Most smokers unaware of chronic lung disorders

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Many smokers are unaware of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) they may suffer after years of smoking, pulmonologists said on Monday.

They said COPD was often overlooked by both the public and doctors who often confused the disease with asthma or other illnesses.

CPOD, which ranks as one of the five deadliest killers in the world, does not have clear symptoms until between 15 years and 20 years of constant smoking, when a person's lungs have lost 60 percent of their function.

"Not all smokers suffer from COPD, however, because of genetic factors. Some smokers can even live over 70 years old," Handiarto Mangunnegoro, a pulmonologist at the University of Indonesia, said during the launch of the Association of Indonesian COPD Expert Committee (ICEC). Handiarto heads the association.

COPD is a term to describe the air flow obstruction, which is associated mainly to emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Emphysema causes irreversible lung damage that restricts the flow of air in the lungs, while chronic bronchitis results in inflammation that causes an increase in mucus and bacterial infections that block the bronchial tubes.

Both conditions decrease the lungs' ability to take in oxygen and remove carbon dioxide. The combination of too little oxygen and too much carbon dioxide in the blood may have an impact on the brain, causing a variety of other health problems, including headaches, sleeplessness, impaired mental ability and irritability.

Data shows that 80 percent to 90 percent of COPD cases are caused by smoking. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that some 2.74 million deaths are caused by COPD every year, with more than 600 million people in the world suffering from the disease.

Pradjnaparamita, another member of ICEC, said the new drug for COPD disease called bronchodylator orthycologic will be available in drug stores across the country by April.

"Actually, smokers have to stop smoking by the time COPD symptoms are found in their lungs. They also have to undergo a series of rehabilitation measures to keep their lungs fully functional," Pradjnaparamita said.

She said breathing exercises were good therapy for smokers who suffer from COPD.

Smokers should take a spyrometry test, a medical treatment to find out whether or not they are suffering from COPD. This test is available at Persahabatan Hospital in East Jakarta, Pelni Hospital in Central Jakarta, Jakarta Respiratory Center in South Jakarta and Mitra Hospital in the North Jakarta area of Kelapa Gading. The hospitals have been selected for the pilot project for COPD medication in the capital.

The new association also offered services ranging from consultation to training. For further information smokers can contact the association's hotline at 0-800-7338547278 (or 0-800- PEDULI-PARU).