COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a long-term lung disease in which the airways are narrowed and the lungs are damaged, so breathing slowly becomes harder. It mostly affects adults over 40 who have smoked, or who breathed smoke from cooking fires and heaters for many years. It cannot be cured, but treatment and avoiding smoke can slow it down and ease breathing.
Symptoms
Shortness of breath, first with activity and later even at rest
A cough that does not go away
Phlegm most days
Wheezing and chest tightness
Frequent chest infections, especially in winter
Tiredness and weight loss in later stages
Causes
Smoking cigarettes or water pipe (chilam)
Smoke from burning wood, dung or coal indoors for cooking and heating
Dust, fumes and chemicals at work
Repeated lung infections or past tuberculosis
Air pollution in cities
Prevention
Do not smoke; if you smoke, stopping at any age helps
Cook outdoors or use a stove with a chimney, and keep rooms ventilated
Wear a mask in dusty work
Talk to a doctor
Get advice by video, voice or chat without leaving home.
Stopping smoking and avoiding smoke — the most important step
Inhalers that open the airways, prescribed by a doctor
Breathing exercises and staying as active as possible
Oxygen at home for people with severe disease
Antibiotics or steroid tablets for flare-ups, only as prescribed
Do not start antibiotics or other prescription medicines without a doctor
Common questions
Is it too late to stop smoking if I already have COPD?
No. Stopping smoking at any stage slows the damage to your lungs and reduces flare-ups. Ask your doctor for help to quit.
Can smoke from a sandali or cooking fire cause lung disease?
Yes. Breathing smoke from wood, dung or coal fires indoors for many years can damage the lungs in the same way as smoking. Good ventilation and a chimney reduce the risk.
