Does obstructive lung disease affect women differently from men?

Both men and women with obstructive lung disease suffer the same negative effects. However, the rates of the disease are rising faster in women. This may be due to an increase in smoking among women over the past few decades. In general, obstructive lung disease affects more men, but the death rate from the disease is almost equal for men and women. The symptoms and treatment options for the disease is the same for both genders.