We now in fact think of chronic obstructive lung disease as what we call a systemic disorder meaning that it has effect on and interactions with other parts of the body. People with chronic obstructive lung disease do develop with greater likelihood heart disease, they develop bone wasting, there is loss of muscle mass in patients and that loss of muscle mass is present separate from that which might occur with deconditioning.

Not too long ago the statement was made that if a patient had chronic obstructive lung disease that it was related to cigarette smoking, period. And only with very rare incidence was it related to anything else. But again, we believe now that asthma in younger years can evolve into chronic obstructive lung disease.