title: [Cigarette smoking is the most important causal factor for developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)].
abstract: Cigarette smoking is the most important causal factor for developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD). On the other hand, a substantial proportion of COPD cases suffer from obstructive disorder by other causes than smoking, especially among younger persons, females, and residents of developing countries. There are evidences that several rare genetic syndromes(such as alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency) and occupational exposures as causes of COPD. Environmental tobacco smoke, biomass smoke, and dietary factors are likely causes of COPD, although their contribution is much less compared to active smoking. Smoking during pregnancy may also pose a risk for the fetus, by affecting lung growth and development in uterus. The quicker the smoking cessation is achieved, the more improvements in the lung functions the COPD patients can obtain. Smoking should be avoided as soon as possible in all the COPD subjects and those who are at risk for developing COPD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kyoto University Hospital.
authors.forename: Shigeo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muro
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*