Pollution Control Crying Need As COPD Cases Rise, Say Medical Experts In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: With Delhi facing an environmental emergency due to pollution and clean air emerging as the crying need, the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has come under focus, said medical experts.

Speaking at Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme held at the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital organised to mark the World COPD Day, here on Wednesday, they said as the number of COPD patients struggling to breathe is rising, drastic steps are necessary to tackle the situation.

COPD is a preventable and treatable non-communicable disease which affects the respiratory symptoms and causes air flow limitation. “COPD occurs due to chronic exposure to irritants like dust and smoke while burning of biomass fuel is one of the main causes in women,” said Prof Banani Jena, Head of the department of Pulmonary Medicine in the hospital.

Prof Jena said mostly mine workers, masons and traffic policemen are susceptible to this disease besides the farmers who used fertilizers during cultivation. But early diagnosis, removal of pollutants and early treatment can fight against the disease, she added.

Stating that people should be careful about using mosquito coils and ‘agarbati’ which could result in COPD, she said regular exercise, plenty of water intake and a healthy lifestyle can prevent the disease.

Prof Gangadhar Sahu, Dean, IMS and SUM Hospital and Prof Pusparaj Samantasinhar, Medical Superintendent underlined the habit of smoking and air pollution, saying those are hugely contributing to rising COPD cases.

Among others, Dr Sthitipragya Dalabehera, Head of the department of Physiotherapy; Prof Rakhi Ludam and Prof Ganesh Mohapatra of the department of Pulmonary Medicine; assistant professors Dr Priyadarshini Behera, Associate Professor, Dr Sangita Jena, Dr Sonali Parida, Dr Pritam Chhotray and Dr Subhakanta Nanda and Dr Sonali Mallick, senior resident, were present.