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.
The most common symptoms of COPD are breathlessness, or a 'need for air', excessive sputum production, and a chronic cough. However, COPD is not just simply a smoker's cough, but a under-diagnosed, life threatening lung disease that may progressively lead to death. Tobacco smoking.