Women are more at risk of pulmonary diseases than men

Females are more at the risk of developing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a serious respiratory disease caused by smoke and air pollution, compared to males. As they have smaller and more sensitive lung mucous, these affect women more quickly and severely than men, warn lung disease specialists, ahead of World COPD Day.

COPD is an umbrella term used to describe progressive, inflammatory lung diseases, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Women residing in rural areas are more at risk due to cooking food on‘Chulha’. WHO predicts that COPD will become the third leading cause of death worldwide by 2030.

“As per studies sponsored by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), in 2009, an estimated 1.48 crore (3.49%) Indians suffer from chronic bronchitis. The figures may differ, but the ailment, poses a serious health risk regardless of rural-urban status and socio-economic background. That’s because the leading causes of COPD are tobacco consumption, exposure to biomass fuel, smoke and external pollutants such as smog. Second-hand smoke exposure is also a factor,” Dr Narendra khippal, professor at institute of respiratory diseases, SMS medical college said. According to lung disease experts, on average, people with COPD have five additional associated diseases or disorders, …read more