In World Obesity Month… global warnings about the silent disease that threatens millions of lives without clear symptoms

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease constitutes one of the most prominent health challenges in the world, as it affects millions of people and is the third cause of death globally after strokes and heart attacks, according to estimates by the World Health Organization. Despite medical progress, recent research confirms that the disease continues to expand, especially among the elderly and smokers, as a result of the risk factors represented by smoking, air pollution, and exposure to dust and chemicals in some occupations.

 

The latest international studies indicate that 70% of cases are It is diagnosed in late stages, as patients live for years without realizing their infection, which makes early diagnosis an absolute necessity to slow the deterioration of lung function and reduce the severity of symptoms.

Experts warn that neglecting treatment leads to serious complications that include weak respiratory capacity, respiratory infections, and heart complications, in addition to wide impacts on the quality of life of patients and their ability to perform daily activities.

In the same context, chest allergy (asthma) represents a widespread challenge that affects different age groups, and is considered one of the most common diseases. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is widespread among children and young people globally. 

Updated research shows that uncontrolled chest allergies are a major cause of absence from school and work, which leads to major economic losses for countries and burdens public health systems.

Global statistics reveal that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease affects about 200 million people, while 340 million people suffer from chest allergies worldwide, with about half a million deaths recorded annually as a result of complications related to asthma. Mortality rates are particularly high in low- and middle-income countries, where the capabilities of diagnosis and continuous medical follow-up are limited.

In Egypt, recent estimates indicate an increase in the incidence of chronic respiratory diseases, which reinforces the need for national programs for awareness and early detection, especially with the high rates of smoking and air pollution in urban areas.

In this context, and on the occasion of World Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Month, Dr. Hossam Hosni Masoud, Professor of Chest Diseases at Kasr Al-Aini Faculty of Medicine, said that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease represents a fatal disease. Silent because it develops gradually as a result of inhaling cigarette smoke, hookah smoke, or air pollution, stressing the need to pay attention to symptoms such as cough, phlegm, and wheezing in people over the age of 35 years. He stressed the importance of awareness campaigns and encouraging smoking cessation to detect the disease early and reduce its complications.

For her part, Dr. Jihan Al-Assal, Head of the Department of Chest Diseases at the Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, explained that chest allergy is a disease that can be controlled effectively, as adherence to treatment and lifestyle modification helps reduce symptoms and attacks and improve the ability to lead a normal life.

She pointed out that asthma attacks are one of the most stressful times for the patient due to wheezing, shortness of breath, and lack of sleep. The ability to exercise or exert physical effort.

Modern medical research concludes that prevention is the first line of defense, while early diagnosis and targeted treatment remain the basis for preventing the exacerbation of chronic respiratory diseases and reducing their health and economic burdens.

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