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Increasing vehicular and industrial pollution and number of smokers in urban areas has resulted in the rise in the incidence of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), a lung ailment that is characterised by a persistent blockage of airflow from the lungs. COPD is an under-diagnosed, life-threatening lung disease that interferes with normal breathing and is not fully reversible. The more familiar terms of chronic bronchitis and emphysema are now included within the COPD diagnosis, according to doctors.City-based pulmonologists, who are seeing an increased number of patients with COPD, said the disease was no longer confined to smokers. This is because pollution — both indoor and outdoor — and lifestyle changes are also found to be the causes.