When breathing becomes difficult on a regular basis or coughing uncontrollably becomes a frequent problem, you might have a chronic breathing disorder. Breathing problems can be the result of many different conditions, such as Asthma, Chronic Bronchitis, or Emphysema. These are called chronic lower respiratory diseases. In 2007, these diseases were the fifth leading cause of deaths in South Carolina.

Asthma
Asthma is a chronic disease of the lungs that affects nearly 22 million Americans. As of 2004, 200,736 adults and 271,222 children in South Carolina suffered from asthma. Nearly one out of ten children in South Carolina have asthma. It is the leading cause of children’s hospitalization. Learn about the causes of asthma and what we can do in our homes and communities to decrease asthma's impact.
Chronic Bronchitis
Over 9 million Americans are diagnosed with chronic bronchitis annually. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, in 2004, there were 114,873 South Carolinians suffering with chronic bronchitis. Smokers are most likely to develop the disease, but workers who deal with dust and fumes are also at risk.
Emphysema
Emphysema, a non-reversible lung disease, took the lives of 13,913 Americans in 2004. Over 44,000 South Carolinians currently have emphysema. Emphysema is very disabling. Eighty to ninety percent of emphysema cases are linked to smoking. If you are concerned about emphysema, you need to read this.

Last Modified: Thursday September 26, 2019 9:09 AM