Abu Dhabi Hospital raises awareness of lung disease on world copd day

Lung Condition Set to Be Third Leading Cause of Death Worldwide by 2030, According to World Health Organization

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a serious lung condition, treatable if diagnosed early, which physicians at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi are highlighting on World COPD Day.

The World Health Organization predicts that COPD will become the third leading cause of death worldwide by 2030, driven in part by the global increase in tobacco use and increased passive exposure to environmental hazards polluting the air we breathe, such as carbon monoxide fumes from traffic and second-hand tobacco smoke.
COPD is a group of conditions that gradually reduce the effectiveness of the lungs over time. If COPD is diagnosed in the early stages of the disease, physicians can work in partnership with patients to improve their lung function. Typically, physicians recommend a range of treatments and lifestyle changes including stopping smoking, following a structured exercise program and taking medication such as bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory agents. Physicians at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi can now prescribe a new range of biological injectable therapies to help patients manage the condition in the medium and long-term.

Dr. Zaid Zoumot, Staff Physician at the Respiratory Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, explained: “COPD is typically found in patients over the age of 55 and cannot be reversed – only managed – so it’s important to diagnose the condition early and develop a treatment plan. A new generation of therapies are now available for patients that can support an improved quality of life and slow down the progress of the condition.”

The symptoms of COPD are easily confused with those of asthma, which is why patients are advised to see a specialist physician if they are concerned about the condition. Common symptoms include difficulty breathing, excess mucus production or a persistent cough.

If COPD progresses, physicians may recommend lung volume reduction treatments, such as bronchoscopic lung volume reduction using endobronchial valves or endobronchial coils. With COPD, lungs become permanently damaged because they are inflated beyond their normal size. As a result, patients have to inhale and exhale harder to fill and empty their lungs. Lung volume reduction treatments reduce the effort required to breathe easily.

As a final option, doctors may recommend a lung transplant. In its role as the UAE’s only multi-organ transplant center, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has completed three lung transplants in 2018.

Patients who wish to book an appointment with a physician can visit: https://www.clevelandclinicabudhabi.ae/en/patients-and-visitors/forms-and-documents/pages/request-an-appointment.aspx.

**Please note, Thumbay Group, Gulf Medical University, and HEALTH magazine are not liable nor responsible for the facts, figures, and overall content of the press releases on our portal.

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