Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of death in America — and many people don’t know what it is. COPD is an umbrella term that covers emphysema (a loss of elasticity in the air sacs that makes breathing difficult), chronic bronchitis (permanently narrowed airways thanks to repeated inflammation), and even some forms of asthma! More than twelve million Americans have already been diagnosed with COPD — and approximately ninety percent of these cases are a result of smoking. Problems develop after twenty “pack years” — smoking one pack per day for twenty years, or two … Continue reading →