
22/01/2025
What Causes COPD?
While each individual case of COPD can differ, there’s one common cause behind most cases of this lung disease: to***co smoking.
According to the American Lung Association, 90 percent of all COPD cases are caused by cigarette smoking. The other 10 percent can be attributed to other irritants you may breathe in, such as the smoke created by burning fuel or heating in poorly ventilated areas, air pollution, dust, and fumes.
If you’re wondering whether you’re at risk of developing COPD, there are a few factors that can increase your odds. These include:
Exposure to to***co smoke (including smoke from pipes, ci**rs, and ma*****na).
Smokers who have asthma.
Exposure to dusts and chemicals in your line of work.
Long-term exposure to chemical fumes, vapors, and dusts.
Exposure to fumes from burning fuel, particularly in poorly ventilated areas.
Being 40 years old or older.
Genetics, specifically a family history of the genetic disorder alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency.