Nearly 4 Million Worldwide Die Each Year From Asthma, COPD

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 16, 2017 -- Two major chronic lung diseases -- asthma and COPD -- kill nearly 4 million people worldwide annually, a new report finds.

The study calculates that 3.2 million people died in 2015 from COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) -- a group of lung conditions that includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis, often tied to smoking. Asthma caused another 400,000 deaths, the report found.

Asthma Control Essential in Pregnancy, Study Suggests

FRIDAY, July 14, 2017 -- Children whose mothers had uncontrolled asthma during pregnancy are at increased risk of developing the disease at a young age, a new study finds.

The findings suggest that "maintaining asthma control during pregnancy is an area for possible prevention of asthma in future generations," lead author Xiaoqin Liu said.

9/11 Survivors More Likely to Have Heart, Lung Diseases

MONDAY, July 17, 2017 -- Rescue workers and survivors of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center seem to have an increased risk for heart and lung diseases years later, a new study suggests.

Researchers looked at more than 8,700 people in the WTC Health Registry. This registry monitors the physical and mental health of the more than 71,000 people exposed to the air and debris after the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.