Why Quit Smoking?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a respiratory disease that includes both chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It is the fourth largest cause of death and disability in the United States. COPD is a global concern because of the fact that smoking is a worldwide bad habit. Most of the people who get COPD are or were smokers.

Although COPD can be treated, there is no cure for it. It is a progressive disease that gets worse over time and often requires hospital stays and rehabilitation. People with COPD eventually become less active and find breathing a greater struggle.

COPD is an expensive disease physically, emotionally, and financially. Many people with COPD find themselves short of breath upon exertion and end up limiting what they can do. They may get depressed by these limitations and become anxious about having enough oxygen to breathe. Most the drugs used to treat COPD are expensive as is supplemental oxygen. It may limit the ability to continue working or result in lost hours.

Smoking is the most direct cause of COPD. Smoking affects the airways in the lungs and decreases the amount of oxygen that a person gets.

Remove smoking and second hand smoke and fewer people will get COPD. Unfortunately the effects of a lifetime of smoking can cause COPD years after a person quits smoking.

The most effective treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is to quit smoking.

The Australian Lung Foundation lists five simple questions to help identify people who may have COPD:

• Do you cough several times most days?
• Do you bring up phlegm or mucous most days?
• Do you get out of breath more easily than others your age?
• Are you over 40 years old?
• Are you a smoker or ex-smoker?

People are encouraged to speak to their doctor if they answer yes to any three of these questions.

Source: Australian and New Zealand COPD Reference Site

Many people delay diagnosis and treatment because they attribute their symptoms to just getting older. Early treatment of COPD can help people with the disease adopt a medication, exercise, and diet regime that may reduce the impact of COPD on their ability of maintain an active lifestyle.