Who Is At Risk for COPD?
Most people with chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD) are smokers or were smokers in the past. People with a family
history of COPD are more likely to get the disease if they smoke. The chance of
developing COPD is also greater in people who have spent many years in contact
with lung irritants, such as:
- Air pollution
- Chemical fumes, vapors, and dusts usually linked
to certain jobs
A person who has had frequent and severe lung
infections, especially during childhood, may have a greater chance of
developing lung damage that can lead to COPD. Fortunately, this is much less
common today with antibiotic treatments.
Most people with COPD are at least 40 years old or
around middle age when symptoms start. It is unusual, but possible, for people
younger than 40 years of age to have COPD. |