In a study, researchers suggest that women who have never smoked are susceptible to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and that African American women are particularly vulnerable. COPD is a type of obstructive lung disease characterized by long-term poor airflow. The main symptoms include shortness of breath and cough with sputum production. COPD typically worsens over time. Seven percent of never-smoking older African American women and 5.2 percent of White older women have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), compared to 2.9 percent of never-smoking older white men. COPD is the third leading cause of death in the USA and smoking is the biggest risk factor for the disease. However, approximately one-quarter of Americans with COPD have never smoked.

References

Fuller-Thomson, Esme, Rachel S. Chisholm, and Sarah Brennenstuhl, 2016, COPD in a Population-Based Sample of Never-Smokers: Interactions among Sex, Gender, and Race”, International Journal of Chronic Diseases; Article ID 5862026. [Web Reference]