How do you get COPD? Causes, Risk Factors, and Prevention

You can get COPD from long-term exposure to tobacco, dust, air pollution, chemicals at work, and other lung irritants. These irritants damage your lungs, making it harder to breathe and blocking airflow over time. But COPD is preventable. Quitting smoking, taking measures at the workplace, and keeping up with regular checkups can help reduce the chances of getting COPD. Here’s how you can protect your lungs and reduce your risk of developing the disease:

• Avoid pollutants

• Early testing and diagnosis

• Stay active and healthy

Read on to learn about the causes of COPD, spot early warning signs, and take simple steps to keep your lungs strong.

How do you get COPD?

The exposure to the tobacco, air pollutants, and other harmful substances damages the inner lining of the lungs, causing the airways to behave abnormally. This makes it harder for lung cells to clean themselves, fight infections and lead to the COPD. Here is how:

• The tiny hair-like cilia, which normally sweep out mucus and dirt, start to decrease.

• At the same time, mucus-producing goblet cells increase, creating too much sticky mucus (leading to chronic bronchitis). 

• The lung’s immune system becomes weaker which makes it easier for germs to enter the cells 

The invasion of germs triggers inflammation during which your lungs call for help to fight the infection:

• But too many immune cells can accidentally damage the lungs while fighting the infection.

• If this happens again and again, the airways and tiny air sacs (alveoli) start to break down.

• Sometimes the immune system overreacts, making the damage even worse.

• Over time, this cycle of infection and inflammation causes emphysema and makes it harder to breathe.

What causes COPD? 5 lung irritants you should know about

Here are common irritants that scar the lungs and inflame the airways causing COPD, overtime:

Smoking tobacco

Smoking is the leading cause of COPD.  The more a person smokes, and the longer they smoke, the greater their lung damage and risk of COPD is. This is measured in pack-years, which means smoking one pack of cigarettes a day for one year. Even a small smoking history can raise the risk of damaging the lungs, but smoking for 20 pack-years or more makes it much higher. In fact, not just smoking, but breathing in secondhand smoke expose your lungs to the following harmful chemicals:

• Nicotine

• Tar

• Carbon monoxide

• Formaldehyde 

Occupational Hazards

If you work in mining, construction, manufacturing, or cleaning, you may be exposed to dust, fumes, gases, and strong chemicals. Over time, these can irritate your lungs leading to the blockage in the airflow. Common workplace irritants you might encounter include:

• Stone and wood dust

• Vapurs, exhaust gases, and welding fumes

• Exposure to the cleaning agents such as glutaraldehyde, Bleach, Hydrogen peroxide, and Alcohol (raises the risk of COPD by 43%)

Repeated exposure to these chemicals can lead to long-term inflammation and permanent lung damage.

Air Pollution

Outdoor and indoor air pollution is the second biggest cause of COPD, after smoking. It exposes the lungs to harmful gases that inflame lung tissue, trigger breathing problems and worsen the COPD symptoms. 

Outdoor air is the source of:

• Particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10)

• Ozone (O₃), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and sulfur dioxide (SO₂)

Indoor air pollution consists of: 

• Smoke from cooking or heating with solid fuels like wood, charcoal, or dung

• Biomass smoke from poorly ventilated stoves or fires

Smoke from both of these sources weakens the lung cells resulting in cough, infection, and wheezing.

AAT (Alpha-1 antitrypsin) deficiency

AAT is a protective protein that shields the lungs from inflammation. When AAT levels are too low, the lungs lose their natural defense against enzymes that break down lung tissue. Over time, this leads to permanent damage to the air sacs leading to emphysema. It’s important to ask your doctor about testing for AAT deficiency, if:

• You have a family history of COPD

• You developed lung symptoms earlier than expected

• Your parents, siblings, and children are diagnosed with lung symptoms 

Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency is a rare genetic cause of COPD. While AAT deficiency can lead to COPD even if you have not ever smoked, smoking increases your risk of developing the disease. 

Childhood respiratory issues

Breathing problems that begin in childhood can prevent your lungs from growing to their full size and strength. This makes you more sensitive to infections, and increases your chance of getting COPD. Some of these problems include:

• Pneumonia in early childhood can cause lasting damage to the lungs causing shortness of breath, and frequent coughs.

• Children with asthma are about three times more likely to develop COPD as adults, especially if asthma begins early or is combined with allergies such as eczema or hay fever.

