14 November - Health - Wednesday marks the World COPD day

In today’s show, we heard from Professor Eric Bateman - Professor of Respiratory Medicine and director of the UCT Lung Institute. We were talking about Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or COPD. On Wednesday is World COPD day and the theme of this year is “Are you short of breath? You may have COPD! Ask your doctor about a simple breathing test called spirometry.” This positive message was chosen to raise awareness of spirometry as the gold standard for diagnosis of COPD, and emphasize the actions a person can take to safeguard his or her lung health. In addition, it raises awareness that breathlessness is not just an inevitable part of getting older. For people who have not been diagnosed with COPD, breathlessness is a signal that they should see their doctor and ask about a spirometry test to check their lung function. People who have COPD have difficulty breathing because they develop smaller air passageways and have partially destroyed alveoli. Professor Bateman explained more. For more information you can contact the COPD Education Group by sending an email to info@copd.co.za or visit www.copd.co.za alternatively contact the UCT Lung Institute on (021) 406 6880.