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Businesswire
Diagnose COPD Early to Prevent Lung Attack
November 19, 2019
Business Wire India
India has become the ‘COPD Capital of the World’. The severity of COPD can be judged by the fact that India has the most cases of COPD in the world and ranks second when it comes to death caused by COPD1. COPD is causing more deaths than AIDS, TB, Malaria, Diabetes all put together3. Despite the alarming numbers, COPD is highly neglected in the country and very little is written or talked about in media. Another graving factor is that poor Delayed COPD diagnosis & poor COPD management is worsening the situation and leading the patient to ‘LUNG ATTACK’6. The symptoms further aggravate as our lungs mature by the time, we are about 20-25 years old, and with aging, it is normal for our lung function to decline. This can make breathing slightly more difficult as we get older.
According to Dr. Tejal Shah, Consultant Pulmonologist, Godrej Hospital said, “Persistent exposure to the risk factors and respiratory infections can aggravate the condition. The lack of awareness, its symptoms and implications contribute significantly in preventing people from seeking help and reaching out to their primary care physicians. And even if they visit the general practitioner the possibility of under-diagnosis is high.”
Further Dr. Ashok Mahasur, Consultant Pulmonologist at Hinduja Healthcare highlighted “Diagnosis of lung attack is often based on the degree of worsening signs of COPD such as oxygen levels being lower than normal, findings of physical examination by a doctor, wheezing and rapid shallow breathing.8. Identifying the signs and symptoms of lung attack and getting timely help from physician is the best way to prevent further worsening of disease progression. LUNG ATTACK requires urgent medical attention and if it is left untreated it can result in fatal implications.7”
Lung attack cannot always be prevented but taking some precautions may help reduce the number and frequency of lung attacks. Correspondingly, LUNG ATTACK can be tackled by using inhalers to open the airways and reduce inflammation. One may require hospitalization if the symptoms become severe. Lungs mainly function to supply oxygen to our body and get rid of the carbon dioxide. Lung attacks may interfere with this, so we may be required to take supplemental oxygen to help us breathe better.
An impending lung attack can be identified by regularly monitoring and noting down the peak expiratory flow rate using a peak flow meter. Spirometry is the most common lung function test. It is the Gold Standard for diagnosis of COPD It measures how much and how quickly you can release air out of your lungs with the help of a machine called a Spirometer.
COPD symptoms awareness, timely diagnosis and correct treatment can help a patient prevent a LUNG ATTACK.
References:
Source: Businesswire
- COPD is causing 2300 deaths per day in India9
India has become the ‘COPD Capital of the World’. The severity of COPD can be judged by the fact that India has the most cases of COPD in the world and ranks second when it comes to death caused by COPD1. COPD is causing more deaths than AIDS, TB, Malaria, Diabetes all put together3. Despite the alarming numbers, COPD is highly neglected in the country and very little is written or talked about in media. Another graving factor is that poor Delayed COPD diagnosis & poor COPD management is worsening the situation and leading the patient to ‘LUNG ATTACK’6. The symptoms further aggravate as our lungs mature by the time, we are about 20-25 years old, and with aging, it is normal for our lung function to decline. This can make breathing slightly more difficult as we get older.
| Global Burden of Disease Report, 2018 | ||
| Total No. of Deaths/Yr | Deaths / 100,000 | |
| COPD | 958,596 | 69.44 |
| AIDS | 52,105 | 3.77 |
| TB | 449,794 | 32.58 |
| Malaria | 49,712 | 3.6 |
| Diabetes | 254,555 | 18.44 |
According to Dr. Tejal Shah, Consultant Pulmonologist, Godrej Hospital said, “Persistent exposure to the risk factors and respiratory infections can aggravate the condition. The lack of awareness, its symptoms and implications contribute significantly in preventing people from seeking help and reaching out to their primary care physicians. And even if they visit the general practitioner the possibility of under-diagnosis is high.”
| COPD Diseases Burden in Maharashtra | |
| Parameters | Rates or Ratio |
| COPD Prevalence | 4290 cases per 1 Lac Population |
| State Rank in Prevalence | 14th |
| Mortality rate (COPD death rates) | 64 deaths per 1 Lac Population |
| State Rank in Mortality | 9th |
| DALY's (disability-adjusted life-year) | 1640 cases per 1 Lac Population |
| State Rank in DALY's | 11th |
Further Dr. Ashok Mahasur, Consultant Pulmonologist at Hinduja Healthcare highlighted “Diagnosis of lung attack is often based on the degree of worsening signs of COPD such as oxygen levels being lower than normal, findings of physical examination by a doctor, wheezing and rapid shallow breathing.8. Identifying the signs and symptoms of lung attack and getting timely help from physician is the best way to prevent further worsening of disease progression. LUNG ATTACK requires urgent medical attention and if it is left untreated it can result in fatal implications.7”
Lung attack cannot always be prevented but taking some precautions may help reduce the number and frequency of lung attacks. Correspondingly, LUNG ATTACK can be tackled by using inhalers to open the airways and reduce inflammation. One may require hospitalization if the symptoms become severe. Lungs mainly function to supply oxygen to our body and get rid of the carbon dioxide. Lung attacks may interfere with this, so we may be required to take supplemental oxygen to help us breathe better.
An impending lung attack can be identified by regularly monitoring and noting down the peak expiratory flow rate using a peak flow meter. Spirometry is the most common lung function test. It is the Gold Standard for diagnosis of COPD It measures how much and how quickly you can release air out of your lungs with the help of a machine called a Spirometer.
COPD symptoms awareness, timely diagnosis and correct treatment can help a patient prevent a LUNG ATTACK.
References:
- Salvi S et al, Lancet Global Health Sept 12th, 2018; 6(12): e1363-e1373
- Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2008; 12: 703–08
- Global Burden of Disease Report, 2018
- Am J Epidemiol 2002;156:738–746
- The burden of chronic respiratory diseases and their heterogeneity across the states of India: Global Burden of Disease Study 1990-2016
- Burge S and Wedzicha JA. Eur Respir J Suppl. 2003 Jun;41:46s-53s.
- FitzGerald JM. Thorax. 2011 May;66(5):365-6.
- Ref: Am J Respir Crit Care Med Vol. 198, P21-P22, 2018
- Ref. is GBD Report 2016
Source: Businesswire
