Introduction

September 25 is celebrated annually as World Lung Day, and it serves as a great way and platform to reach out to people, and create more awareness about dealing with lung disease, while placing major emphasis on preventive measures. This is very relevant especially when you look at the statistics- millions suffering from asthma which is the most common issue noted, followed by allergic rhinitis, COPD, infections like tuberculosis or bacterial pneumonia and different types of cancer respectively. This day is used to roll out initiatives which concentrate on improving healthcare, and to teach the public about how to take care of themselves. 

The Significance Of World Lung Day

India has a very high disease burden with respect to asthma- over 42%! It is largely preventable, and the incidence of asthma has been rapidly increasing in urban areas. This can be attributed to increased levels of pollution, reduced green cover and lung spaces in the city, and being exposed to various irritants like cigarette smoke and dust, a sedentary lifestyle with long working hours and little physical activity and not following basic hand and workplace hygiene-related practices. 

One of the major focus areas of this celebration is to initiate policy change by governments- like their stand on manufacturing, industrialisation and pollution related concerns and to also invest well in research on lung diseases. A dearth in funding is a factor that greatly affects the research and scientific community. 

Air Quality and Lung Disease

The theme for this year is ‘Clean air and healthy lungs for all’. Lung health is inherently related to pollution levels and air quality. Too much exposure to pollutants or smoke can cause chronic lung inflammation and affect lung function. Other symptoms also make an appearance- in the form of severe cough, cold, phlegm formation and general discomfort due to allergies. 

Conclusion

One sure fire way to not wheeze every time you go out is to wear a mask and to use air purifiers when needed. Lung disease is largely preventable by following some simple pointers- like eating nutritious food rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, getting some physical activity, talking to a doctor about using drops or inhalers to reduce symptoms like wheezing or cold and the main thing- to stop smoking or being exposed to any second hand smoke too. So, happy breathing and take care!

 

FAQ

 

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