Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease
Number Three Leading Cause of Death for Men in Alabama
The third cause of premature mortality in Alabama's men is chronic obstruction pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Most men with COPD have a history of cigarette smoking. COPD worsens over time with continued exposure to a causative agent, usually tobacco smoke or, in some cases, a substance in the workplace or environment. Avoiding respiratory infections, smoking, and secondhand smoke are ways to prevent the development of chronic lower respiratory disease.