By Life Quotes, Inc. Staff

For decades, people have been warned that smoking is likely to give them lung cancer over time. Many consumers are also aware that as smokers, they are likely to face significantly higher life insurance premiums, and in some cases, health insurance and overall medical costs.

However, lung cancer is not the only serious medical issue that can be averted by giving up smoking. A smaller number of people may be familiar with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, which is a common cause of death and serious illness around the world and is often triggered by a smoking habit.

According to the Mayo Clinic, damage to the lungs from COPD cannot be reversed, which is why treatment tends to focus on the control of symptoms and averting additional damage. The clinic’s website reports that the symptoms of COPD include:

- Shortness of breath, which can be more pronounced during physical activity

- Wheezing

- Tightness of the chest

- Those in the later stages of COPD may also develop a barrel-shaped chest as a result of the lungs chronically being over-inflated with air and causing steady pressure on the rib cage

According to the World Health Organization, more than 3 million people worldwide died from COPD in 2005.

This article was originally published by Life Quotes, Inc.