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Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners
What is the cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
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Lung Foundation Australia was established in 1990 by a group of thoracic physicians concerned about the chronic shortage of funds for research work in respiratory … View Profile
In Australia, cigarette smoking is the single largest cause of COPD and is responsible for around 75-85% of cases.
Other known causes of COPD include:- Passive smoking, especially during infancy when the lungs are still developing
- Exposure to occupational dusts and chemicals. Miners and livestock farmers are at heightened risk of COPD.
- Environmental agents, including indoor and outdoor pollution, however this is more a problem in the developing world.
- A small proportion of COPD is as a result of a genetic deficiency of the protein alpha-1 antitrypsin
Women may be at greater risk of COPD than men due to the fact that they generally have smaller lungs and more sensitive airways.Report this post
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- Passive smoking, especially during infancy when the lungs are still developing