• Babies born prematurely or with poor lung growth may never reach full lung capacity, increasing their risk of breathing problems.

What really increases your risk of COPD?

You can get COPD from a mix of genetic and lifestyle factors. While you can’t change your genes or early-life lung health, you can change your lifestyle to reduce exposure to lung irritants. 

COPD usually develops from a combination of factors, not just from modifiable or non-modifiable factors alone. For example, smoking can raise your risk even more if you already have a family history of lung disease. Likewise, childhood asthma or staying inactive later in life can make you more likely to have ongoing coughing, wheezing, or mucus buildup.

Simple steps to prevent COPD and slow down its progression 

1. Eliminate tobacco Smoking

As tobacco smoking is the main environmental factor leading to COPD, cessation is the most important preventative measure. This includes taking conscious lifestyle choices and medical support such as:

• Tobacco alternative gums

• Have healthy snacks with you

• Get yourself involved in activities that can distract your from smoking

• Take bupropion, or varenicline as per your doctor’s recommendation

• Nicotine replacement therapy

2. Reduce environmental and occupational exposures

Making conscious changes at home, outdoors, and at work can help protect your lungs and prevent long-term harm. Here are some effective ways to reduce exposure to air pollutants:

1. Improve indoor air quality by keeping your home smoke-free and well-ventilated. 

2. Use exhaust fans while cooking and avoid burning wood, charcoal, or other solid fuels indoors.

3. If your job involves dust, fumes, or chemicals, always wear a mask or respirator and ensure proper ventilation in your workspace.

4.  Stay indoors when possible or wear a well-fitted mask on high-pollution days,

5. Avoid secondhand smoke

6. Advocate for smoke-free zones, cleaner fuel options, and workplace safety measures to protect yourself and others.
   
   

3. Prevent exacerbations through vaccination

Vaccinations help lower the risk of infections that can trigger COPD flare-ups and worsen symptoms. Here are some of the common vaccination shots that can help you keep the symptoms at bay:

• Influenza (Flu) Vaccine: Get this shot every year to reduce the risk of flu-related lung infections.

• COVID-19 Vaccine: Stay current with booster doses as recommended for your age and health status.

• RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) Vaccine: Recommended as a one-time dose for adults aged 60 and older.

• Pneumococcal Vaccine: A single dose of the 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine helps prevent pneumonia and related infections.

• Zoster (Shingles) Vaccine: Recommended for adults aged 50 and older to reduce the risk of shingles and its complications.
  
  

4. Change your lifestyle to breath easier

Improving your lifestyle can strengthen your breathing muscles, lowering the risk of wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and long-term COPD progression. This includes:

• Getting involved in regular movement such as walking, gentle stretching, or light exercise. This helps strengthen your lungs and muscles, making everyday activities easier.

• Improve your diet to help your lungs fight inflammation 

• Learn about COPD, your medications, and how to recognize early signs of flare-ups to prevent complications.

• Pulmonary rehabilitation combines exercise, education, and breathing techniques to improve your strength and endurance
  
  

5. Screen for early COPD identification 

If you experience chronic cough, shortness of breath, or frequent chest infections, or have risk factors like smoking (especially over 20 pack-years), ask your doctor about screening. The most common COPD diagnosis is spirometry testing during which:

• You take a deep breath and blow into a small device.

• It measures the amount of air you can exhale and how fast you can blow it out

• It allows you to know if your lungs are losing their function even before the symptoms appear 

While not a direct prevention tip, early identification of COPD  allows for better treatment, fewer complications, and helps you live longer with COPD.

COPD Warning Signs and When to Get Tested

COPD develops slowly, and many people mistake its early symptoms for “just getting older” or being out of shape. But catching it early gives you the best chance to slow its progress and protect your lungs. You should consider getting tested if you notice the following warning signs of COPD:

• Shortness of breath, especially during everyday activities like walking or climbing stairs

• Chronic cough that doesn’t go away

• Production of phlegm even without a cough

• Tightness in chest 

• Frequent chest infections that seem to linger

• Fatigue or feeling easily tired

• Have smoked for 20 pack-years or more

Early diagnosis allows for timely treatment, lifestyle changes, and support that can slow disease progression and improve quality of life. The sooner COPD is identified, the better your chances of maintaining healthy lung function for years to come.

