Shortness of breath. Family history of Alpha-1. -- select --AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict Of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaGuamHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaPuerto RicoRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingAlbertaBritish ColumbiaManitobaNew BrunswickNewfoundland and LNorthwest TerritorNova ScotiaNunavutOntarioPrince Edward IstaQuebecSaskatchewanYukon Territory •  Introduction •  Research •  Publications •  Patient Resources •  Information Request Alpha-1 is the leading genetic risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder COPD, the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Alpha-1 often is misdiagnosed as COPD or asthma. An estimated 10 million Americans suffer from COPD. Another 14 million are estimated to suffer from undiagnosed or developing COPD. In 2003, new guidelines from the American Thoracic Society and the European Respiratory Society called for testing of Alpha-1 in all adults with COPD, symptomatic emphysema, or asthma with airflow obstruction that is incompletely reversible after aggressive treatment. The Alpha-1 Foundation is creating a program to help you and your patients learn more about Alpha-1. Our goal is to encourage patients who have been diagnosed with COPD to seek testing for Alpha-1. You will be able to find more information about research and publications related to COPD and Alpha-1 by exploring this Web site.