World COPD Day is organized in collaboration with health care professionals and COPD patient groups across the world. It is celebrated every year on November 20. Its aim is to raise awareness about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) so that it will help you to understand the condition of the patient suffering from COPD and improve COPD care throughout the world.
This is a lung disease in which a person finds difficult to breathe. It restrains the airflow in the lungs additionally, it is a life-threatening disease. The airways become narrowed due to which it becomes difficult to breathe.
Basically, there are two main types of COPD-
- – Chronic bronchitis is a long-term cough with mucus
- – Emphysema damages the lungs over time
More than 300 million people live with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) all over the globe.
Cigarette smoking is the primary cause of COPD, therefore, any smoker (vaping, pipe, cigar, marijuana, etc.) is at a huge risk of getting COPD. Moreover, secondhand smoking too escalates the risk. There are many other risk factors that compound or cause COPD.
Theme:
The 2019 theme for World COPD Day will be “All Together to End COPD.”
The theme for World COPD Day 2019 is “All Together to End COPD”. The theme focuses on holistically fighting with the disease, to improve the condition for patients suffering from COPD and to educate people through workshops, programs to detect, prevent and control the disease.
History:
According to WHO reports, COPD will be the third leading cause of death in the whole world by 2030. The first World COPD Day was held in 2002. Every year about 50 countries from the world come forward and participate in the celebration of the day.
In 2015, it was reported that 3.17 million deaths due to COPD
- – In developing countries, it was more than 90% of deaths because of COPD.
- – Exposure to tobacco smoke whether active or passive is a primary cause of COPD.
- – COPD is a non-curable disease but treatment may relieve symptoms and reduce the risk of death.
Moreover, exposure to clouds of dust and chemicals, long-term exposure to chemical fumes, vapors and dust in the workplace, exposure to fumes from burning fuel, age, and even genetics may have a hand in causing COPD.
Some of the preventive measures for COPD are-
- – Avoid smoking whether active or passive.
- – Avoidance or reduction of indoor and outdoor pollution.
- – Early treatment of Asthma.
- – Reduce exposure to dust and chemicals.
- – Eat a healthy diet.
- – Avoid exposure to fumes, fireworks, crackers, etc.
