Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam   

Caution against pulmonary diseases

Staff Reporter

VISAKHAPATNAM: Of the estimated 25 crore smokers in India, some eight crore are suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer and heart ailments, according to lung specialist S. Naveen.

He told reporters here on Tuesday that the World Health Organisation (WHO) had predicted that the incidence of COPD would go up further in India if a massive awareness drive on regular exercise, stress management and need to give up smoking was not taken up immediately.

Dr. Naveen said that industrial pollution, cooking with firewood and neglect of the management of asthma had also led to the increase in the incidence of COPD. According to a WHO report, an estimated 1.3 crore people were suffering from COPD and breathing problem in India, the specialist said.

``At present, India ranks fourth in the world in the incidence of COPD and it is likely to occupy third position by 2020,'' Dr. Naveen said and announced that the World COPD Day would be observed on November 16 to create awareness on how to take care of lungs.

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