Jennifer Mendoza
Research expert covering health, pharma and medtech
COPD in the U.S. - Statistics & Facts
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung disease that causes obstructed airflow in the lungs and results in breathing problems. COPD is used to describe such lung diseases as emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and severe asthma. Symptoms of COPD include increased shortness of breath, coughing, tightness in the chest, and wheezing. The most common cause for the disease is tobacco smoking, but air pollution and genetics can also play a role. Although there is no cure for COPD, it can be treated using inhaled medicines, and lifestyle changes such as not smoking can improve the quality of life of those who have been diagnosed. However, COPD is among the leading causes of death worldwide with those in low- and middle-income countries in Asia and Africa the most impacted.
