The main cause of COPD is smoking.
Prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) 11.1% Among the population of the Balearic Islands, 13.6% for men and 8.5% for womenaccording to data released by the Ministry of Health on Wednesday in celebration of World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Day.
University Hospital Pulmonary Services son Raziel An information day was organized with pulmonologists, pulmonary service nurses, physiotherapists and patients to raise awareness about the importance of early diagnosis and the guidelines that must be followed for better management of this disease, which This disease is mainly caused by smokes.
Early diagnosis of COPD allows for treatment and preventive measures that influence the natural course of the disease and prevent its progression to more advanced stages.
COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in Spain, after cancer, heart disease and cerebrovascular disease. In the Balearic Islands, 24.13 people per 100,000 inhabitants die from the disease each year.
It is a very common condition among the Spanish population, especially men, although it has increased significantly in women in recent years due to the introduction of smoking.
The EPI-SCAN II study shows that 11.8% of the Spanish population over 40 years old has COPD, with significant differences between men and women, with prevalence rates of 14.6% and 9.4% respectively. Research shows that the underdiagnosis rate of the disease continues to rise, reaching a worrying 81.7%.
2 years ago, the Pulmonary Department of Son Llàtzer University Hospital was recognized by the Spanish Society of Pulmonary and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR) as a high-complexity multidisciplinary COPD unit. This accreditation values the physical and human resources that hospitals use for nursing, teaching, and research activities related to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of COPD.
Currently, Son Llàtzer serves as 160 patients Patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and have a phone number to call if their symptoms worsen have led to fewer hospitalizations and fewer emergency room visits.
COPD is an umbrella term for diseases including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It is a chronic progressive disease characterized by difficulty in air circulation due to inflammation of the bronchial tubes.
Symptoms such as cough, sputum production, and fatigue appear in the early stage; as the disease progresses, the patient is unable to perform daily activities such as dressing and walking, and the patient may require additional oxygen.
Although it commonly affects smokers, non-smokers may also be affected by continued exposure to smoke from biomass burning (wood ovens and stoves in poorly ventilated environments, mainly in developing countries). Severe industrial pollution or passive smoking.
There are also COPD caused by genetic causes, such as α1 antiretinin deficiency, or due to abnormalities in lung development, such as premature birth, where the lungs do not develop properly and lung function is abnormal in adulthood.
To diagnose this disease, spirometry is performed, a simple 10-minute test that checks for changes in lung function.
The most effective measure to prevent the onset of the disease and its progression is to quit smoking. Treatment with inhaled bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory drugs can help improve symptoms, enhance a patient’s lung function, and slow the progression of the disease. Non-pharmacological measures such as respiratory physiotherapy, nutritional control, psychological assistance and oxygen therapy can also help improve the lives of these patients.
The World Health Organization has warned that costs associated with the disease will increase in the coming years due to an aging population and rising smoking rates among women.