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Print: Who gets COPD?
About 12 million people in the United States have COPD. The disease develops over many years. It is almost always caused by cigarette smoking. The best way to prevent or keep COPD from getting worse is to quit smoking. Other irritants can also cause COPD. These include cigar smoke, secondhand smoke and air pollution. You may also be at risk if the air you breathe at work contains an excessive amount of dust, fumes, smoke, gases, vapors or mists. Workers who smoke are at a much greater risk if they are exposed to substances in the workplace that can cause COPD.
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Source
COPD: Management of Acute Exacerbations and Chronic Stable Disease by MH Hunter, MD; DE King, MD (American Family Physician August 15, 2001, http://www.aafp.org/afp/20010815/603.html)
Written by familydoctor.org editorial staff
Reviewed/Updated: 07/10
Created: 08/01
