Every year World COPD Day (World COPD Day 2024) is celebrated on the third Wednesday of November. The purpose of this day is to make people aware about COPD and give information about its treatment. This year this day is being celebrated on 20 November. Let us tell you, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a serious lung disease that progresses slowly. This disease is mainly caused by two conditions - emphysema and chronic bronchitis. In emphysema, the air sacs of the lungs are damaged causing difficulty in breathing. On the other hand, in chronic bronchitis, the tubes of the lungs swell and mucus is constantly produced. Let us know about it in detail.

Why is World COPD Day celebrated?

COPD Day, observed every year on the third Wednesday of November, is a global effort to improve the lives of millions of people suffering from this serious lung disease. The day was started in the year 2002. It was started by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease in collaboration with doctors and COPD patients around the world. This day makes us aware that COPD can be prevented, but for this, management of this disease is very important.

What is COPD?

The full form of COPD is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. This is a condition in which the tubes of the lungs gradually become narrow over time. This reduces the movement of air in the lungs, causing problems like difficulty in breathing, cough and chest tightness. Let us tell you, it becomes difficult for people suffering from COPD to do even everyday tasks.

What are the symptoms of COPD?

• Difficulty in breathing: This problem occurs especially during physical activity .
• Persistent cough: This problem is more common especially in the morning.
• Mucus formation: Mucus is produced with cough.
• Chest tightness: Feeling of tightness in the chest along with difficulty in breathing.
• Fatigue: COPD causes the body to not get enough oxygen, causing fatigue.
• Weight loss: Sudden weight loss without any reason.

What are the causes of COPD?

• Smoking: Smoking cigarettes is the biggest cause of COPD.
• Air pollution: Breathing polluted air for a long period of time can also cause COPD.
• Exposure to chemicals: Exposure to certain chemicals can also damage the lungs.
• Family history: Some people have a higher risk of developing COPD due to their family history.
• Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency: This is a rare genetic condition that can cause COPD.

How is COPD treated?

There is no cure for COPD, but some methods can help reduce its symptoms and prevent the disease from progressing.

• Medications: Your doctor may prescribe medications to help you breathe easier.
• Oxygen therapy: In severe cases, you may need to resort to oxygen therapy.
• Pulmonary rehabilitation: This is an exercise program that helps you breathe and tolerate physical activity.
• Surgery: In some cases, surgery may be required to treat this disease.

How to prevent COPD?

To prevent COPD, you can take care of some things.

• Quit smoking: The best way to prevent COPD is to quit smoking .
• Avoid air pollution: Avoid breathing polluted air as much as possible.
• Take a healthy diet: A healthy diet can also be very helpful in keeping the lungs healthy.
• Do regular exercise: To strengthen your lungs, you can also do regular exercise.