Symptoms and Risks

• What Is COPD?

• Frequently Asked Questions About COPD

• What Causes COPD?

• Coughing and Other COPD Symptoms

  Read more about COPD

• How You Can Prevent COPD

• Why Vaccines and Avoiding Pollution Can Help

• What Is Alpha-1 Antitrypsin?

  Read more about how to quit smoking

You've been coughing for weeks. How do you know if it's just a hard-to-shake cold or something more serious? A chronic cough, defined as lasting more than eight weeks, is not uncommon. Up to 40% of nonsmokers in the United States and Europe have reported a chronic cough at some point, and coughing is one of the five most common reasons for a doctor's visit.  Read More

Alpha-1 antitrypsin is a naturally occurring enzyme that protects your lungs from damage. Some people are born with a gene variant that results in a deficiency of alpha-1 antitrypsin. There are no symptoms of this deficiency, but if you have the gene, you can develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) more easily and at a younger age than those with adequate amounts of alpha-1 antitrypsin.  Read More

Even the cleanest homes are filled with airborne irritants: dust, pet dander, pollen, fumes. If you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or other lung problems, these particles can make it harder to breathe. Although it’s impossible to remove all the irritants from the air in your home, a portable air cleaner may help minimize them.   View slideshow