Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the third largest killer after heart problems and cancer worldwide. Many people mistake their increased breathlessness and coughing as a normal part of ageing. They may not notice the symptoms in the early stages of the disease, and COPD can develop for years without noticeable shortness of breath, says Dr Sonal, pulmonologist at Livasa Hospital, Mohali.
She adds that the symptoms are visible in the more developed stages of the disease as COPD is a progressive form of lung disease ranging from mild to severe, and it affects nearly 63 million people in India, which is about 32 per cent of the world’s COPD population.
Dr Suresh Kumar Goyal, senior pulmonologist, adds that COPD causes more deaths than AIDS, TB, malaria and diabetes all put together. Its prevalence is around 5.5 per cent to 7.55 per cent in India, and recent studies suggest the prevalence rate of COPD in males is as high as 22 per cent and 19 per cent in women.
“COPD is an incurable and progressive condition, which inflames airways in lungs and destroys air sacs. The long-term effects of COPD result in an enlargement of the right side of the heart,” maintained Dr Ranjeet Kumar Gone, consultant, internal medicine.
Smoking accounts for 46 per cent of cases of COPD, followed by outdoor and indoor pollution which account for 21 per cent COPD cases and occupational exposure to gases and fumes account for 16 per cent cases, says Dr Jagpal Pandher, consultant, internal medicine.
