Is it Possible for People Who Don’t Smoke to Develop COPD?

Is it Possible for People Who Don’t Smoke to Develop COPD?

Is it Possible for People Who Don’t Smoke to Develop COPD?

Information for Patients with COPD and their Caregivers

This information was sourced from leading COPD health and advocacy organizations. This is general information and should not be taken as medical advice. Please consult with your treating physician if you have specific questions about your COPD or general health.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute reports that “smoking is the most common cause of COPD, accounting for as many as nine out of 10 COPD-related deaths. However, as many as one out of six people who have COPD never smoked.”

So, then what else causes COPD?

Pollutants

Exposure to air pollutants such as industrial chemicals, fumes, and dust in the workplace over a long period of time can compromise lung health and may also contribute to COPD. Although these toxins and pollutants in the air are thought to contribute to the development of COPD, neither has been proven to be as big a risk factor as smoking.

Genetics

The genes you inherit from your family can make you likely to develop COPD. Some people have a rare form of COPD called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency-related emphysema which affects the body’s ability to produce a protein (Alpha-1) that protects the lungs. This gene abnormality can cause lung damage and emphysema, even without smoking or breathing irritants. If COPD runs in your family, you may want to consider genetic testing for the alpha-1 antitrypsin anomaly.1

The Aging Process

This form of COPD is called senile emphysema. It’s when your lungs naturally break down over time.2 It’s part of the normal aging process. Most people will develop this if they live long enough. Like any disease, it develops at different times and intensifies from one person to another. It’s generally not diagnosed until after the age of 70. And it’s usually not considered a disease, but a result of aging. In most people it’s not significant enough to even be recognized.3
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Other Respiratory Conditions

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