A study that was done across twelve nations has a very interesting but more of a warning in store for us. As per it, the rate of incurable lung disease is much higher than what it was thought to be. Also, the rates are suspected to rise further with a few years more. The research conducted by researchers from Oregon Health and Science University carried out spirometry tests among some 9,500 adults, who were more than forty years of age found that out of every ten, one was suffering form COPD or chronic obstructive respiratory disease.
COPD is a term that covers a number and a range of diseases like chronic bronchitis, emphysema etc. COPD causes breathing difficulties and is the fifth leading reason for deaths throughout the world. The report suggests that if pollution keeps on rising at the same rate, by 2020 COPD will elevate to become the third reason. As per an estimate, many people suffer from COPD but don’t get to know it until it reaches critical stages.
The risk of the disease also doubled every ten years after the age of forty, thus, linking it to the age. Also, smoking was pointed out as one of the major factors leading to the development of the disease. However, the report also raises questions over the genetic susceptibility of the COPD diseases as it was also found among people who had never even touched a cigarette.
Study leader, Dr Sonia Buist said,
This worldwide study showed higher levels and more advanced staging of spirometrically confirmed COPD than have typically been reported.
The development of pollution and thus, COPD has reached such a level that even if people stop smoking today the problem will continue unabated twenty years from now. The research also concluded that the development of the lungs in a womb needs to be studied carefully so as to prevent COPD in later life.
Chief executive of the British Lung Foundation, Dame Helena Shovelton pointed out,
There are people with COPD who have never smoked and this research shows that deprivation, dust exposure and lung development in the womb play a vital role in causing the disease. The research also highlights how much more work is needed to improve our understanding of how environmental, socioeconomic and other factors can cause COPD.
Source: BBC
Image credit: Utexas