World COPD Day: Important to focus on lung health, says Padma Shri Dr Digambar Behera

On World COPD Day, Padma Shri Dr Digambar Behera said if a patient suffering from COPD gets infected with Covid, the chance of mortality increases, so it is important to focus on lung health

If a patient suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) gets infected with Covid-19, the chance of mortality increases. Even in light of Covid, COPD remains a leading cause of death and now it is more important to focus on lung health.

On World COPD Day, Padma Shri Dr Digambar Behera stressed the importance of focussing on the lung health. (HT Photo)

This was stated by Padma Shri recipient Dr Digambar Behera during a panel discussion on Wednesday. The discussion was organised by Zorgers Healthcare to raise awareness on World COPD Day.

Dr Behera said people should keep their lungs healthy by avoiding cigarettes, air pollution or occupational exposures and by staying active either through regular physical activity or pulmonary rehabilitation.

While speaking on the occasion, Dr Vishal Sharma and Dr Sunny Virdi, pulmonologists, said, “The main risk factors for COPD are tobacco smoking, atmospheric air pollution as well as indoor pollution due to smoke from biomass used for cooking. However, lifestyle changes like eating healthy, exercise and vaccination help cope with limitations created by the disease.”

“Smoking is suicide by instalments. There is a huge risk among COPD patients to get severe Covid infections as smoking leads to weakened immunity,” said another pulmonologist, Dr Suresh K Goyal.

Pulmonologists Dr Zafar Ahmed Iqbal and Dr Rahul Katyal were also present during the panel discussion.