Approximately half a million people in Greece suffer from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, the most prevalent respiratory illness, but the majority are unaware of their condition.
The issue was highlighted by the Hellenic Thoracic Society ahead of World COPD Day, this Wednesday.
“Our goal with this information campaign is to encourage people to take proactive steps – seeking early medical advice, visiting a pulmonologist, and preventing COPD from impacting their breathing, daily activities, and social life,” noted Stelios Loukidis, the head official at HTS.
COPD is a chronic condition that develops gradually over many years, primarily affecting smokers, especially those over the age of 50, and significantly diminishes the quality of life of those who suffer from it, medical experts point out.
It is marked by chronic respiratory symptoms, such as shortness of breath, coughing, and flare-ups. These symptoms result from airway issues like bronchitis or damage to the air sacs, or emphysema, leading to ongoing and often worsening airflow limitations.
A growing global pandemic, with smoking being the leading risk factor, COPD causes the deaths of three million people worldwide each year. This number is forecast to rise to approximately 5.4 million by 2060.
