Chennai: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is not just simply a ‘smoker’s cough’, but an under-diagnosed, life threatening lung disease that may progressively lead to death.
According to the 2016 Global Burden of Diseases study, India ranks second in the world only after China in terms of number of cases of COPD but when it comes to deaths due to COPD, India has surpassed China and ranks first.
A press release regarding this, said, the physical struggle, the breathlessness, fight to move around and to do simple-daily-tasks can lead to an emotional stirring of self-respect, dignity and fear of losing control of one’s life.
This is the life of a COPD patient where a daily chore becomes an everyday challenge. The struggle is not only to breathe but it is also to find a way to live a dignified life with COPD. A COPD flare-up happens when COPD symptoms get worse, or when new symptoms develop. Flare-ups are also called exacerbations or ‘lung attacks’.
Left untreated, COPD flare-ups can have deadly consequences.
‘There are more than 55 million patients in India, making us the COPD capital of the world’, highlights Venu Gopal of Sooriya Multi Speciality Hospital, Chennai.
‘Long term subjection to risk factors like smoking, exposure to industrial smoke, long term use of chulhaas lead to this progressive condition called COPD, now popularly understood as Lung attack’, doctor points out.
Venu Gopal also said, despite being one of the major killer diseases in India, very little is known in general public about COPD.
‘By the time I see a patient post lung attack, the lungs are being substantially damaged. Early diagnosis not only leads to better management of the condition but also improves the quality of life of the patients and the care givers’.
He added, ‘Lung check-up, like BP and sugar check should be in the mind space of the public in our country. Developing countries like ours have higher pollution levels and higher chances of exposures to risk factors, which in the long run can lead to lung attack’.
The frequency of lung attack can be reduced with the regular use of inhalers.
‘Inhalers and its delivery system have evolved over years, keeping in mind the number of COPD patients increasing every day. An inhaler with a spacer or a newly introduced Breath actuated inhaler can easily deliver the required drug, in required dosage, directly to the lungs, dilating the airways and reducing the inflammation’, Informs VenuGopal.
Early diagnosis, correct treatment, adherence to treatment and regular assessment of the condition are the non-negotiable steps in keeping the lung attack in check.
