Globally, 65 million people suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). According to data from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), it is estimated that about 3.59 million people over 40 in Korea are COPD patients (as of 2019). COPD is a chronic inflammatory disease of the bronchi and lung tissue. The bronchial tubes, the tubes in which air moves in and out, narrow, resulting in bronchitis. The alveoli, where gas exchanges between blood and air, melt, resulting in emphysema. In this state, the air does not move well when you breathe and you are short of breath.
Smoking is the most influential risk factor for developing COPD. It is known that 80% of COPD patients are caused by smoking. In addition to current smoking, past smoking can cause COPD, even if it has been a long time since you quit smoking. However, COPD also occurs in people who do not smoke at all. This is because COPD occurs due to the interaction of several factors, such as environmental factors, genetic factors, and economic power.
For example, breathing smoke from cooking or heating for a long time, working in a dusty environment, or breathing harmful gases or fumes for a long time can also cause COPD. In addition, if you have a history of respiratory system such as pulmonary tuberculosis or asthma, you are more likely to develop COPD.
If COPD develops in smokers, the first treatment prescribed is smoking cessation. Quitting smoking not only prevents COPD from developing, it also prevents further progression and acute exacerbation of COPD. Those that can improve symptoms and improve lung function to prolong life.
However, smoking is so addictive that it is never easy to quit smoking. In particular, during the first 3 days after quitting smoking, withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, dissatisfaction with desire, anger, restlessness, anxiety, and poor concentration appear the most. These symptoms gradually decrease over 3 to 4 weeks, but many people cannot tolerate it and smoke again.
The success rate of quitting smoking increases with the help of drugs and specialists rather than trying to quit smoking alone. Smoking cessation aids, such as nicotine patches, nicotine gum, and candy, can reduce withdrawal symptoms and increase the success rate of quitting smoking. It is also effective to seek professional advice. You can visit the smoking cessation clinic of your local public health center or hospital, or call the smoking cessation hotline (1544-9030). If you register for a smoking cessation clinic at a public health center, you can receive counseling services nine times in six months from the date of decision to quit smoking.