The US medical experts and practitioners have raised alarm over the lack of accessibility to COPD treatment in rural areas amid growing numbers of cases and increased mortality associated with the disease. Dr. Manuel Ramos, a pulmonologist at NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital, who along with his colleagues, carried out a survey, pointed out that there is very limited access to proper COPD treatment in rural healthcare facilities and lack of patient awareness also leads to inadequate care. These two factors often result in progress of the disease, even if most are preventable, into comorbidities like cancer  high mortality rate. Dr Ramos also stressed on the importance of cultural influence, where several members of the family smoke from generation to generation.