Amid high pollution levels, docs urge people to keep lungs healthy

Amid poor air quality levels in DelhiNCR health experts on World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COPD Day on Wednesday stressed on the need to keep lungs healthy The national Capital and surrounding cities of Noida Greater Noida Ghaziabad Gurugram and Faridabad have been facing severe air pollution for the last 23 weeksDespite a ban on firecrackers and appeals for ecofriendly celebrations massive Diwali fireworks intensified the pollution in the region releasing particulate matter sulphur dioxide nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide On Tuesday evening the overall Air Quality Index AQI was recorded at 370 in Delhi according to data from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research SAFARAlso Read Medical experts shed light on how air pollution affects fertility in men and womenWorld COPD is marked every year on November 15 The theme this year Breathing is Life Act Earlier focuses on the significance of early diagnosis management and frontline interventions to maintain healthy lungs COPD is a progressive lung condition encompassing chronic bronchitis and emphysemaIt is characterised by inflamed and narrowed airways leading to increased mucus production as well as damage to the lungs air sacs COPD also results in symptoms like chronic cough phlegm shortness of breath wheezing and chest tightnessldquoIt is a pity that despite a ban on firecrackers and an appeal to switch to green crackers massive fireworks on Diwali made the situation more alarming Firecrackers release various pollutants including particulate matter PM sulphur dioxide SO2 nitrogen dioxide NO2 and carbon monoxide CO While cigarette smoking is a primary risk factor prolonged exposure to air pollutants contributes significantly to COPDrdquo Dr Col Vijay Dutta Director Internal Medicine and Respiratory Services Indian Spinal Injuries Centre New Delhi told IANSAlso Read Mumbais air quality in moderate categoryldquoCOPD is emerging as an independent risk factor for future heart disease We strongly recommend improving lung health by ensuring lifestyle changes quitting smoking and gathering support within the public to raise voices against this menace of air pollutionrdquo added Dr Animesh Arya Senior Consultant Pulmonology at Sri Balaji Action Medical InstituteAccording to recent research published in lsquoThe Lancetrsquo COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide and it caused 33 million deaths in 2019 with China recording the highest toll followed by India and the US India is estimated to face the thirdhighest economic burden of COPD from 202050 after China and the US it saidIn India COPD incurs 24fold higher costs compared with asthma and ischaemic heart disease and studies have shown that the costs of managing acute exacerbations of COPD contribute 4570 per cent to the total expenses of COPD management COPD causes an economic loss of more than 100000 crore rupees per annum in India which is forecast to increase in the coming years due to the increased prevalence of COPD and poor awareness of COPD among the community and healthcare professionals COPD screening and identification can prevent disease progression and reduce health burdenExperts also emphasise on costeffective interventions such as communitybased COPD screening Such interventions could also help reduce COPD morbidity and mortality rates they said Maintaining optimal lung health is a fundamental aspect of overall wellbeing and the imperative to address it is now more critical than ever Weve come to understand that COPD traditionally associated with tobacco smoking can be influenced by various factors and manifest early in life affecting even young individuals emphasised Dr Sandeep Jain Consultant Pulmonology Narayana Hospital HowrahThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever