In continuation of its awareness activities and on the occasion of World COPD Day, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has published on its Twitter page and its educational platform «Live Well», an awareness infographic on the disease.
According to MOH, COPD is the name for a group of respiratory diseases that affect the lungs such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. The risk factors include tobacco smoking, which is the main cause of COPD, secondhand smoke, dust, and other air pollutants, as well as a genetic condition that affects the body's ability to produce a protein (Alpha-1) that protects the lungs. The prevention of the disease includes quitting smoking, avoiding air pollutants, checking the lungs, physical activity, and vaccination against respiratory infections.
It is to be noted that World COPD Day aims at raising awareness about the disease, promoting it worldwide, reducing associated deaths, and improving the healthcare standards for COPD patients.