“Alzheimer’s disease is a type of brain disease, just as coronary artery disease is a type of heart disease. It is also a progressive disease, meaning that it becomes worse with time. Alzheimer’s disease is thought to begin 20 years or more before symptoms arise. It starts with changes in the brain that are unnoticeable to the person affected.
Only after years of brain changes do individuals experience noticeable symptoms such as memory loss and language problems.”
Alzheimer.org
“Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex respiratory disorder characterised by chronic airflow limitation and an increased inflammatory response of the lung. COPD is associated with many comorbidities and can be one of multiple chronic or acute diseases and medical conditions present within one person. In particular, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and COPD share similar risk factors such as ageing, history of cigarette smoking (or other exposures) and a sedentary lifestyle, and frequently coexist.”
European Respiratory Journal/The Respiratory Professionals Update on Medicine, Science and Surgery
“Over time, exposure to irritants that damage your lungs and airways can cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. The main cause of COPD is smoking, but nonsmokers can get COPD too. Other risk factors for COPD include: Exposure to air pollution, Breathing secondhand smoke, Working with chemicals, dust and fumes, A genetic condition called Alpha-1 deficiency and A history of childhood respiratory infection.”.
American Lung Association (www.lung.org)
“Every year, our communities comes together to ring the alarm on the diabetes epidemic. 1.5 million people will be diagnosed with diabetes this year. If you’re at risk, making small changes to the way you eat, increasing your physical activity levels or getting early treatment can, for some, actually return blood sugar levels to a normal range. So, take a breath—and then take action. “
American Diabetes Association (ADA)