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Dr. Binita Priyambada
Nov 22, 2018 10:35 AM IST
Humans breathe more than 6 million times a year. On average, a person breathes 12 to 15 times a minute, at rest. It's a lot of work for the pair on either side of the heart just behind the chest called the lungs.
By taking oxygen from the environment and transferring it to the blood, this organ fulfills one of the most important functions of the human body. However, the body of each person can not perform this function smoothly and transparently.
The third Wednesday of November, November 21 of this year, is proclaimed World COPD Day. This year's theme of "Never too soon, never too late" was chosen by Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (GOLD), an organization that aims to raise public awareness by organizing seminars, sharing information materials and organizing various activities.
Image of representation. Image credit: Pinterest / Ruth Basagoitia
During these 30 days, the goal is to sensitize the population to a group of lung conditions caused by narrowing of the airways. It is therefore also considered National Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Awareness Month. People suffering from this disorder have trouble breathing.
What is COPD?
COPD is a progressive life-threatening lung disease that causes shortness of breath and is expected to become the third leading cause of death in the world by 2030, according to WHO.
The most common form of COPD is emphysema this tends to destroy the air sacs in your lungs, which interferes with the outgoing airflow and bronchitis that causes inflammation that narrows the bronchi and then builds up mucus.
According to a report by the Global Burden of Disease Study, there were approximately 251 million cases of COPD in the world in 2016 and it is estimated that this disease causes 3.15 million deaths a year.
In India, this figure was about 13%, according to a 2016 study entitled "Lifestyle Diseases: Body Burden" conducted by the Center for Science and Environment (CSE). He further stated that men and women in rural areas were at higher risk for COPD than their urban counterparts.
The many different causes
- With more than 7,000 harmful chemicals produced by a cigarette burn, smoking is the leading cause of this lung disorder. Tobacco, in any form, such as cigars, bidi and even electronic cigarettes, can cause COPD; This also places passive smokers in the high risk category.
- Air pollution is another major cause of this disease. Prolonged exposure to industrial air pollutants such as chemical vapors, dust or toxic substances by burning charcoal or wood can irritate the lungs and cause inflammation. India, with 25 lakh deaths due to air pollution, the threat of COPD is only increasing.
- Nearly 4 billion people die prematurely of a disease attributable to domestic air pollution, according to the WHO. This is due to the use of inefficient methods such as biomass and charcoal used for cooking, heating and other household needs, resulting in 20% of deaths due to COPD.
- Alpha-1-antitrypsin is a protein found in the lungs and in the blood that helps protect organs from damage and inflammation. Although a genetic disease, a deficiency of it can cause lung and liver disease.
- It can also be caused by an infection, which can destroy lung tissue in patients with overactive airways or asthma.
The vicious circle of COPD. Courtesy of image: Hit Consultation
Symptoms
COPD has harmless symptoms that can usually be ignored and considered as an aging process.
Thus, symptoms such as a persistent or modified cough should not be considered a flu or cold. Other symptoms that can help detect this disease at an early stage include an occasional shortness of breath after physical activity, mild and recurrent cough, wheezing, chest tightness, frequent respiratory infections, or a lack of energy.
Treatment
As for the treatment, there are medications that can help people breathe better. Significant progress has been made in the area of inhaled COPD, which has a much lower side-effect profile than oral therapies two or three decades ago.
Programs such as pulmonary rehabilitation help educate patients on the exercises, food and breathing techniques needed to live with COPD. However, the most important step in treating the disease is to stop all active and passive smoking.
There are also many ways to manage COPD well: get vaccinated quickly, maintain a balanced diet, maintain an ideal weight, and stay active.
Plus, doing exercise gradually, and then increasing its duration and intensity, is one of the most effective ways to maintain the lung capacity of patients with COPD. This should be done under the guidance of their doctor.
An overview of what is involved in a pulmonary rehabilitation cycle. Image credit: Hit Consultation
Another important factor that sufferers should be careful about is not getting lung infections as this could worsen their illnesses.
Dietary advice
Although there is no specific diet for these patients, here are some tips that can help them stay strong and healthy.
- Balanced diet with vegetables, fruits, cereals, dairy products and proteins
- About 2 liters of water
- Reduce your salt intake because it causes water retention and therefore respiratory stress
- Reduce consumption of caffeinated beverages
So mark the day today to share the legacy of awareness by informing and educating more people about COPD. Celebrated in more than 50 countries since 2002, people with this mission adorn an orange ribbon, although some organizations even use gold and gray.
Regardless of your ribbon choice, informing only one person can make a huge difference in the lives of these patients.
The author is a senior consultant in the docprime.com medical team.
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