Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease affecting at least 16 million adults in the United States. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), COPD was historically thought of as a man’s disease, but trends have changed over the past decades, with more than half of patients diagnosed being women. Many live with undiagnosed COPD, as over 50 percent of those with poor lung function are unaware they have it. It is a major source of disability and the fourth leading cause of death among Americans.
Part of the challenge of diagnosing COPD is that it is often misdiagnosed until the disease is further advanced. Although COPD is incurable, treatment can slow progression and improve quality of life.
