Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary (Lung) Diseases

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Home > Diseases & Conditions > Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary (Lung) Diseases

Causes

Cigarette smoking is, by far, the most common cause of emphysema and chronic bronchitis. It is responsible for 82 percent of the deaths attributed to emphysema. A smoker is 10 times more likely to die of emphysema than a non-smoker.

Other causes, such as environmental pollution and occupational exposures, also have been blamed. Heredity plays a role in one form of emphysema that is due to a genetically linked enzyme (alpha-1-antitrypsin) deficiency.

In the Encyclopedia:

Cough

This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.


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