COPD affects more than smokers — and Philadelphia’s air quality makes awareness critical

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is a condition that affects more than just longtime smokers. According to recent studies, women are disproportionately impacted, and exposure to poor air quality plays a significant role in its development.

COPD claims roughly 142,000 lives each year nationwide, affecting about 4% of all U.S. adults - or over 11 million people. While the condition is often associated with smoking, research has shown that non-smokers can also be at risk if they are exposed to poor air quality or occupational health hazards.

Symptoms of COPD include frequent coughing, wheezing sounds while breathing, shortness of breath during exercise, and chest tightness. Despite these warning signs, many cases remain undiagnosed, particularly in women. Research has shown that more women than men are diagnosed with COPD and die from the disease.

Women's smaller lungs and airways may contribute to their increased sensitivity to damage, making smoking more harmful for them. This is why many women with COPD have smoked less than men who develop the disease. Dr. Jamie Garfield, a pulmonologist at the Temple Lung Center, notes that "many diseases and conditions present differently in women than in men," and COPD is one of them.

Treatment options for COPD include medications such as inhalers to open airways or reduce inflammation, pulmonary rehabilitation programs that combine exercise, education, and breathing strategies, oxygen therapy, and surgical options like lung volume reduction procedures. The Temple Lung Center offers tailored treatment plans to each patient's needs and connects eligible patients with clinical trials testing the latest therapies.

However, the environment plays a significant role in COPD development. Philadelphia's air quality is worse than the national average, making it particularly concerning for residents. According to the American Lung Association's 2025 "State of the Air" report, Philadelphia County received an F grade for particle pollution, ranking among the worst in the country and third worst in the Mid-Atlantic.

Dr. Gerard Criner, director of the Temple Health Lung Center, emphasizes that air pollution is increasingly recognized as a driver of lung disease. Living in a city like Philadelphia, where air quality ranks below the national average, means the environment itself becomes a risk factor for COPD.

Despite these challenges, researchers at the Temple Lung Center are advancing treatment through research. The center operates one of the largest and most comprehensive COPD programs in the country, combining advanced clinical care with groundbreaking research. They have contributed to global standards for COPD management and run one of the highest-volume lung transplant programs in the United States.

Recent breakthroughs include participation in the BREATHE-3 clinical trial, which evaluates a new bronchoscopic device designed to relieve trapped air in the lungs and help patients breathe more easily. The Temple Lung Center enrolls hundreds of patients in clinical trials each year, offering access to treatments that are reshaping the future of care.

According to Dr. Criner, "the future of COPD care is about creating treatments that allow patients to live fuller lives." With new therapies and a growing understanding of how environment and gender play a role, there is growing hope for patients with COPD.

I'm so worried about air quality in Philly - it's literally killing people! Like, I get that we need to breathe in oxygen and all, but can't we just make sure the air is clean? Women are like, super vulnerable to COPD 'cause of their smaller lungs and stuff... I feel for them . We gotta take care of our lungs, fam!

I'm all for supporting research into COPD treatment options but I gotta say, the environmental impact on women's lungs is super concerning . I get that air quality in Philly is worse than the national average, but shouldn't our gov be doing more to address this? Like, why are we still dealing with such poor air quality if it's a known risk factor for COPD?

And can we talk about how women are just being diagnosed at a higher rate and dying from COPD more often? It's like, they're already at a disadvantage because of their smaller lungs and airways, but then they get sick from smoking less than men who develop the disease... it's just not fair .

But on the bright side, I love that the Temple Lung Center is doing groundbreaking research and offering clinical trials for new treatments. It's giving patients hope and creating a future where they can live fuller lives . We need more of this kind of support and innovation in our healthcare system!

I'm so concerned about the state of our air quality . The fact that women are disproportionately impacted by COPD due to exposure to poor air quality is just heartbreaking. It's not just smokers who need to worry, but also non-smokers and people living in areas with poor pollution levels. Philadelphia being ranked among the worst cities for air quality is a huge red flag! We need more research and awareness about the impact of environment on our health.

It's also interesting that women are often underdiagnosed due to smaller lung capacity, but this doesn't mean they're less affected by the disease. The Temple Lung Center is doing amazing work in terms of treatment options and clinical trials, which is a huge step forward for COPD care. We need more programs like theirs that prioritize patient-centered care and innovative research.

Let's all do our part to create cleaner air and reduce pollution levels! Every small action counts, whether it's using public transport, carpooling, or simply reducing our plastic use . We owe it to ourselves, our loved ones, and future generations to protect our lungs and our planet

I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE Raising awareness about COPD, especially among women, since they're disproportionately affected! it's not just about smoking, but also exposure to poor air quality and occupational hazards. we need to make sure people know the symptoms and get diagnosed early so we can catch it before it gets worse! and with new research coming out, like this BREATHE-3 trial, I'm hopeful that we'll see some real progress in treating COPD.

I'm not surprised the air quality in Philly's killing it when it comes to COPD cases . We need to do better as a city to tackle this issue, especially considering how it affects women disproportionately . As someone who's lived here their whole life, I've noticed a change over the years - less green spaces and more industrial areas = bad air quality . We gotta make conscious choices about where we live, work, and play to keep our lungs healthy

COPD isn't just about smokers anymore... I mean, we should be more worried about non-smokers who are breathing in all that polluted air . Women are already getting hit harder by this thing, so let's not forget they're the ones dealing with smaller lungs and airways too . We need to think about the role of air pollution way more than just COPD - it's like, we should be worried about our entire environment becoming a health hazard . And what's up with all these clinical trials? They're always talking about new treatments, but when will they actually get to the root cause of this problem? We need more research on how air pollution affects us and not just patching it up with Band-Aid solutions . And have you noticed that everyone's still saying COPD is a major public health crisis, but I'm like... what about the people who aren't even getting diagnosed? That's a bigger problem in my book .

I think its really wild that women are disproportionately impacted by COPD, especially since we know they're often exposed to the same air pollution as men. It makes sense that their smaller lungs might make them more sensitive to damage. But what's even crazier is how much less smoking some of these women have done and still end up getting the disease . We need to be looking at how our environment can prevent this kind of thing from happening in the first place, not just treating it after it happens. Those new breakthroughs sound promising though! If we can develop treatments that make breathing easier and allow patients to live fuller lives, that's a huge step forward

So like what's really crazy is that women are way more affected by COPD than we thought - it's not just about the smoking thing, but also air quality & stuff... I mean, who knew our environment could be so deadly? It's no wonder Philly's got some major issues with air quality, and it's making a lot of people worried. 11 million ppl in the US are living with COPD, that's like... what can we do about it tho? I guess we gotta start paying more attention to our air & take care of ourselves, especially women. We need more research & advancements in treatments, but it sounds like Philly's got some awesome teams working on it!

I think its so unfair that women are more likely to get COPD than men, even if they dont smoke much . Its like their bodies just cant handle the air pollution as well as guys can. And whats really sad is that lots of cases go undiagnosed cuz doctors think it only affects smokers... I mean, yeah, smoking is bad news for anyone but its not all or nothing . We need to get better at recognizing the signs and taking care of our lungs in general. And I hope those researchers at the Temple Lung Center keep pushing for new treatments

OMG I'm like totally worried about my friends who have COPD their symptoms sound super scary - frequent coughing & wheezing... it's not just smokers who are at risk, btw! women are more likely to get it too, and it's so unfair that they might die from it without even getting diagnosed . The air quality in Philly is like, woah! I hope the Temple Lung Center can keep working on new treatments & research... Dr. Criner said something about making treatment plans tailored to each patient's needs? that sounds amazing!

I'm thinking, you know? We're living in a world where our air quality is literally killing us . I mean, it's crazy to think that women are disproportionately impacted by COPD because of their smaller lungs and airways. It's like, we're not just talking about smoking here, we're talking about the environment we live in.

I was reading this report from the American Lung Association, and it said that Philadelphia's air quality is worse than the national average . That's wild. And it's not just the pollution that's the problem, it's the fact that we're still not doing enough to address it. We need to be thinking about how our daily choices affect our health, you know? Do we really want to live in a world where we have to worry about breathing every time we step outside?

It's funny, though. The Temple Lung Center is like, on the forefront of COPD research . They're finding new treatments and therapies that are actually changing people's lives. It's heartening to see, you know? But at the same time, it's also a bit scary. I mean, we still have so much to learn about this disease, and we need to be careful not to overlook any potential risks.

Anyway, just food for thought . We should all be thinking about our health, and how we can take care of ourselves in a world that's increasingly complex and polluted .

I'm super curious why women's smaller lungs and airways make them more sensitive to damage from smoking ... isn't that just part of who we are? Like, can't our lungs handle the bad stuff or something? And what about all those people living in cities with really poor air quality? Is it like, impossible for us to avoid the pollution and still breathe easily? I also wonder if they've figured out ways to make COPD treatment more accessible and affordable for everyone... especially since it's such a big deal for so many people. How can we get better at taking care of our lungs, anyway?

I'm literally sobbing just thinking about all the women out there suffering from COPD who aren't even being properly diagnosed because they're not showing all the classic symptoms . It's like, we need to raise awareness and make sure everyone knows that COPD is NOT just a smoking thing anymore . The air quality in Philly is a total disaster and it's making people sick left and right. I mean, what even is the point of living in a city if you're constantly breathing toxic air ? We need to get our air clean ASAP or risk losing more lives . And don't even get me started on how much more research needs to be done on how women's bodies react differently to pollutants . It's like, we're making progress but we still have so far to go . The Temple Lung Center is literally doing amazing work but it feels like they're fighting a losing battle . We need to support them and keep pushing for better treatments and more research .

so like women are more likely to get COPD and its not just because they smoke... i mean i know some guys who dont smoke but still have those wheezing fits guess it's all about the air quality, right? pollution is a big deal! philly is like waaay worse than the rest of the country and we all know how bad that is. good to see doc's working on new treatments tho... maybe one day we'll have machines that can just suck out all the yucky particles from our lungs