"At 79, he's been a smoker most of his life but quit a decade ago, the day he was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). He was struggling to breathe to such an extent it was impacting his ability to work his director of conventions sales job at the local visitors' bureau, unable to show potential clients around venues."
"COPD is a respiratory disease that causes difficulty breathing as a result of damaged or blocked lungs. There is no cure, but symptoms can be managed with medicine, oxygen, pulmonary rehabilitation, and protection from further inhalation of damaging substances. The most common causes of COPD include tobacco, indoor and outdoor air pollution, and occupational exposure to dusts, fumes, or chemicals."
"COPD is the fourth-biggest killer globally. As toxic air levels rise and COVID continues to cause lung damage and further complications, COPD is slowly claiming even more lives-yet health systems often neglect its symptoms, leaving many people undiagnosed as a result."
A 79-year-old man developed severe breathing difficulty after long-term smoking and was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, forcing him to stop work and requiring hospitalization. COPD damages or blocks lungs and has no cure, but symptoms can be managed with medication, oxygen, pulmonary rehabilitation, and avoiding further inhalation of harmful substances. Major causes include tobacco, indoor and outdoor air pollution, and occupational dusts, fumes, or chemicals. COPD ranks as the fourth-leading global killer, with rising toxic air and COVID-related lung damage increasing cases while many people remain undiagnosed due to health system neglect and socioeconomic vulnerability.
Read at Nonprofit Quarterly | Civic News. Empowering Nonprofits. Advancing Justice.
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