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A new brief reveals that smoking remains one of the leading causes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a common lung disease that causes breathing problem and claiming the lives of over 3 million people every year. There is an estimated 392 million people living with COPD and three quarters of them live in low- and middle-income countries.
“As well as being a major cause of long-term disability, COPD is the third commonest cause of death worldwide. COPD due to smoking remains a major problem globally and there is a growing epidemic of smokers in low- and middle-income countries as tobacco companies actively seek new customers. Around 80% of the world’s 1.3 billion tobacco users now live in LMIC. This will undoubtedly lead to an enormous increase in the global burden of COPD in the coming decades. We must act now to reduce smoking rates, to ensure people with COPD are diagnosed as early as possible and to ensure all patients around the world receive effective therapy.” said Prof. David MG Halpin, Consultant Physician & Professor of Respiratory Medicine, Member of GOLD Board of Directors and the Forum of International Respiratory Societies.
People living with COPD face a greater risk of developing lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and type 2 diabetes. The COVID-19 pandemic has further underscored the challenges in accessing healthcare for these individuals. Quitting smoking will not only reduce your risk of COPD but also significantly reduces the risk of these severe coexisting conditions.
Findings show that tobacco smoke dramatically impacts children’s lung development, substantially increasing the risk of COPD later in life. The tobacco industry uses aggressive marketing strategies to promote nicotine and tobacco products which target children and adolescents.
