Experts suggest controlling air pollution, smoking to prevent death from pulmonary disease
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Health specialists on Wednesday suggested curbing all sorts of air pollution and smoking to save lives from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
It is possible to prevent COPD by discouraging people from smoking, they said.
The health experts forwarded the suggestion while speaking at a scientific seminar on the occasion of World COPD Day, organised by the Department of Respiratory Medicine of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).
BSMMU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Md Sharfuddin Ahmed addressed the event as the chief guest. AKM Mosharraf Hossain Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) chaired the seminar.
Prof Ahmed said COPD is a complex disease of the respiratory system. COPD is one of the leading non-communicable diseases. This disease ranks third among all causes of death worldwide.
COPD can be prevented by avoiding smoking and creating a pollution-free environment. COPD can be largely eradicated by avoiding all forms of smoke, including factory smoke, stopping tobacco cultivation, and banning the sale of tobacco products, he suggested.
Smoking is the main cause of COPD. So all concerned should be warned about this, he warned.
He also said that like all over the world, the number of patients suffering from this disease is increasing day by day in Bangladesh.
At least 3 million people die and at least 300 million people are affected by this disease worldwide every year.
The disease can be easily prevented by reducing indoor air pollution, protecting people from the harmful side of biofuels and discouraging people from smoking.
AKM Mosharraf Hossain, BSMMU Pro-Vice Chancellor (academic) said, in this disease, long-term cough, and breathing problems etc. gradually disappear.
The problems become more pronounced with age and eventually reach such a stage that the patient suffers from breathlessness even during his daily activities.
At the same time, COPD causes other complications such as heart disease, muscle weakness, weight loss, depression, lung cancer etc, said the speakers.
Therefore, importance should be given to disease prevention. Early detection and treatment of this disease will reduce the burden on the health sector, they added.