Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, also known as COPD, is actually a group of different diseases rather than a single disease itself. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are two of the most common diseases involved in COPD. There are roughly 251 million cases of COPD worldwide, meaning it benefits everyone to know about this condition.
What Causes COPD?
Because COPD is actually a group of related diseases, there are many individual causes and risk factors for it. These factors include everything from your career to how you prepare your meals. Let’s take a closer look at 10 of the most common causes of COPD…
10. Pollution
Pollution isn’t just bad for the environment or animals; it’s also a serious health threat for humans. Living in an area with heavily polluted air contributes to worse outcomes for people with preexisting COPD and a higher chance of developing this condition in the first place.
Why It Increases COPD Risk
Breathing heavily polluted air is akin to smoking: your body takes in harmful, toxic compounds. This activity can aggravate COPD or cause this condition to develop over time. Living near factories, coal power plants, and other sources of pollution can contribute to this risk.
What’s even worse than polluted air is the following…
9. Smoking
Smoking is one of the most potent risk factors for COPD. And, the longer a person smokes, the greater the odds of developing this condition become.
Why It Increases COPD Risk
Smoking leads to several lung-related health problems, such as lung cancer and emphysema. Further, smoking can aggravate preexisting lung problems that in turn lead to a case of COPD to develop over time.
Believe it or not, smoking is closely related to the following COPD risk…
8. Biological Sex
Men develop COPD at almost twice the rate of women. While the number of men who develop COPD has been dropping over the years, the number of women with this condition has stayed the same. Let’s see why that is.
Why It Increases COPD Risk
It may be surprising, but the answer to this puzzle is also smoking. Namely, since smoking is almost twice as common amongst men as it is in women, their COPD risk is also doubled.
Of course, sometimes risk factors are beyond our control…
7. Genetics
Your DNA dictates what conditions you are susceptible to developing. In other words, your genetics can increase your COPD risk for a number of reasons. For example, your genetics can predispose you to any of a number of lung and throat-related illnesses. As a result, genetic conditions that lead to respiratory problems can lead to worse COPD outcomes.
The following is another COPD risk factor we have no control over…
6. Age
It’s no secret that our health becomes harder to manage as we age; COPD risk is no exception. At advanced ages, our bodies start to have a harder time fighting off the chronic respiratory conditions that form COPD. Further, advanced age also means you have been exposed to environmental COPD risk factors for a longer period of time.
Sometimes certain medical conditions up COPD risk…
5. Certain Medical Conditions
There are two primary reasons why having certain medical conditions increases the odds of developing COPD. For starters, when your body has to manage one medical problem, it loses the ability to manage others as effectively. Additionally, certain conditions like bronchitis can turn into COPD over time.
Sometimes even your job can influence whether or not you develop COPD…
4. Your Career
You may not realize it, but the job you do every day could be increasing your risk of COPD dramatically. After all, certain jobs have been associated with much higher risks for COPD than other lines of work.
People who work in processing plants, for example, are at a much higher risk for COPD than those working in a well-ventilated office. Why? Because these careers expose you to higher levels of airborne debris and chemicals, both of which increase your COPD risk. This fact is just another reason why a safe workplace that offers the right personal protective equipment is vital for your safety.
Even when you head home, you could still be exposed to COPD risk factors…
3. How You Cook
Cooking healthy meals can lead to better health outcomes, but how you cook can also affect your health. It all comes down to the air quality in your kitchen.
Why Cooking Increases COPD Risk
If you’ve ever left a pan of oil on the heat too long, you’ll know what we’re talking about. That thick cloud of clear smoke in the air is more than just a bad smell; it’s also slightly toxic. Over time, this kind of exposure can lead to COPD. It’s therefore important to learn the right way to handle your kitchen to avoid exposing yourself to harmful vapors.
Your home has other possible sources for increased COPD risk…
2. Radon Exposure
Radon is a noble gas formed by the radioactive decay of radium. This naturally occurring substance sometimes rises up from rock deposits until it reaches the surface. If radon builds up in your home, you could face health problems.
Why It Increases COPD Risk
COPD risk goes up after prolonged exposure to radon. While lung cancer is the most well established consequence of long-term exposure to radon, COPD is another risk. If you are concerned about your radon exposure, you can purchase a radon detector. This gas usually builds up in confined spaces like basements, attics, and enclosed rooms.
One of the largest contributors to COPD is the following…
1. Secondhand Smoke
Smoking is such a high risk factor for COPD it appears on this list twice. Secondhand smoke is the smoke you breathe in simply by being near someone who is smoking. Over time, this exposure can build up your risk for COPD just like smoking does. After all, secondhand smoke exposes you to the same toxic substances as the smoker.
