Vietnam has the highest number of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Asia and the Pacific

The World Health Organization's report on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) shows that Vietnam is currently the country with the highest number of people with COPD in the Asia-Pacific region with a ratio of 6, 7% of the population.

According to the World Health Organization, COPD is the fourth highest fatal disease after only coronary heart disease, cancer and stroke. The death rate of COPD is higher than that of cancer and is equivalent to HIV / AIDS. Each year, the disease kills more than 3 million people worldwide.

Some things to know about COPD

COPD is a condition in which lung ventilation limits cannot fully recover. The airflow is obstructed, the amount of sediment in the lungs increases, making it difficult for the patient to breathe. When COPD is present, the wall of the airway is thickened, the edema should be narrowed, the air is difficult to get into the lungs; The alveoli are destroyed, increasing stasis and reducing the ability to exchange air in the lungs.

Tobacco is the main cause of COPD and death from this disease (90% of patients smoke). Studies show that smoking habits increase 10 times the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. About 15% of smokers have clinical manifestations of COPD. In addition, dust, chemicals, respiratory infections are also risk factors for disease.

The disadvantage in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of this disease is difficult to detect in the early period. At this stage, patients often have symptoms: fatigue, cough, sputum, dyspnea on exertion . Patients often mistakenly think that it is a disease of old age, so they do not go to the doctor for treatment and timely treatment, so Most cases are detected when it is late.

At the end of the period, the walls of the bronchi are fibrosis, scarring, and the alveoli are destroyed, causing airway obstruction, leading to respiratory failure. In addition to affecting health, mental health and ability to work, patients can also suffer from nutritional disorders, affecting their ability to have sex, as well as social interaction, physical activities, travel…

The disease progresses for many years and eventually causes death after an exacerbation. Therefore, experts in this field often call COPD an ' Invisible Killer ' or ' Silent Killer '.

It is worrisome that most people, including those at high risk of COPD, are not fully aware of the disease or the protection of their own health and community against this deadly disease.

In response to the global chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (November 16), Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy cooperates with Boehinger Ingelheim Vietnam to organize a seminar on 'Happy to live with Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease! ' . The program takes place at 8 am to 12 pm on November 19, 2005 at Tan Binh Cultural - Sports Center - 448 Hoang Van Thu, Ward 4, Q. Tan Binh. Open free.

Content: free screening counseling to identify the risk of COPD, as well as how to treat and prevent disease development.

T.LÊ