1 Joan, Princess of Wales, in the 13th century, the wife and consort of Llywelyn the Great, the Prince of Wales; and the daughter of King John of England. Joan, Princess of Wales, in the 13th century, the wife and consort of Llywelyn the Great, the Prince of Wales; and the daughter of King John of England.
1 More than 90% of COPD deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. 2  The primary cause of COPD is tobacco smoke (through tobacco use or second-hand smoke).  The disease now affects men and women almost equally, due in part to increased tobacco use among women in high-income countries.
Smoking is the primary cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease -- or COPD -- which is a condition that includes both chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Smoking makes symptoms worse in people who already have asthma, and it may actually cause the onset of asthma in some adolescents and adults.