BACKGROUND
Description of the condition
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), which is the fourth leading cause of death in the world and is predicted to be the third by 2030 (GOLD 2014; WHO 2015), represents an important public health concern that can be both preventable and treatable if properly intervened. Throughout the world, more than 3 million people died of COPD a year (WHO 2015). COPD is now a concern not only for pulmonologists but also for all physicians and general practitioners. Suspended particles in the atmosphere, especially tobacco smoking, play a central role of COPD etiology. The most common symptoms of COPD are shortness of breath on exertion and productive cough. These symptoms are present for a prolonged period
Description of the condition
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), which is the fourth leading cause of death in the world and is predicted to be the third by 2030 (GOLD 2014; WHO 2015), represents an important public health concern that can be both preventable and treatable if properly intervened. Throughout the world, more than 3 million people died of COPD a year (WHO 2015). COPD is now a concern not only for pulmonologists but also for all physicians and general practitioners. Suspended particles in the atmosphere, especially tobacco smoking, play a central role of COPD etiology. The most common symptoms of COPD are shortness of breath on exertion and productive cough. These symptoms are present for a prolonged period