COPD guidelines can lead to misdiagnoses
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a major leading cause of death in New York and around the world. Approximately 27 million people suffer from COPD in the United States alone, with an estimated 210 million afflicted with it worldwide. Symptoms include breathing difficulty due to airway obstruction, shortness of breath and frequent coughing. Smoking is a leading cause of the disease.