COPD: The common, deadly and often overlooked illness

There are diseases that make the news and those we never hear about. But ignorance is certainly not bliss.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is a progressive illness characterized by lung damage that makes it increasingly difficult to breathe. It is the fourth leading cause of death in Canada, and by 2030 the World Health Organization predicts it will be the third leading cause of death worldwide.

But unless they or someone they know has been affected by it, few Canadians – including many family physicians – are aware of how devastating this disease is.

And that means many at-risk patients don’t get the screening, preventive therapy or medical treatment they need until it’s too late.


Read more: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/health/copd-the-common-deadly-and-often-overlooked-illness/article21704058/