What is COPD?

Question

Can a NON smoker get it?

Answer 1

I AM a non smoker who not only has COPD but also chronic bronchitis and I've had two bouts of pneumonia. I know I will die of some lung disorder, basically at 52 my lungs are pretty much shot. I'm not on oxygen yet, but I know the day is coming. I think it really sucks because I always hated cigarette smoke. My dad used to smoke Camel unfiltered and I remember as a kid lying down on the floor of the car so I wouldn't have to breathe it in. Ain't life a b.... PS COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Answer 2

COPD Stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Answer 3

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an umbrella term for a group of respiratory tract diseases that are characterized by airflow obstruction or limitation. It is usually caused by tobacco smoking but can also be caused by coal dust.

Causes

The main risk factor in the development of COPD is smoking. Approximately 15% of all chronic smokers will develop the disease. In susceptible people, this causes chronic inflammation of the bronchi and eventual airway obstruction. Other etiologies include alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency (augmented by smoking), byssinosis, and idiopathic disease.

COPD can also be caused by prolonged exposure to certain dusty environments. For example, many people develop COPD after working in the coal mining industry and being exposed to high levels of respirable coal dust.

Among people over 70 who have never smoked, women make up 85 percent of those with COPD. This appears to be tied to decreases in estrogen as women age. Female mice that had their ovaries removed to deprive them of estrogen lost 45 percent of their working alveoli from their lungs. Upon receiving estrogen, the mice recovered full lung function. Two proteins that are activated by estrogen play distinct roles in breathing. One protein builds new alveoli, the other stimulates the alveoli to expel carbon dioxide. Loss of estrogen hampered both functions in the test mice. (Massaro & Massaro, 2004).

Answer 4

COPD is a medical abbreviation that stands for "constructive obstrictive pulmonary Disease". This condition is also know as COLD, another medical abbreviation that stands for "constructive obstructive lung disease". Both abbreviations refer to the same disease and non-smoker can also catch a COLD/COPD.

Answer 5

It stands for chronic obstructionary pulmonary disease. And it can affect both smokers and non smokers. Basically it is the breakdown of the alveoli. These are the small sacs in the lungs that absorb the oxygen for your body when you breathe. When the alveoli are broken down, it is difficult to get the proper amount of oxygen in your lungs.

Answer 6

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung disease in which the lungs are damaged, making it hard to breathe, and yes, anyone can get it.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/copdchronicobstructivepulmonarydisease.html

Answer 7

Stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

yes, nonsmokers can get it. But smoking gets most of the blame.

http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=35020

Answer 8

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and yes, from second hand smoke, if a person has asthma they can get it in later yrs.

Answer 9

chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder