Emphysema as a Lifestyle

COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a blanket term used to describe both chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Usually caused by cigarette smoking, these diseases can on occasion occur due to external environmental factors.

Christine Rowley, former Guide to Smoking Cessation here at About.com suffered for years from emphysema. She carried an oxygen bottle with her 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Read her quit smoking story and account of how it feels to live with this smoking-related disease day in and day out.

Christine Rowley's Quit Smoking Story
"Things might be very different today, had I not begun smoking as a teen. I feel that I became a nearly hopeless nicotine addict in a very short time."

Living With Emphysema
Former Smoking Cessation Guide, Christine Rowley shares with us what life is like when you're attached to external oxygen 24/7. "Truly, I pray a smoking-related disease NEVER ever happens to you."