Gasping for breath? Blame the rising respiratory problems

Whether it is caused by smoking tobacco or second hand smoke or air pollution, respiratory problems are on the rise. As per the Global Impact of Respiratory Disease Report, despite the availability of cost-effective health therapies, respiratory disorders are the primary cause of deaths and disability.

Moreover, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects almost 200 million people which constitutes 4% of the global population. And 3.2 million people die from COPD each year, making it the world's third major cause of death. The emergence of the coronavirus has only made the situation worse.

As highlighted by the Forum of International Respiratory Societies, there are some steps that can be taken to help reduce the problem of respiratory diseases.

• Raise awareness about the importance of respiratory health, especially the fact that childhood respiratory disease has long-term detrimental consequences for adult health
• Reduce the use of tobacco and smoking products
• Improve respiratory disease prevention and early detection
• Increase global healthcare professional education and training in respiratory disease

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