In the wake of urbanisation and modernisation although we are making our lives comfortable, at the same time our health is being affected the most. The air that we breathe is laden with a layer of poisonous pollutants and gases to an extent that it is posing risk to our lungs and is causing serious damage to the respiratory tracts. And result is rise in cases of asthma and progression in respiratory ailments like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Various studies have revealed that the situation of air we inhale is as bad as smoking some 40 cigarettes in a day!
In fact, it is predicted to be the third most common cause of death and fifth most common cause of disability globally by 2020. And if we go by WHO estimates, approximately 80 million people are battling moderate to severe COPD these days.
It is exposure to such micro-particles emitted from vehicular emissions, wide scale industrialisation, construction activities and exhaust coming from cars which is a mixture of combustion gases and ultra fine particles coated with organic compounds that result into obstructive airway disease like COPD. The moment these particles enter our respiratory tracts, these pollutants can activate an inflammatory cascade that results in severe damage to our lungs.
Earlier the problem was prevalent among elderly, smokers or was confined to rural areas where use of gobar gas and biomass was making things worse as people were exposed to fumes from burning fuel for cooking and heating in poorly ventilated spaces. But now due to various kinds of pollutants, soot and carbon particles in the air which is aided by changing weather and smog is affecting the people in the city.
COPD primarily destroys lungs but along with causing breathing problems and lung infections, it can even lead to various heart problems and can cause a stroke. In fact, it has become a multi organ disease where all organs including our bones get affected.
Now that we know the cause of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) which is characterised by narrowing of the airways, it is important to understand how the disease affects our health. In larger airways, the inflammatory response is referred to as chronic bronchitis. At times it may even lead to destruction of tissues lining our lung’s passage and cause emphysema — a long-term and progressive disease of lungs.
Treatment: Much of the treatment for COPD includes things that one can do to manage the disease on their own. However the medicines prescribed to treat COPD can be for long term duration as these help to prevent/relieve symptoms. If you are a patient of COPD, make sure you don’t skip or discontinue medicines without consulting your doctor. Also, there is lack of awareness about non-invasive ventilation (NIV) treatment for COPD despite the fact that it reduces respiratory distress and risk of death considerably. A patient in moderate or advanced stages of COPD can be treated with an NIV machine, which aids in bringing down the carbon dioxide level in the blood thereby enabling the patients to breathe normally.
Stay Indoors: Stay away from smoke and air pollution. Even though you quit smoking, it’s important to avoid places where others smoke because passive smoking can be equally harmful for the health of your lungs.
Keep your indoors smoke-free.
Keep hydrated.
Eat a healthy diet.
The writer is Dr Rakesh Chawla,Senior Consultant, Respiratory Medicine Saroj Super Speciality Hospital, new Delhi