Chronic Respiratory Illness

Chronic obstructive airways disease (COPD) is a serious respiratory illness that affects the lungs. It is one of the leading causes of absence from work. COPD is characterized by chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma. COPD is a serious medical, psycho-social, and economic problem. The book portrays the experience of COPD from the point of view of sufferers and their families. The book aims to give a comprehensive review of the relevant psycho-social literature, as well as the implications for health professionals working within this area.

Over the last decade the incidence of Chronic Obstructive Airways Disease (bronchitis, emphysema, and chronic asthma) has increased significantly. It presents a major contemporary medical, psycho-social and economic problem, as one of the leading causes of absence from work. In Chronic Respiratory Illness Simon Williams portrays the experience of COAD from the point of view of sufferers and their families, and aims to give a comprehensive review of the relevant psycho-social literature, as well as the implications for health professionals working within this area.