COPD is a leading global cause of death that develops over decades, often before symptoms appear, and is not limited to older smokers as commonly assumed.

The Conversation

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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is one of the world’s leading causes of death, responsible for 3.5 million deaths in 2021 alone. It is often thought of as a disease of older smokers. But that picture is too simple. COPD usually develops slowly over many years, often long before symptoms become obvious.
COPD is a long-term lung condition that makes it harder to move air in and out of the lungs. It includes damage to the airways, often described as chronic br