What are the risk factors of COPD?

• Tobacco smoke exposure. Long-term cigarette smoking is the main risk factor for COPD. The more years you smoke and the more packs you smoke, the greater your risk.
• People with asthma. The chronic inflammatory airway illness asthma may increase the risk of getting COPD. Smoking and asthma together significantly raise the risk of developing COPD.
• Occupational Exposure to chemicals and dust. Your lungs can get irritated and inflamed from prolonged exposure to chemical fumes, vapours, and dusts at work.
• Exposure to fumes from burning fuel. People in the developing world are more likely to develop COPD if they are exposed to the fumes from burning fuel for cooking and heating in poorly ventilated homes.
• Genetics. Some cases of COPD are caused by the unusual genetic condition alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency. Some smokers are possibly more prone to the disease due to additional genetic concerns.