COPD post #1

What is COPD? COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. It's a disease that makes it more difficult to breathe as time goes on. The leading cause of this horrible disease is cigarette smoking, first-hand and second-hand. Other causes of COPD include long-term exposure to air pollutants that can be found in many different kinds of environments. More uncommonly, COPD can also be brought on by asthma.

Who does it affect? COPD affects just about everybody in one way or another, like I mentioned in my previous post. People who smoke or used to smoke are the most at risk to getting this disease, because of the damage done to their lungs while smoking. According to http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov, most people who have COPD are at least the age of 40 before symptoms begin. On a different level, I say COPD affects non-smokers (there are those who don't smoke and are exposed to second-hand smoke) because of emotional ties with loved ones who smoke and already have, or may have in the future, COPD. My grandfather died from COPD and my mother currently has COPD. Although I don't smoke and rarely am exposed to second-hand smoke, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease affects me because it affects my very close loved ones. I mean, my mother and grandfather. It has been 12 years since my grandfather died and I'm scared for the day that my mother dies because of this horrible disease that they both had gotten due to being smokers.

What are the signs of COPD? The most common signs are an ongoing cough or cough that produces a lot of mucus (aka smoker's cough), shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest tightness. Someone with COPD may not have all the mentioned symptoms, just like someone who has all the mentioned symptoms may not have COPD. But, if you or someone you know has all the symptoms and are a smoker, I suggest possibly getting checked out by a doctor to rule out the possibility or get treatment as soon as possible.

This is all I have time to post right now, but more will be back either today or later on tomorrow!