COPD Makes You Age Early

Yeditepe University Kozyatağı Hospital Chest Diseases Specialist Prof. Dr. Banu Musaffa Salepci stated that COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), which causes approximately 300,000 deaths a year in European Union (EU) countries alone, also accelerates aging.

COPD, which has become a social problem, is one of the diseases that the whole world is alarmed about. COPD, which ranks 3rd among the diseases that cause death today, is predicted to rise even higher in the coming years due to the increase in smoking rates. Statistics show that about 50 percent of people who smoke throughout their lives develop chronic bronchitis and 25 percent develop COPD.

“It Is Also Seen Frequently In Women Now”

Stating that aging and gender constitute one of the most important risk factors for COPD, Yeditepe University Kozyatağı Hospital Chest Diseases Specialist Prof. Dr. Banu Musaffa Salepçi: "Because it is observed that the disease increases with age and increases to 20 percent, especially for men over the age of 70. However, it is three times more common in men than women. Due to the increase in smoking rates in women in the world and our country in recent years, the incidence of COPD has increased in women and is even more severe."

Turkey is One of the Countries with the Highest COPD Rate

Drawing attention to the fact that increasing smoking rates in the young population may cause an increase in the number of COPD patients in the coming period, Prof. Dr. Banu Musaffa Salepçi stated that COPD is seen in approximately 15 percent of men over the age of 40 in Turkey.  Stating that approximately one-third of the patients are dependent on oxygen tubes, Prof. Dr. Banu Musaffa Salepçi: ''The biomass exposure seen in women cooking in wood and coal flames in houses in Turkey, especially in the Central and Eastern Anatolia regions, led to the development of COPD.''

"COPD Wastes Our Lives"

Prof. Dr. Salepçi: "In COPD patients, anti-aging molecules appear to decrease while factors that accelerate aging come to the fore due to smoking. Therefore, COPD accelerates aging and reduces our lifespan. Moreover, COPD also poses a risk for many other diseases. Cardiovascular diseases are the leading concomitant diseases. Many problems such as diabetes, metabolic diseases, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, and depression can be encountered in COPD patients."

"Patients Apply Late to the Doctor"

The fact that patients usually attribute symptoms such as performance limitation, shortness of breath, and cough to smoking is the most important factor in delaying the diagnosis. Prof. Dr. Banu Musaffa Salepçi continued as follows:

"COPD manifests itself with symptoms such as cough, sputum, and shortness of breath. However, patients often attribute their complaints such as coughing sputum to smoking and think that what they experience is natural. In fact, since only people who smoke do not have these symptoms, the complaints point to the disease. Hence, it is important not to ignore the symptoms and to consult a physician as soon as possible. Especially if a person is over 40 years old, smokes, and has these complaints, they are very likely to be diagnosed with COPD.  In these patients, the definitive diagnosis is made by pulmonary function test. Further examinations can be performed depending on the situation of the patient with different concomitant diseases. Patients' quality of life is seriously deteriorating in advanced homes due to frequent exacerbations, hospitalizations, antibiotic treatments, and oxygen dependence."

The Success of Treatment Depends on Quitting Smoking

Underlining that if COPD is not treated, it has serious consequences that can lead to loss of life in 6-7 years, Prof. Dr. Salepçi: “Unfortunately, it is not possible to completely cure the disease with treatment. Therefore, our primary goal is to reduce the symptoms experienced by the patient. In this way, we aim to improve the quality of life. But the main thing is to quit smoking. As long as smoking continues, the disease is impossible to treat and continues to progress. By measuring symptoms such as shortness of breath experienced by the patient, we determine the stage of COPD and start drug treatment. We lead the way in stopping smoking. We also ask patients to make lifestyle changes such as nutrition, exercise, and weight control. However, it should never be forgotten that quitting smoking is the first step of treatment.”