New Delhi (NVI): India joined the global community in observing ‘World chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Day’ today with a resolve to fight the ailment which claims nearly a million lives per year in the country.
The disease is so prevalent in the country, that India is known as the ‘COPD Capital of the World’, a report said.
According to reports, the severity of COPD can be judged by the fact that India has the most cases of COPD in the world and the country is ranked second when it comes to death caused by the condition.
In India Poor delayed COPD diagnosis and poor COPD management are worsening the situation and leading the patients to ‘lung attack’, according to an official data.
The official statistics also reveals that Kerala has over 4680 cases of COPD per one lakh population.
COPD is a lung disease that is characterized by a persistent reduction of airflow.
The symptoms of COPD are progressively worsening and persistent breathlessness on exertion, eventually leading to breathlessness at rest.
It tends to be under diagnosed and can be life threatening. The more familiar terms “chronic bronchitis” and “emphysema” have often been used as labels for the condition.
COPD is causing more deaths than Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Tuberculosis (TB), Malaria, Diabetes all put together.
Despite the alarming numbers, very little is written or talked about COPD.
-sb
