According to The New York Times, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (an ailment encompassing chronic bronchitis, emphysema and some forms of asthma) "is now the fourth leading cause of death of Americans and the only major one that is on a seemingly relentless increase. Unless something is done to stem or reverse the trend, health experts predict, it will become [America's] and the world's third leading cause of death by 2020."