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Hyderabad: Living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major challenge. The difficulty of breathing and performing basic tasks is often difficult to overcome each day. This is an aspect of the debilitating disease whose symptoms worsen over time and where aggressive treatment or hospitalization often aggravates rather than alleviates problems.
COPD is a group of progressive lung diseases such as chronic bronchitis, non-reversible asthma and emphysema in which breathing is difficult. COPD is a chronic lung injury that can not be repaired and affects quality of life in general. Invalidity due to respiratory problems affects 76% of patients; his progress is getting worse and often the patients are bedridden.
Read | Lung diseases increase 3 times faster in women
In the past, it was thought to be a human disease, but new cases diagnosed show that it is found three times faster in women than in men.
Dr. Gongati Paramjyoti, a pulmonologist at the Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences, said, "Of the total number of patients with respiratory disorders, about 30% have COPD. Of this number, 10% are women. It's one of the most misdiagnosed and under-treated diseases because the symptoms of chronic dry cough, phlegm and shortness of breath are mistaken for a heart problem or tuberculosis. "
The erroneous diagnosis of the disease contributes to further aggravating the quality of life. It has been found that scarred but post-infectious TB is also considered a risk factor for COPD, but not in all cases. There is a need to educate doctors and also people with persistent cough and breathing difficulties for an extended period.
Dr. Mahaboob Khan, professor of pulmonology and general manager of the thoracic hospital, said that suffering from an infection every two or three months or having an allergic cough that puts more time to heal should be evaluated with the help of a specialist.
"The reason is that lung damage does not present any direct symptoms.The lungs are powerful organs, but in case of continued insult, the deterioration is faster." And pesticide sprayers or people exposed to significant vehicular pollution must be controlled if these symptoms persist, "said Dr. Khan.
Early diagnosis can help provide medications and reduce lung damage. There may be symptomatic treatment with breathing exercises, dietary modification, and other lifestyle adjustments that will help limit the damage. Two main indoor pollutants have been identified as the cause of COPD in women, namely biomass and passive smoking.
Biofuels affect women in rural areas and most of them who go to hospitals have been using it for more than 15 years.
In urban women, passive smoking affects 34% of women in the workplace and 54% at home. Various studies have shown that passive smokers are exposed to 85% of the smoke in the room, while active smokers, mostly men, are exposed to potentially toxic components.
Dr. Khan said, "Passive smoking has several subtle and explicit effects on the lungs. This leads to impaired lung function, airway dysfunction and increased cough by inspiring cold air in nonsmokers. "
Indoor and outdoor pollution is the risk factor for COPD and air quality plays a major role in healthy living. Long-term, continuous exposure reduces life expectancy. Recent assessments of toxic air quality with particles 2.5 times greater than 300 μg / m3 have shown that they can reduce life expectancy by 10 years.
Understanding COPD and its detection
A recent study published in the International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease found that chronic cough should be considered a marker of COPD rather than chronic sputum.
The spirometry test is the cornerstone of the diagnosis of COPD. Spirometry is one of the first tests, among the most non-invasive, used to diagnose COPD. In this test, a machine (a spirometer) measures the amount of air you can breathe and the force with which you can exhale.
Symptoms of COPD
Chronic cough persistent and recurrent. Often cough
continue for more than three weeks. It is also dry in nature and hurtful.
- Mucus production can be white, yellow or greenish in nature.
- Shortness of breath, especially during physical activity.
- Wheezing.
- Tightening of the chest.
- Blue lips or nails.
- Lack of energy.
- Swelling of the ankles, feet or legs.
- Frequent respiratory infections.
- Lack of energy or fatigue.
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