Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease In the United States, nearly 16 million Americans suffer from a disease that accounts for approximately 105,000 deaths annually. This disease which has no cure, is known as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). COPD is a disease of the lungs, which is caused the blocking of the airways in the lungs. It is a group of diseases that includes chronic bronchitis, asthmatic bronchitis, and emphysema. It is an incurable disease, that is even more common than asthma. COPD results from damage to the lungs over many years and affects both men and women. COPD usually is a result of smoking, although only 10 to 15 percent of smokers acquire i