diseases that include emphysema and chronic bronchitis—can seem like you’ve just got a cold, or a cough that won’t go away. COPD is most often linked to smoking, but can also be caused by inhaling other chemical gases and particulate matter that are lung irritants. [1] In COPD, permanent, irreversible lung damage is present by the time symptoms occur and a diagnosis is made. [1] While COPD can be progressive, steps can be taken to prevent COPD symptoms and lung function from worsening.

Read More

While cancer is a disease commonly associated with smoking tobacco, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is the third-leading cause of death in the United States, and smoking is the leading cause of COPD. [1] Other causes of COPD include genetic problems such as alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, long term lung damage stemming from premature birth, and exposure to lung irritants such as chemicals and fumes. [2] Most often, COPD is broken into two categories: emphysema and chronic bronchitis. However, people with COPD most often have a combination features associated with both diseases. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can be treated and lung