Smoking is the leading cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but it’s not the only cause. Nearly 1 in 3 people with this lung disease have never smoked. Some were exposed to pollution and other irritants in the air. And about 2% inherited a rare condition called alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency.
Most people with AAT deficiency have never been diagnosed and don’t know they have it. Learning your risks and getting treatment early is important to prevent the disease from damaging your lungs and liver.
What Is AAT Deficiency?
AAT is a protein your liver makes. Its main job is to protect…
