HHS HealthBeat (February 11, 2010)

COPD – half don’t know

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, makes it hard for people to breathe. It’s marked by constant coughing, shortness of breath while doing things you once were able to do, and feeling like you can’t take a deep breath.

And lots of people have it. At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Letitia Presley-Cantrell:

[Letitia Presley-Cantrell speaks] ``About 12 million adults have been diagnosed with COPD, and about 24 million Americans are affected by COPD, so roughly about half of the persons that are likely to have COPD don’t even know that they have it.’’

COPD can be treated, but it slowly gets worse and there is no cure.

Smoking is the main risk factor. But there are other causes, such as working and living around dust, chemicals and other air pollutants.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: May 7, 2011