Many diseases compete for the title “The Epidemic of the 21st Century” – for example, the “obesity epidemic” and “attention-deficit-disorder epidemic” are often mentioned. But it is doubtful that any other epidemic is so ignored by the general public and doctors as that of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Surprisingly, this disease – of which about 90 percent of the public is probably ignorant – is the fourth most common cause of death in the world.