Medical Health Encyclopedia

The smoking that accounts for COLD is also associated with high risks for pneumonia, lung cancer, stroke, and heart attacks.

Lung Cancer. Patients with a 30-year history of smoking and who have indications of airflow limitation (in other words, most patients with COLD) are at high risk for lung cancer. In such patients, the incidence of this cancer is 2%. Computed tomography (CT) screening is making it easier to detect this deadly cancer in earlier stages, and such patients should consider having it done.

Sleep Apnea. About half of those with severe COLD experience obstructive sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing stops and starts many times each night. This condition is more serious than previously thought and has been associated with an elevated risk for hypertension, stroke, dementia, and pulmonary hypertension.

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Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a significant problem in patients with COLD. Many conditions associated with COLD (smoking, vitamin D deficiencies, a sedentary lifestyle, the use of corticosteroids) put people at risk for bone density loss and osteoporosis.