‘Six per cent adults have COPD’

Tribune News Service
Jalandhar,November 21

On the occasion of the World COPD Day, Dr HJ Singh, a chest physician and lnterventional Pulmonologist of Ranjit Chest and Multi Super Speciality Hospital, Jalandhar, and Chairman lndian Chest Society, Punjab, while addressing the mediapersons said chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) was a serious disease.

“It is a common preventable and treatable disease which is characterised by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation due to airway/or alveolar abnormalities, usually caused by significant exposure to noxious particles or gases,” he added.

He said as per the WHO data, COPD was the third major cause of death worldwide.

As per the national data six per cent of adult population has COPD and globally that causes around three million deaths annually. Actions could be taken by people to improve their respiratory health at any stage before or after COPD.

Dr Singh said the most common respiratory symptoms include dyspnea, cough and/ or sputum production.

“These symptoms may be under-reported by patients. But the major cause of COPD were smoking, occupational exposures,” he added.

He said the most effective medication for the disease was inhaler because it directly reaches the lungs as compared to tablets and syrups. The patient should go for spirometry test to check his lung efficiency.