Respiratory illnesses such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, tuberculosis, and pneumonia are common medical conditions affecting millions of people around the world. Despite medical progress, in some cases with vaccines, these conditions continue to present major challenges to our public health as well as to our personal health. For example, COPD, which includes bronchitis and emphysema, is the third leading cause of death in the country, claiming nearly 125,000 deaths annually. This program will examine the causes of some of the more common respiratory conditions, their effects on personal health, how they are treated, and what can be done to prevent them.