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COPD
Disease Disorder
COPD- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Disease Disorder
What is COPD?
COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
COPD is a progressive disease (it gets worse over time)
COPD makes it difficult to breathe
There is not a cure for COPD
What causes COPD?
Cigarette smoking (LEADING CAUSE)
Secondhand smoke
Exposure to air pollutants (fumes, dust, etc.)
Asthma
Genetic factors
How are the lungs affected?
Bronchial tubes & alveoli lose elasticity/ partially collapse. This causes there to be some air trapped in the lungs during exhalation
The lining of the airways becomes irritated & inflamed
Thick mucus forms & blocks airways
How prevalent is COPD?
COPD is the third leading cause of death in the United States
More than 11 million people are known to have COPD
It is estimated that more people have the disease but do not know they have it
This disease cannot be "caught" from someone else