Süreyyapaşa Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Chest Diseases Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Osman Elbek said, “More than 3 million people in the world die due to COPD. In Turkey, we lose 50 thousand people every year. It is the 4th disease that kills the most in Turkey.”
Süreyyapaşa Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Chest Diseases specialist Assoc. Dr. Osman Elbek made important statements about Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) on World COPD Day. Dr. Elbek stated that COPD is an increasing health problem in the world and in Turkey and drew attention to the effect of smoking on the disease. He emphasized that if the disease progresses, it can lead to serious respiratory problems.
“The 4th most killer disease in Turkey”
Referring to the effect of tobacco products on COPD, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Osman Elbek said, “COPD is a disease characterized by permanent impairment of the lungs caused by tobacco products such as cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products or indoor and outdoor air pollution. Unfortunately, none of the drugs we use prevent COPD death. We lose most of our patients. It is important not to get COPD rather than using medication. The way to do this is to reduce tobacco use, reduce indoor and outdoor pollution and prevent poverty in Turkey and the world. More than 3 million people in the world die from COPD. In Turkey, we lose 50 thousand people every year. It is the 4th most killer disease in Turkey. Unfortunately, tobacco use is increasing in Turkey. In the last 20 years, smoking has increased by 27 percent in Turkey. Hookah use has quadrupled. We have a young population that uses tobacco products the most. Using chimneyless stoves, cooking tandoor, these are the most important points that cause COPD in women. In the outdoor environment, air pollution caused by industry and traffic is a serious problem for COPD. For this reason, both our country and the world need to prevent tobacco and air pollution.”
“A marketing tactic of tobacco companies”
Drawing attention to the increase in COPD disease over the years, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elbek said, “Both electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products are a marketing tactic of tobacco companies. There is no difference in terms of harm. They cause COPD at the same rate. Young people turn to these products thinking that they are less harmful. It leads to loss of lung function at the age of full development. This will cause COPD to become one of the most important diseases leading to death, especially in 2050. While it was the 10th most deadly disease in the world in the 90s, it has now risen to 4th place. As Turkey, we always think of health as drug use. The way to protect health is to stay away from tobacco products, which we call harmful particles, to stay away from air pollution, to eat a balanced diet, to do sports and to prevent poverty in general.”
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