Smoking is the leading cause of COPD

To the editor:

Nearly 6 percent of Alaskans have been diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD. COPD, also known as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, is the third leading cause of death in the United States, claiming more than 120,000 lives each year — more than breast cancer and diabetes combined.

Approximately one in five Americans over age 45 suffer from COPD, yet an estimated 12 million live with the disease but don’t realize it. That’s because COPD symptoms — frequent shortness of breath, chronic cough, wheezing and excessive phlegm production — come on slowly, worsen over time and are often ignored and dismissed as normal signs of aging or being out of shape.

Smoking is the leading cause of COPD, but it is not the only one. Exposure to secondhand smoke, dust, chemicals, fumes and other air pollutants, as well a genetic factor called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, are also risk factors for COPD.

If you or someone you love has signs of COPD, talk to your healthcare provider about spirometry. This noninvasive breathing test can detect COPD before symptoms become severe and can help your doctor determine the best course of treatment.

For more information, visit the American Lung Association in Alaska or call 800-LUNG-USA.

Becky Stoppa, Health Education Manager

American Lung Association in Alaska