LAHORE :Chronic respiratory diseases include disorders that affect any part of the respiratory system, not only the lungs but also the airways, nose and throat. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) has become the third cause of casualties in the world and it is estimated that by 2030 the disease will cause approximately 45 million casualties. This disease is getting worse by each passing day and this is dangerous situation. Breathing diseases are intensifying because of increasing smoking trend, traffic smoke, fuel fumes and emission of smoke by factories. Many people are not aware of this disease. The COPD patients should go to the certified doctor first, then they should take proper medicines and use inhaler if needed as per doctor’s prescription. Besides, they should avoid the things which cause allergy, so that chances of complications may reduce. These views were expressed by the speakers in a seminar regarding World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Day “The Many Faces Of COPD” organised by Mir Khalil-ur-Rahman Memorial Society (Jang Group of Newspapers), Pakistan Chest Society (Punjab) and GETZ Pharma. FCPS (Medicine) MCPS & FCPS (Pulmonary medicine), President Pakistan Chest Society (Punjab), President Pulmonology department Allama Iqbal Medical College and Jinnah Hospital Lahore (Professor Dr Muhammad Ashraf Jamal), Diplomat American Board of Medicine Pulmonary Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, President Pulmonology department Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Services Hospital Lahore (Professor Dr Kamran Cheema), FCPS Medicine MCPS (Chest), DTCD, ex-professor PGMI Lahore (Professor Dr Saulat Ullah Khan), DTCD, MCPS (Chest), FCPS (Pulmonology), President Pulmonology department, PGMI Lahore General Hospital (Professor Dr Khalid Waheed) were the experts in the seminar. Mehfooz-ul-Hassan (Sales Manager Getz Pharma) delivered opening speech. Wasif Nagi (Pride of Performance, Senior Editor Health, Education, Current affairs and Chairman Mir Khalil-ur-Rahman Memorial Society) hosted the event. Khaleeq Hamid recited the Holy Qur'an verses and Na'at Rasool-e-Maqbool (PBUH). Mehfooz-ul-Hassan paid thanks to Jang Group for organising this seminar. He said the seminar was organised to spread awareness about pulmonary diseases among people. Getz Pharma is the third biggest pharmaceutical company of Pakistan and working in more than 25 countries. Provision of medicines is made possible in every condition keeping checks and balances on the standard of medicines. Professor Dr Kamran Cheema said a smoker is not just killing himself other people also get affected by his cigarette smoke. Respiratory glands cease due to cigarette smoke. Environmental pollution and bio mass fuel also cause this disease. This disease has become the third cause of casualties in the world and it is estimated that by 2030 the disease will cause approximately 45 million casualties. This disease is getting worse by each passing day and this is dangerous situation. We should also get vaccinated to get rid of such diseases. Professor Dr Muhammad Ashraf Jamal said pulmonary diseases have not just single cause. This disease has many causes and aspects, which we should not ignore. COPD is a curable disease. Respiratory glands shrink due to this disease and then it gets worse. Patient starts coughing due to inflammation in breathing vessels. Ratio of this disease is continuously increasing. Six percent people in the world are suffering from this disease. There are three major symptoms of this disease; chronic cough, chronic mucus and shortness of breath during work. This disease is diagnosed through spirometry test. This test shows the air mass and flow in lungs. People who are suffering from this disease, air flow in their lungs decreases. Exercise plays very important role in curing this disease, we should not avoid it. We should quit smoking, take medicines properly and take less salt in our food and the things which cause acidity should be avoided. Professor Dr Khalid Waheed said bronchitis and emphysema are included in COPD. Mostly the people of 40-year age suffer from COPD, whereas; people suffer from asthma in childhood. Like this, smokers suffer from COPD too. Patient feels difficulty in breathing while suffering from this disease. Asthma attacks due to some allergic problem. Every year, almost six million people suffer from COPD all over the world whereas five percent people of them die. Men and women both suffer from this disease equally because the ratio of woman smokers in developed countries is increasing. Genetic elements also play a role in causing this disease. Due to COPD, patient’s all activities get affected. Professor Dr Saulat Ullah Khan said diagnosis and treatment of disease on time is very important. This disease is like diabetes and blood pressure. If someone suffers from this, then it is controlled with medicines. Symptoms of asthma and COPD are very similar. A doctor should consider it and treat it well. Media plays an important role in spreading awareness about different diseases, he said, adding doctors are also playing prominent role in its treatment. Wasif Nagi said breathing diseases are increasing due to current weather. There is a need to adopt precautionary measures. People burn tyres but they don’t know that the smoke produced from burning tyres has lethal chemicals. That is why there is a dire need to spread awareness among people from different aspects.
