The changing natural history of COPD: summary from the American Thoracic Society Meeting 2016

Notable Harvard professor and expert in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Dr. Bartolome Celli delivered a historical review about the origins of COPD and its natural history. In the historical perspective, Dr. Celli reminded the audience of the importance of respiration, commenting that respiration is the essence of life and that death is defined in part by the absence of respiration. During a 72-year lifespan it is estimated that a human breathes 223 million liters of air.