COPD: The Silent Killer After Heart Disease and Cancer : Dr. Aparjot Barad
Patiala, 26 December
A team of doctors from Park Hospital, Patiala—including Pulmonology Consultant Dr. Aparjot Barad, Internal Medicine Consultant Dr. Kamaldeep Singh Sodhi, Dr. Balwinder Kumar, Dr. Amarjit Singh, and Vice President of Medical Operations Dr. Brahm Prakash—shared facts and myths about Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) during a press conference on Friday.
Park Hospitals is North India’s largest super-speciality hospital network, comprising 19 hospitals, 3,500 beds, 800 ICU beds, 14 cath labs, 45 modular operation theatres, and more than 1,000 doctors.
Pulmonology Consultant at Park Hospital, Patiala, Dr. Aparjot Barad said, “COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide, after heart disease and cancer. Many people mistakenly consider shortness of breath and cough as a normal part of ageing. In the early stages of the disease, symptoms often go unnoticed.”
“COPD can remain asymptomatic for many years without causing breathing difficulties. Symptoms typically appear only in the more severe stages. COPD is a progressive lung disease that ranges from mild to severe. It is identified by obstruction in the flow of air into and out of the lungs, making breathing difficult,” explained Internal Medicine Consultant at Park Hospital, Patiala, Dr. Kamaldeep Singh Sodhi.
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Dr. Kamaldeep Singh Sodhi further stated that approximately 63 million people in India suffer from COPD, accounting for about 32% of the global COPD population.
“COPD causes more deaths than AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and diabetes combined. It mostly affects people aged 40 years or older who have a history of smoking—whether they currently smoke or are former smokers. The prevalence of COPD in India ranges from 5.5% to 7.55%. Recent studies show a prevalence rate of up to 22% in men and 19% in women,” said Internal Medicine Consultant Dr. Balwinder Kumar.
According to Internal Medicine Consultant Dr. Amarjit Singh, there is no definitive cure for COPD, but treatment options are available to prevent further damage and improve quality of life.
Risk Factors for COPD:
- History of respiratory infections in childhood
- Exposure to smoke from coal or wood-burning stoves
- Exposure to second-hand smoke
- History of asthma
- Individuals whose lungs did not develop properly
- People aged 40 years and above, as lung function naturally declines with age
Symptoms and Signs of COPD:
- Chest tightness
- Chronic cough that may produce clear, white, yellow, or green phlegm
- Frequent respiratory infections
- Lack of energy
- Unintended weight loss
- Shortness of breath
- Swelling in the ankles, feet, or legs
- Wheezing
