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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a lung disease that makes it hard to breathe, often requires lifestyle changes. But if you’re living with this progressive condition, you’re not alone. About 16 million adults in the United States are already diagnosed with COPD, and many more may have undiagnosed COPD, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Smoking is the number one risk factor for COPD, explains Nereida A. Parada, MD, a pulmonologist and medical director for the Grace Anne Dorney Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation Center at Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. A large 2023 study published in the journal Frontiers in Medicine found that former smokers have a nearly 21 percent higher risk of developing COPD, while current smokers have a 46 percent higher risk.
While having COPD or other lung disease can limit your activities, Dr. Parada says there are several steps people with lung disease can take to control their symptoms and improve their quality of life.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Preventi... + 13
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- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Page last reviewed October 13, 2023.
