Risk of COPD Rises Sharply After 30 — Know the Symptoms Before It’s Too Late
Exposure to air pollution and smoking can lead to long-term lung damage, including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) — a condition for which no complete cure exists. Early awareness of symptoms is critical for improving quality of life.
COPD affects more than 3.5 crore people in India and is among the top three causes of death in the country. Despite this, public awareness remains alarmingly low.
Early Signs Often Ignored
According to Delhi-based pulmonologist Dr. Aniruddha Lochan, early symptoms like shortness of breath or persistent coughing are commonly dismissed as effects of ageing or smoking. This delay allows the disease to worsen silently, reducing lung capacity over time.
This year’s World COPD Day (19 November) theme — “Breathless? Think COPD.” — stresses t...









