COPD is the #4 killer in the United States today, and is the only disease in the top 10 that is on the rise. After years of smoking, the final destination for most is the same... waking up every morning spending the first 30 minutes of their day clearing gobs of discolored phlegm from their lungs, tethered to an oxygen tank, while so short of breath they're unable to perform even the most remedial of household responsibilities. When asked about their disease, their response is universal... "Had I known what smoking would do to me I would have never picked up a cigarette to begin with."
For those younger than 35, the consequences of smoking may be minimal. While one may be mildly inconvenienced each day with nagging symptoms of years of smoking, they often don't fully realize the grandeur of of its affliction until it's too late. Waiting to intervene until the symptoms are so egregious is simply prolonging the inevitable... the damage has already been done. As one patient said to me; "Breathing is the one thing people take most for granted - until they can't do it anymore. Every breath thereafter is a battle to stay alive."
If you feel that you, a friend or a loved one may be at risk for COPD, I would openly encourage you to take the Drive4COPD screening tool (even if you don't smoke it would be beneficial to know). Taking less than 60 seconds to complete, this screening tool red flags those people potentially at risk providing them the opportunity to seek medical assistance before it's too late.
Screen yourself today. "One minute - the difference between life and breath."
http://www.drive4copd.com/copd-screener/screener.aspx