Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) — a progressive disease that makes it hard to breathe — is on the rise in the Capital with doctors now being advised to identify and counsel patients who visit them with the problem.
“After pollution, lack of awareness about this condition is the major reason for increased risk of COPD deaths,” said Dr. J.C. Suri, chest physician at Safdarjung Hospital.
COPD is a non-communicable lung disease that progressively robs sufferers of breath. Studies indicate that 25-50 per cent of people with clinically significant COPD don’t even know they have it. That is because the early stages of COPD are often unrecognised.
Symptoms include shortness of breath or complete breathlessness, chest congestion, wheezing, coughing mucus, excessively scratchy throat, presence of sputum, feeling lethargic and abrupt weight loss.
COPD is a common lung disease caused by tobacco, smoking, biomass fuel smoke and exposure to industrial pollution, fumes and environmental pollutants. It is the third leading cause of death worldwide and in India approximately 15 million suffer from COPD. It causes four times more deaths in metro cities of India as compared to the US and Europe due to common tobacco and smoking habits in people and environment pollution.
Dr. Suri added that people might discount early symptoms as a normal part of getting older, but they can be signs of a serious disease that needs treatment. Therefore it should not be neglected.
Doctor bodies have now recommended that for persons above 35 years who live and work in areas where there is smoke, noxious gas/fumes, it would be prudent to ask your doctor for simple screening test to rule out COPD.
People with existing COPD disease are considered to be at an increased risk of developing morbidities like cardiovascular issues, lung cancer and a variety of other medical anomalies.
The city is also seeing a rise in seasonal flu due to change in weather. Ayurvedacharya Dr. Partap Chauhan noted that a few basic precautious could keep you healthy this season. This includes adequate rest, drinking enough water, eating a healthy balanced diet and never self-medicating.
Symptoms include shortness of breath or complete breathlessness, chest congestion, wheezing, coughing mucus, excessively scratchy throat, presence of sputum, feeling lethargic and abrupt weight loss
