" said Barry Eisenberg

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Smoking cessation boosts quality of life of those with COPD
ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill., April 29 () -- Smoking bans are the most effective way to prevent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or maintain quality-of-life for those with COPD, U.S. experts say.Dr. Ron Loeppke, president-elect of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, said COPD -- a group of diseases that includes emphysema, chronic bronchitis and in some cases asthma -- is a major source of disability and the third leading cause of death in the United States.Caused by long-term exposure to irritants that damage the lungs, COPD is irreversible, Loeppke said. In the United States, cigarette smoke is the most common irritant that causes COPD -- the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention attributed approximately 75 percent of COPD to cigarette smoking, secondhand smoke and other inhaled smoke from pipe and cigars, air pollution, chemical fumes and dust from the environment or workplace."Comprehensive worksite wellness initiatives with a robust smoking cessation program can help prevent or manage the risk of COPD by leveraging the power of prevention -- the only sustainable solution to our society's health crisis,[url=http://www.christianalouboutin.co.uk]christian louboutin Uk[/url]," Loeppke said in a statement. An estimated 6 percent of all U.S. adults -- 15 million people -- suffer from COPD. In 2010, the economic costs of COPD were estimated at $49.9 billion, including $29.5 billion in direct healthcare expenditures, $8 billion in indirect morbidity costs and $12.4 billion in indirect mortality costs. "As smoking is the primary risk factor for COPD, workplace smoking cessation programs are the most effective way for employers to help their employees improve their lives and at the same time lower healthcare costs and absenteeism," said Barry Eisenberg, ACOEM executive director.