Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) describes difficulty breathing due to an airflow obstruction in the lungs in persons with emphysema or chronic bronchitis. COPD often appears in those who have smoked for many years. Symptoms are usually not noticeable, with the exception of a chronic cough. Repeated and increased coughing will begin to disable patients, who will eventually take longer to recover from the attacks. According to the American Lung Association of Mississippi, COPD is the fourth leading cause of death behind cardiovascular disease, cancers and stroke. It is estimated that more than 140,000 Mississippians are currently diagnosed with COPD. However, due to the lack of knowledge about the disease by the people afflicted, it is often an under-diagnosed disease.
Source: Mississippi State Department of Health https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/43,0,295.html