As cases of lung disease rising, doctors call for ban on cigarettes

Chest specialists and pulmonologists while addressing a press conference recently called for a complete ban on cigarettes and implementation of anti-smoking laws in the country. They said smoking was causing high incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) - an irreversible lung disease.

Air pollution, burning of wood and coal for cooking and heating purposes, burning of garbage and use of Sheesha are among the major causes behind (COPD). The pulmonologists associated with Pakistan Chest Society said almost 90 percent of the smokers were likely to develop COPD.

Around 18 percent population of Pakistan comprises smokers, which clearly indicates why there is such a large number of COPD patients in the country.

The experts said being one of the major causes of heart attack, stroke and pneumonia, the disease was said to have affected over 340 million people worldwide - around seven million in Pakistan; however, most people remained unaware of the gravuity of the situation.

Senior pulmonologist Prof Dr Nadeem Rizvi said chronic cough (often called smoker’s cough) and shortness of breath after slightest of exertions were recognisable symptoms of COPD, but many remain undiagnosed because of a lack of awareness.

“Wheezing, and getting out of breath while walking and smoker’s cough are also early signs of COPD,” he added.

Dr Rizvi stated COPD was irreversible as breathlessness later transformed into chest infections, the frequency of which renders a patient unable to perform simple tasks without oxygen supply. “In advanced stages, a patient can also experience permanent disabilities owing to paralysis,” the doctor stated. “COPD is the fifth most prevalent cause of deaths across the world.” 

Dr Rizvi asserted that with the current rate of smokers not reducing anytime soon, COPD could become the third largest cause of death in the world by 2020. “There is an urgent need to inform people of the hazards of smoking.”

Dr Nisar Rao, an expert at the Dow University of Health Sciences, stressed the need for a clear communication between physicians and patients.

“Most patients don’t communicate their problems to physicians due to which the exact cause of illness or disease remains undiagnosed,” he added.

He discouraged the culture of not consulting doctors. “Most COPD patients would rather excommunicate themselves from the society than consult their physicians.” It is estimated by the WHO that close to 210 million cases of COPD could possibly be found worldwide, while some estimates put this number as high as 400-600 million. 

Dr Rao said in Pakistan, breathlessness alone was the most frequently reported symptom of COPD. “It is known that almost 90 percent of COPD deaths occur in low and middle-income countries and cigarette smoking is the most commonly encountered risk factor for COPD.”  

“In Pakistan, the prevalence rate of COPD related symptoms is 18.percent and COPD patients with co–morbidities stand at 26.7 percent, while 76.7 percent patients experience exacerbations.”

Dr Saifullah Baig, an assistant professor at Dow University’s Ojha Institute of Chest Diseases and general secretary of the Pakistan Chest Society said COPD patients hospitalised for their condition are 33.3 percent and 26.7 percent patients visited an emergency room due to their respiratory condition.