Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis, causes about 2.5 million deaths worldwide each year. More than 120 thousand people in America die every year from this disease. COPD is projected to become the third leading cause of death in women by 2020. Initially, this disease occurred mainly in elderly men. Between 1980 and 2000, the incidence of COPD among women tripled. To date, women are hospitalized for COPD more than men.

More than 85% of COPD cases are caused by long-term smoking. For example, in the US, about 45 million people smoke, which is 21% of the adult population. 20% of smokers develop COPD. In half of the cases, the disease is diagnosed in patients younger than 65 years. Symptoms of the disease, as a rule, develop after 40 years, after 10 years of constant smoking, on average, one pack of cigarettes per day. It has been proven that women and children are most sensitive to cigarette smoke toxins. Passive smoking also plays a significant role in the development of COPD. Thus, the Lancet magazine published data according to which out of 240 million people in China, 1.9 million people who have never smoked die from COPD, being exposed to secondhand smoke.

According to the analysis, COPD is often underdiagnosed, inadequately treated, or self-treated. So, according to statistical calculations, about 12 million Americans know about their disease and the same number do not. In addition, in the course of therapy, the main factor – smoking – is not excluded. Often the disease is misdiagnosed, often regarded as bronchial asthma, which leads to inappropriate treatment. A large number of patients do not take therapy, which contributes to the progression of the process. This also leads to frequent exacerbations of the disease, the development of complications, an increase in disability and a decrease in the quality of life of patients. It has also been proven that patients with long-term COPD are more likely to develop lung cancer.

In the treatment of this category of patients, a full course of therapy is required, including the appointment of inhalation drugs, antibiotics in the inflammatory process, vaccination against influenza, in some cases, oxygen and diet therapy. in order to reduce weight or surgical methods of treatment for severe development of pulmonary emphysema. In many cases, the so-called pulmonary rehabilitation is recommended, which includes dosed physical activity and an educational program aimed at expanding the patient’s knowledge about his disease, methods of its correction and prevention. And, of course, it is necessary to convince the patient of the need to stop smoking.