Smokers’ Cough May Indicate COPD

A nagging cough can be a sign of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. COPD is usually found in middle-aged and older people who smoke or once smoked. But a study in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that even adults ages 20 to 44 could develop COPD. Having a chronic cough was a risk factor.

Another study in the journal Chest found that chronic cough was a stronger risk factor for COPD in women than in men.

COPD is a serious lung disease that causes swelling of the airways, making it difficult to breathe. COPD is the fourth leading cause of death among Americans.

If you smoke, consider kicking the habit: Nine out of 10 ex-smokers will lose their cough after quitting—usually within 12 months