Don’t Let These COPD Myths Fool You

Myth 1: Only Smokers Get COPD / Smoking is the Only Cause of COPD

Fact: Although smoking is the leading cause of the COPD, your genes, occupational hazards and air pollution can also result in COPD symptoms even if you haven’t smoked. In fact, approximately one in four people with COPD were nonsmokers 

Myth 2: Quitting smoking means you won’t develop COPD

Fact: Quitting smoking greatly lowers your risk of further lung damage and slows the progression of COPD. However, it doesn’t completely eliminate the risk, because any damage already done to your lungs cannot be fully reversed, and other factors can still contribute.

Myth 3: COPD occurs in people above 40

Fact:  While age increases the risk of COPD, it can still develop in your 20s or 30s, especially in people with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency or other risk factors.

Myth 4: COPD only affects the lungs

Fact: COPD is a respiratory illness, but its effects can extend the heart, brain health and rest of the body. 

Myth 5: A little workplace dust won’t hurt

Fact: There is a positive association between COPD and occupational exposure to specific airborne substances. Long-term or repeated exposure, common in mining, construction, or cleaning can cause lasting lung damage.

Myth 6: You can tell when you’re getting COPD

Fact: COPD develops slowly over time, and early symptoms are often mild or easily mistaken for aging, being out of shape, or smoking effects. Many people don’t realize they have COPD until lung damage has already occurred.

FAQS

1. Can you get COPD if you have never smoked?

   Yes, it’s possible to develop COPD even if you’ve never smoked. Exposure to secondhand smoke, air pollution, certain workplace dust or chemicals, and genetic factors can all damage your lungs over time, leading to airflow problems and increasing your risk of COPD.
   
   

2. How many years of smoking cause COPD?

   Jobs that expose you to dust, fumes, chemicals, or smoke over long periods increase the risk of COPD even if you’ve never smoked. High-risk occupations include:

   • Industrial and manufacturing jobs: welding, metalworking, plastics processing, cement, paper, and flour milling.

   • Agriculture and farming: pesticide use, handling grain or animal dust, and general farm work.

   • Construction and mining: exposure to stone, coal, or mineral dust.

   • Healthcare and cleaning: frequent use of disinfectants like bleach, glutaraldehyde, hydrogen peroxide, and quaternary ammonium compounds.

   • Other roles: gardeners, sculptors, painters, engravers, food and beverage processing, and warehouse stock handling.
     
     

3. Is COPD curable if caught early?

   No, COPD cannot be cured because the damage to your lungs is permanent. THowever, catching it early gives you the chance to slow its progression, manage symptoms, and maintain a better quality of life.
   
   

4. Can vaping cause COPD?

   Yes, vaping may increase your risk of COPD. E-cigarette users have higher odds of developing lung problems, likely due to chemical exposure and inflammation, though a direct cause-and-effect link hasn’t been fully proven yet.
   
   

5. How many years of smoking cause COPD?

   There’s no fixed number of years that guarantees COPD as it depends on how much you smoke overall (pack-years) and your individual susceptibility. Generally, heavy smokers who reach 20 or more pack-years face the highest risk, while even lower exposures still increase the chance. Women may develop COPD faster than men at similar smoking levels. Early, long-term smoking even in your 20s or 30s can set the stage for COPD later in life.

In a Nutshell: Protecting Your Lungs from COPD

COPD may develop silently, but you don’t have to wait for symptoms to act.  If you have risk factors like a history of smoking, workplace exposures, or recurring lung infections, getting a risk assessment and screening can make a real difference. Regular checkups, vaccinations, adapting healthy habits, and avoiding lung irritants can help slow the disease’s progression, and reduce flare-ups. 

Reference

1. Respiratory Care. 2023. Understanding COPD Etiology, Pathophysiology, and Definition: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10289621/

2. Annals of Medicine. 2025. Childhood respiratory risk profiles associated with lung function and COPD among the old population: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11866643/

3. Frontiers in Medicine. 2023. Effect of smoking on the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in young individuals: a nationwide cohort study: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10428618/

4. SBU Assessment. 2025. Occupational Exposures and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK613831/

5. Chronic Disease and Translational Medicine. 2020. Air pollution and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7729117/

6. GeneReviews. Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1519/

7. Journal Brasileiro de Pneumologia. 2024. GOLD 2024: a brief overview of key changes: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10760434/