Whilst much attention has been paid to air quality in Delhi, the issue is far from isolated to the Capital, affecting swathes of the country and blighting the health of millions. In Bihar state capital Patna, pollution is taking a significant toll on public health with the city witnessing a rise in lung disease cases. […]
COPD
COPD in Telangana: Deadly and growing
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of India’s biggest killers and Telangana feels its strain acutely. In 2016, there were 19,000 deaths from COPD in Telangana out of 8.4 lakh deaths nationwide. Since then, the death toll has increased. In 2018, COPD claimed almost one million lives and accounted for thirteen percent of all […]
The COPD capital of the world
India is the capital of the world when it comes to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but awareness is low. COPD refers to a number of progressive lung diseases, hallmarked by worsening damage to the lungs over time. Cases of COPD have increased sharply in India in recent decades, increasing from 28.1 million cases in […]
Air pollution and the risk of emphysema
Long-term exposure to air pollution ups the risk of developing emphysema in a similar way to smoking, according to a recent study. The research – carried out by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), both part of the US National Institutes of Health – […]
COPD: a million deaths per year, still no spotlight
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) claims nearly a million lives per year in India alone yet still remains a relatively unknown condition in the country. COPD is India’s second most common cause of death, accounting for thirteen percent of all deaths in the country according to studies from 2018. Despite such a high burden, it […]
India’s second biggest killer, a relative unknown?
Despite accounting for thirteen percent of all deaths in India in 2016, few could explain the risks or symptoms of the disease. Despite its common nature, many could not even call the condition by name. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) does not share the same public spotlight as other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer […]
Disease profiles: COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a broad term used to describe a number of progressive lung diseases in which symptoms worsen over time. These include emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and refractory (non-reversible) asthma. Prevalence COPD is becoming ever more widespread in India. One of the key risk factors for developing many of the conditions covered […]