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News Topical, Digital Desk : We often consider smoking to be the primary cause of lung diseases, but the truth is much more complex. COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) has become a growing health crisis not only in India but across the world, and its biggest cause is not just cigarette smoke but also the toxic air around us.
This unseen harm is caused by air pollution
According to the doctor, prolonged breathing of polluted air causes persistent inflammation in our lungs. Fine particles like PM2.5 and PM10, vehicle exhaust, factory chemicals, and biomass burned in homes (such as wood, coal, and dung) all gradually weaken the lungs.
The problem is that this damage is not immediately visible, but over time, lung capacity decreases, shortness of breath increases, and the person starts feeling tired easily.
The worsening air quality in winter can lead to sudden exacerbations of COPD. During these times, patients experience so much difficulty breathing that they often need to be admitted to the emergency room.
COPD is not just a smoker's disease.
There's a common misconception that COPD only affects smokers, but the reality is different. Nearly one-third of COPD cases in India are attributed to poor air quality and indoor smoke. This means that smoke from the stove, poor ventilation, or ambient pollution can all cause as much harm as cigarette smoke. This means that preventing COPD isn't just about quitting smoking; clean, safe air is just as important.
Who is most at risk?
There are some groups who are more vulnerable to pollution.
- Elderly
- People with asthma or a chronic cough
- Employees who work outside for long periods of time
- Children and people with weakened immunity
For these people, breathing bad air puts extra pressure on the lungs, which can cause the disease to progress rapidly.
Why is clean air important?
The message of World COPD Day is clear: the air we breathe is the key to our health. Without clean air, preventing lung disease becomes increasingly difficult. Therefore, this is not just an environmental issue, but also a major public health challenge.
What can we do?
There are several effective steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of developing COPD:
- Use of clean cooking fuels (such as LPG, electricity-based appliances) in homes
- Wearing a mask on polluted days
- Regular health checkups for those who spend a lot of time outdoors
- Increasing greenery around and reducing sources of smoke
- Strict pollution control measures at the government and community level
- Only when we clean the air, we will be able to save our lungs.
This day reminds us that lung health depends not only on our individual behaviors, but also on the air around us. Reducing pollution isn't just about protecting the environment, it's about giving millions of people a better future for their lungs.
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