COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)CausesChronic obstructive pulmonary disease is almost always caused by smoking and sometimes also by passive smoking. Breathing chemical fumes, air pollution, or dust for a long time can cause COPD, but it usually takes years for there to be enough lung damage to cause symptoms, so COPD is more common in people over age 60. COPD is a long-lasting cough and/or mucus while coughing that may begin to disturb your sleep. People with COPD may become short of breath during physical activity, but as COPD worsens, performing simple tasks such as dressing makes it difficult to breathe. They may also feel tightness in their chest. It takes a lot more energy to breathe, which causes people to lose weight and become weak. Sometimes, symptoms can get worse and worse causing an exacerbation. A flare-up can be mild or life-threatening; the longer you have COPD, the more severe the flare-ups become. Treatment The most important thing you can do to slow the disease is to stop smoking, but things like eating us...