3: Chronic lower respiratory disease
- Deaths: 142,943
- Males: 67,521
- Females: 75,422
- Rate: 45.9
- Age-adjusted rate: 42.5
- Percentage of total deaths: 5.68%.
Chronic lower respiratory disease (CLRD) is a collection of lung diseases that cause airflow blockage and breathing-related issues, including primarily chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but also bronchitis, emphysema (is due to alot of smokers) and asthma.
Bronchitis (chronic) has active and inactive stages where most get it through their lifetime. How often has depending factors. Bronchitis may be either acute or chronic. Often developing from a cold or other respiratory infection, acute bronchitis is very common.
*Chronic bronchitis, a more serious condition, is a constant irritation or inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes, often due to smoking.
*Acute bronchitis usually improves within a few days without lasting effects, although you may continue to cough for weeks. However, if you have repeated bouts of bronchitis, you may have chronic bronchitis, which requires medical attention.
A study released by The American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) estimated that 16.4 million days of work were lost annually because of COPD, and total absenteeism costs were $3.9 billion. Of the medical costs, 18% was paid for by private insurance, 51% by Medicare, and 25% by Medicaid. National medical costs are projected to increase from $32.1 billion in 2010 to $49.0 billion in 2020.8,9
Major warning signs and symptoms of COPD
Signs and symptoms of COPD may include:
- Increased breathlessness when active
- A persistent cough with phlegm
- Frequent chest infections.
How can COPD be prevented?
In the US, tobacco smoke is a KEY FACTOR in the development and progression of COPD, although exposure to air pollutants in the home and workplace, genetic factors, and respiratory infections also play a role.7
Smoking is a primary risk factor of COPD, and approximately 80% of COPD deaths can be attributed to smoking. So regular daily smokers why don’t you just drink poison? Best is to not smoke at all but at least do it once in a awhile. Abusing anything usually turns into injury (For example take alcohol to simply verbally or physically abusing and doing it over and over again which makes it easier to do which isn’t right to do at all. Abuse is just used as an exampte not that it is right at all, I reenforce)
To prevent COPD:11
- Quit smoking
- Avoid secondhand smoke
- Avoid air pollution
- Avoid chemical fumes
- Avoid dust
The FDA have approved the once-daily inhaled drug olodaterol (brand name Striverdi Respimat), a long-acting beta-agonist, for the treatment of airflow obstruction in COPD patients.
Doctors are missing chances to diagnose COPD early in up to 85% of cases
COPD is a progressive disease that causes irreversible damage to the lungs. Now, a new study reveals that doctors are missing chances to diagnose the condition early. If this is correct than that gives us as people responsibility, whch we should of been doing prior to this knowledge and not to depend just on the MD but to take care of ourselves in particular on preventative measures. This is to give you higher odds that you will not even have to deal with the diseases we have listed or the previous ones we talked about.