Smoking risks [Archives:2002/24/Health]

Many young people risk developing emphysema and a lung disease called COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). A new study by Italian researchers demonstrates new data on COPD in relation to smoking and other respiratory issues. This research was presented at a meeting held by the American Theoretical Society in Atlanta.
COPD is a chronic disease, most often accompanied by bronchitis and/or emphysema. It is characterized by the gradually closing of the larynx.
A chronic cough and sputum are early symptoms of COPD. Few young people realize that these are signs of a serious illness. To complicate things, not everyone with a cough or sputum like symptoms develop COPD.
Roughly 20% of those with COPD symptoms have asthma. They tend to be younger than people with documented cases of COPD.
In a recent study a questionnaire was sent to 18,000 people between 20 and 44 years old , in nine Italian cities. These people consisted of businessmen, retired people, students, housewives, and the unemployed.
The questionnaire asked about cough and sputum symptoms. It also inquired about asthma attacks to juxtapose similar symptoms.
A third set of questions covered smoking habits. Nearly 12% of smokers have the COPD chronic cough. Smokers are at high risk of acquiring COPD, nearly 33% of the group surveyed were smokers.
Women smokers from a lower economic class smoke are at higher risk. Seven percent of female smokers had COPD symptoms.
If you are a smoker, it is time to think about how many cigarettes you have smoked. How far gone is your health? How much of your life has gone up in smoke?

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