Chest specialists have observed that Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is caused by smoking and environmental pollution, which is increasing in Pakistan against the declining trend in the world.
The COPD is considered 4th largest killer disease in the world, which will become 3rd largest killer disease by 2020.
They were speaking at a public health seminar on ‘Yet, it is not late to bring patients of shortness of breath back to normal life’ held in connection with World COPD Day under the aegis of the Mir Khalil-ur-Rahman Memorial (Jang Group of Newspapers), Pakistan Chest Society and GSK here at a local hotel.
Prof Dr Kamran Cheema, President Pakistan Chest Society and Head of Pulmonary Medicine Services Institute of Medical Sciences/Services Hospital Lahore (SIMS/SHL), explained that COPD gradually squeezed the breathing vessels, which caused cough, sputum and shortness of breath.
In addition to this, COPD also swells and blackens breathing bags in lungs, which is primarily caused by cigarette smoking and environmental pollution of smoke-emitting vehicles, factories, etc.
He said that COPD was the 4th largest killer disease in the world, which will become the 3rd largest killer disease by 2020.
Prof Dr Zafar Hussain Iqbal, Head of Pulmonary Medicine Allama Iqbal Medical College/Jinnah Hospital Lahore (AIMC/JHL), while quoting the phrase ‘prevention is better than cure’ regretted its non-compliance, saying that at least 50 percent men and 11 percent women were addicted to smoking, which was the cause of various diseases, including COPD.
He observed that it was not an easy task to quit smoking and therefore needed a greater resolve and commitment, saying that the doctor, smoker’s family and friends should also help the person in quickly getting rid of smoking.
‘Only 25 percent of smokers succeed in quitting smoking,’ he said, adding that those persons, who are able to quit smoking for a year, are called ex-smokers in medical terminology.
He urged the government to control environmental pollution and also advised people to quit smoking, take balanced diet and do physical exercise with a view to avoiding this disease.
Dr Ashraf Jamal, Associate Professor of Pulmonary Medicine, SIMS/SHL, said at least 15 to 20 percent of smokers contracted COPD, which was quite alarming.
He said that at least seven million people were suffering from COPD in Pakistan, while prevalence of COPD was recorded up to 9 percent among the population of the world.
He said that balanced diet, regular exercise, medicines and green tea considerably helped to reduce the gravity of this disease.
He also advised the patients to take medicines through inhalers and avoid direct medicines and injections. He advised people to avoid fried food and those eatables that caused acidity.
Instead, he said the people should increase intake of fruits and vegetables.
Later, the panel of experts gave answers to questions of the audience. Besides, Dr Hafeez and MKRMS Chairman Wasif Nagi also spoke on the occasion.
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