Chronic respiratory diseases are chronic diseases of the airways and other structures of the lung. Some of the most common are asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), respiratory allergies, occupational lung diseases and pulmonary hypertension. Hundreds of millions of people suffer from chronic respiratory disease. Currently 300 million people have asthma, 80 million people have moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) while hundreds of millions of others suffer from mild COPD, allergic rhinitis and other often-undiagnosed chronic respiratory diseases. The World Health Organization estimates that, in 2005, some four million people died of chronic respiratory diseases. Deaths will increase by a staggering 30% in the next 10 years, if urgent action is not taken.
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