TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Lung specialists from the Indonesian Lung Doctors Association (PDPI) revealed that smokers are very susceptible to the number three deadly disease in the world, namely Lung Disease Chronic Obstruction (COPD). This disease is caused by exposure to air pollution or toxic substances, such as those in cigarette smoke.
“So far, COPD in Indonesia has 4.8 million cases according to existing surveys, mainly occurring in old age and those who are exposed to air pollution and cigarette smoke. The most reported cases are due to cigarette smoke,” said Dr. dr. Susanthy Djajalaksana Sp.P(K) FISR in an online press conference on the commemoration of World Pneumonia Day and World COPD Day, Wednesday, November 17, 2021.
COPD is a disease that causes inflammation in the respiratory tract which over time will get worse or worse. The function of the airways of COPD sufferers will continue to deteriorate if not treated properly to prevent it from getting worse.
COPD is caused by exposure to toxic substances, pollution, or other irritants in the respiratory tract. Exposure to cigarette smoke and air pollution are the most common causes of this non-communicable disease. Exposure to cigarette smoke is obtained not only from smokers themselves but also people who do not smoke but are often in the environment smoker.
Symptoms experienced by people with COPD are difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Once exposed to COPD, the function of the patient’s respiratory tract will never be able to return to normal conditions. Therefore, COPD treatment therapy is carried out for life with the aim of preventing leading to a worse condition, not to improve organ function.
COPD sufferers are very susceptible to other diseases, ranging from ischemic heart disease, COVID-19, or even lung cancer. When COPD patients are exposed to the disease, the severity is more severe than non-COPD patients.
COPD is a disease that was discovered in 1990 and is the sixth leading cause of death in the world. Researchers predict COPD will become a more dangerous cause of death. And sure enough in 2002 COPD patients continued to increase to become the fifth leading cause of death in the world.
Researchers also predict the ranking of causes of death due to COPD will continue to climb in 2020. However, in 2019 COPD has become the world’s number three cause of death with more than 300 million cases worldwide every year. In Indonesia, COPD is known as many as 4.8 million cases.
Also read: 3 Triggers of Lung Disease, All Around Us
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