Reports: Air pollution prime cause of prolonged coughing, could cause COPD

The rising pollution levels across the country have caused devastation for those with breathing issues and respiratory complications.

The number of cases of prolonged cough has seen a stark jump following the plummeting air quality.

Several medical experts have opined that such prolonged coughing problems could lead to chronic lung diseases, and should not be undermined.

The experts attribute these coughing cases to the smoke and dust following the Diwali festival, as well as the unattended air pollution from vehicles.

Numbers from pulmonologists suggest that out of the total 25 patients arriving in the outpatient department (OPD), an average of 20 suffer from such coughing issues.

Doctors at Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad’s Sola suggest that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is common among cigarette smokers.

However, as the air quality has dipped down significantly, and COPD is spreading among the population exponentially.

Chemical pollution caused by industrial emissions also becomes a major factor behind COPD.

Only trailing behind heart disease and cancer, COPD is the third largest disease on the planet.

Commonly misinterpreted as a cause of ageing, COPD’s symptoms such as formation of sputum and shortness of breath, are rarely observed in the initial stages.

The prevalence of COPD in India is between 5.5% and 7.5%.

A recent study found that the prevalence of COPD is higher in men (22%) compared to women (19%).