If you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)—a chronic lung disease that causes breathing problems—you’ve likely learned to deal with new challenges. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), frequent coughing and wheezing, excess phlegm, and shortness of breath are all typical symptoms of this all-too-common disease. Nearly 15.7 million Americans have been diagnosed with COPD, the CDC says.
What’s crucial to know is that having COPD means you’re at an increased risk of other health issues, and ones that may not seem so obvious, like catching a cold or struggling with your mental health. Here, doctors outline five potential problems that should be on your radar, and what you can do to help prevent them. To read the full story.