One of the “Four Major Chronic Diseases”! Beware of this Silent Killer

One of the “Four Major Chronic Diseases”! Beware of this Silent Killer

In life, we often hear the terms "chronic bronchitis" and "emphysema", but for most people, COPD is still relatively unfamiliar.

Due to the hidden onset of COPD and relatively slow progression of the disease, the public's awareness and attention to the disease are insufficient. Many patients are unaware that they are ill in the early stages of the disease, which leads to severe lung function damage and even complications when they seek medical treatment.

The "Chinese Adult Lung Health Study" shows that there are nearly 100 million COPD patients in China, among which the incidence rate of COPD in people over 40 years old is as high as 13.7% . COPD has become one of the "four major chronic diseases" that have the most serious impact on the health of Chinese residents.

November 15th of every year is World COPD Day. This year's theme is "Lungs are the lifeblood of life."

What is COPD? What causes COPD? Let's talk about COPD with Jiang Jiang and Su Su today.

What is COPD?

COPD, the full name of which is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is a common disease that can be prevented and treated.

It is characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation associated with airway and alveolar abnormalities resulting from significant exposure to noxious particles or gases.

What harm does COPD bring?

As the disease progresses, COPD fails to heal, seriously threatening the patient's life and quality of life.

1. The patient's quality of life is getting worse;

2. Increased risk of COPD exacerbation, hospitalization, and death;

3. Lead to cor pulmonale and even sudden death;

4. COPD patients often suffer from other chronic diseases, which increases the disability and mortality rates of COPD;

5. Increased economic burden, etc.

What are the common symptoms of COPD?

Dyspnea, chronic cough and/or sputum are the most common symptoms of COPD, which may also be accompanied by chest tightness and wheezing. Severe patients often experience fatigue, weight loss and loss of appetite.

What are the risk factors for COPD?

The risk factors for COPD are diverse, including individual susceptibility factors and environmental factors.

Individual susceptibility factors: including genetic factors, age, lung growth and development, etc. The older you are, the higher the prevalence of COPD, and the more vigilant you need to be.

Environmental factors: including large amounts of smoke produced by tobacco and fuel combustion, air pollution, occupational dust exposure, respiratory infections, etc. Among them, smoking is the most important environmental pathogenic factor of COPD. Both active smoking and passive smoking can lead to respiratory symptoms and the occurrence of COPD.

How can COPD be detected?

Early detection and treatment of COPD are crucial, and pulmonary function tests are the gold standard for diagnosing COPD!

How to prevent COPD?

COPD is preventable. The key is to take the following measures:

1. Quit smoking and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke;

2. Prevent respiratory tract infections in infants and children;
3. Reduce exposure to occupational dust and harmful gases;

4. Reduce indoor and outdoor air pollution;

5. Get vaccinated.