Around the world, hundreds of millions of people suffer from chronic respiratory diseases. By 2030, the World Health Organization predicts that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) will be the third leading cause of death. Other less common but also serious chronic respiratory conditions include bronchiectasis and pulmonary fibrosis.
COPD is not one disease, but an umbrella term for chronic lung conditions, including bronchitis and emphysema, in which the respiratory tract becomes blocked. Along with the reduced airflow, the lungs may fill with phlegm, killing the tiny alveoli sacs, where oxygen and carbon dioxide meet our blood, thereby inducing a loss of lung function.
