How to prevent the progression of chronic bronchitis: the role of smoking cessation prevention.

Cigarette smoking has been established as the chief avoidable cause of a number of pulmonary diseases, including emphysema, asthma, chronic bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In Italy, over 68,000 pulmonary deaths were attributed to tobacco use in 1987, compared to about 390,000 deaths in the United States. COPD accounts for the majority of these deaths in both Italy and the U.S., with 90 to 95% of all COPD deaths attributed to smoking. Quitting smoking results in dramatic health benefits, including a decrease in respiratory symptoms and acute respiratory infections, and a 5% improvement in pulmonary functioning. By using brief and effective smoking cessation interventions with patients who smoke, clinicians can play a central role in improving the pulmonary health of their patients. In addition, clinicians must take an active part in local, national, and international efforts to eliminate tobacco use.