Lung disease on the rise, likely to worsen

[Blossom/Jackie W.]

I'm going to assume that this was extracted from the BOLD study recently published (Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease)
Do you agree with the numbers? Do you think it's more or less?


Submitted by WWAY on 31 August 2007 - 9:45pm.

"Lung disease in on the rise among adults around the world and doctors say it's only likely to get worse in the future.

The lung disease known as chronic pulmonary obstructive disorder -- or COPD
-- is the fifth leading cause of death worldwide.

COPD, which includes breathing disorders such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema, most often results from smoking.

Previous estimates suggested around 4 percent of adults over age 40 suffer from COPD, but a new global study puts the number much higher, at 10 percent.

Researchers studied more than 9,400 people in 12 different countries, including the United States and Canada.

They found that one in 10 people had decreased lung function, persistent cough, or breathing problems that signal COPD.

For people who had smoked for twenty years or more, the odds were much greater -- roughly one in five had COPD.

The percentages also increased as people got older, even among non-smokers, so doctors say the problem is likely to get worse as the population ages.

Experts are calling for more efforts aimed at reducing smoking and improving treatments for COPD as the number of patients continues to climb. "

[morningstar]

I think it will continue to climb so yes I agree with it. Myself I think more than likely the numbers are a little low and more than they think may suffer from COPD Sounds like they didn't test all the people and many quit smoking years ago for say the cost. Yet now 20 years later they have COPD. JMHO

[the bear]

Interesting thread~~ IMHO COPD has nowhere to go but increase.
I read a book recently, "A case of need" by Michael Crichton under assumed name of Jeffery Hudson. The story had nothing to do with COPD but of abortion gone wrong. On page 126 they speak of "Death Threshold". This is the number of people that must die needlessly, before anyone gets excited about it.
This is exactly where COPD is now. Smoking decreasing, yet COPD increasing. Both genetics and environment are the prime causes.
Our prior jobs and working conditions and our hereditary play a role in determining our getting COPD.
Today the very air we breathe is damaging our lungs.
It is time for COPD'ers to take action and demand change.
Before it is too late for anyone. Who can governments fool if we are all on the brown side of the grass??

[LindaNY]

I think it's just being diagnosed more frequently. In the past, many doctors did not even bother to look for it or give the proper tests to dx. it. Fortunately they are better educated now.

If there is an increase, maybe it's because many of us are living much longer than our predecessors did.

www.longevitymeme.org/articles/viewarticle.cfm?article_id=11

Average Human Lifespan

"Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow"
- William Shakespeare

With few exceptions, 30,000 days is the average human lifespan - 40,000 if you're lucky. However, two-thousand years ago average life expectancy was less than 20 years or about 7,000 days. It is difficult to imagine, but most of our ancestors kicked the bucket before our modern legal drinking age.

Bacteria, predators, accidents, extremes in weather and the lack of a reliable food source meant humans led short, dirty, brutal existences. That is if they survived birth at all. Infant mortality rates ranged from 300 or 400 deaths per 1,000 live births in the 18th century, while we see only seven per 1,000 today.

In 1796, life expectancy hovered around 24 years. A hundred years later it doubled to 48. In our modern world of air conditioners, hand washing and booster shots, you have a good chance of living 63 years, which is the world average. However, for those fortunate enough to live in a first-world country, lifespan jumps considerably.

Japan for instance has the longest average life-expectancy of 80 years, according to government figures. Similarly, in the United States, a baby born today can expect to live to 77. Interestingly these numbers continue to rise not only in developed countries but all over the world as well. When statistics are placed to a graph, the numbers speak for themselves. (Figure 1. above)