Commentaries in this issue cover a range of respiratory diseases—including asthma, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), tuberculosis, pertussis, influenza, and pneumonia—as well as treatment and prevention strategies such as smoking cessation and vaccination. Original articles include a descriptive review of asbestosis and silicosis hospitalization trends in North Carolina during the period 2002–2011, and an analysis of the prevalence, characteristics, and impact of COPD.