Also known as COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is categorized by chronically poor airflow and worsens over time. The symptoms include shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing and sputum (mucus) production. It narrows the airways and results in difficulty breathing overall. When the airways narrow and lung tissue starts to break down, it is classified as emphysema. With this disorder, airflow does not improve with medicine. The only way to prevent COPD is to reducing your body’s exposure to its known causes. While known causes also include pollution, the biggest cause is through smoking. In fact, 80-90 percent of the people who have COPD have it from a result of smoking.