In an address to a media briefing with reference to the Global COPD Day on Wednesday, doctors said over 2000 million people are suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and Pakistan sharing the burden of 6.9 million people. Doctors further said, "We must realise the deadly effects of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as it will become the leading cause of death in the future even ahead of diabetes and depression. The worst part is that there is very superficial awareness about this killer disease and not much attention is paid to fight it."
Dr Kamran Cheema, President of Pakistan Chest Society and Head of Pulmonology, Services Hospital Lahore said, "The global initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease defines the disease as a common preventable disease characterised by persistent airflow limitation that is usually progressive and associated with an enhanced chronic inflammatory response in the airways and lungs to noxious particles and gases. We have to realise that the disease is a major threat. Being a chronic disease, once a man falls prey to it, there is no point of return. If not controlled, it progresses with time. Difficulty in breathing will restrict him to perform any sternness job." Talking about the disease symptoms, he further said, "Shortness of breath, persistent cough, coughing up mucus, wheezing, fatigue and tiredness, weight loss, morning headaches are alarming signs of the disease. It is more prevalent in men as compared to women. Prevalence of the disease increases with age, primarily affects people of 40 years and above. The symptoms develop slowly and are ignored by most of the patient as 'old age' or 'smoker's cough' which is a dangerous attitude of patients and by the time it is realised they have often lost a significant amount of lung function."
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