Protecting Lung Health from COPD

Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —

Every third Wednesday of November, the world celebrates World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Lung Disease Obstructive COPD (Worldwide). This year, Day PPOK Worldwide falls on November 17th.

World COPD Day has been commemorated since 2002. This year, the theme is ‘Healthy Lung Never More Important’, which means that nothing is more important than lung health.

“COPD is a progressive respiratory disease, its nature is getting more severe. Unlike pneumonia, which is attacked by lung tissue, if COPD is in the respiratory tract,” said a lung specialist at Hermina Tangkuban Perahu Hospital, Malang, Susanthy Djajalaksana, in a press conference with the Indonesian Lung Doctors Association (PDPI), Wednesday (17/11).

Globally, more than 300 million people are living with COPD. While in Indonesia there are about 4.8 million cases. COPD generally occurs in adults (45 years and over) and is often exposed to both outdoor and indoor pollution and cigarette smoke.

COPD Symptoms

Quoted from Mayo ClinicSymptoms of COPD include difficulty breathing, coughing, mucus production and wheezing or wheezing.

The two most common conditions that cause COPD are emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Emphysema is damage to the alveoli or air sacs in the lungs. The sac loses its shape and ability to relax during the exhalation phase. Air is trapped in the lungs, causing the alveoli to swell and airway obstruction occurs.

Quoted from Medical News Today, the lungs can hyperinflate thereby reducing gas exchange. People find it difficult to breathe and oxygenate the blood effectively because there is an obstruction in expelling carbon dioxide.

On the other hand, chronic bronchitis is inflammation of the lining of the airways. This condition results in swelling and the formation of large amounts of mucus. People with chronic bronchitis have difficulty breathing.

“Emphysema is more symptomatic of shortness of breath, dry cough. While in chronic bronchitis, almost all cases are coughing up phlegm and very much,” added Susanthy.

See how to maintain lung health on the next page.