This week is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Week

We also heard from Dr Richard Van Zyl Smit – Specialist Pulmonologist at UCT's Lung Institute. We were talking about Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or COPD. According to the World Health Organisation it is estimated in 2004 that 64 million people have COPD worldwide according. The organization further states that more than 3 million people died of COPD in 2005, which was equal to 5% of all deaths globally that year.  COPD is a life-threatening lung disease that refers to a group of diseases that cause airflow blockage and breathing-related problems such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and in some cases asthma. COPD is not curable, but treatment can slow the progress of the disease yet total deaths from it are projected to increase by more than 30% in the next 10 years without interventions to cut risks, particularly exposure to tobacco smoke. Dr Van Zyl Smit explained more. For more information visit www.lunginstitute.co.za or www.copd.co.za alternatively you can contact the COPD Education Group by sending an email to info@copd.co.za

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Rudy van Dieman to summit Table Mountain 365 times in 2022, to raise funds for building a community orphanage

Image
Rudy van Dieman, who has partnered with Angels South Africa, an organisation based in Colorado Park, Mitchells Plain, will summit Table Mountain 365 times in 2022, to raise funds for building a community orphanage. Angels SA wants to purchase a house that will become a safe house for children. ‘’Farieda Moses, [Founder of AngelsSA] has been a role model to me since I knew her. She took us on a camp and we stayed in contact after that ,and we done various charity work together. Just her will, and her strength that I see in her - she wants to make such a big change, but don’t have the necessary tools, so it will take years to fund her dream, and I came up with the crazy idea to give it a year and do my part to raise those funds and build that house,’’ said van Dieman. He aims to raise R1 Million through backabuddy https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/angels-sa-project-365 PICTURED: Rudy van Dieman Sakhi Sizwe · Rudy Van Dieman summits Table Mountain to raise funds to
Read more

FAST Prep - An Innovative method to help stop the spread of HIV and enhance the quality of life for those living with HIV/AIDS.

Image
The Desmond Tutu Health Foundation (DTHF) is a registered non-profit company established in association with the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, an accredited research centre within the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town (UCT). Through their dedication to innovation, quality, and humanity, they hope to mitigate the effects of the HIV epidemic on people, families, and communities. Their mission is to achieve the highest standards in HIV research, treatment, and prevention in South Africa.                  Educating us a little bit more about the work that is done at Desmond Tutu Health foundation in educating and providing health services of FASTPrEP in terms of HIV Prevention as well as HIV Treatment and other related infections is Mbali Jonas as well as Ntando FAST Prep:  Is an acronym for Foreskin and Mucosal Tissue Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis. It is specifically designed to target areas where HIV can spread, particularly in high-risk populations. By using this method, the a
Read more

Winter having an effect on Bloodstocks

Image
The Western Cape Blood Service (WCBS) is appealing to all donors to donate blood as blood stocks are critically low. “The winter is having a severe effect on our bloodstocks and we are amidst a severe blood stock shortage”, says Marike Carli, Public Relations Manager at WCBS. There is a critical shortage in the O and B blood groups, with only a 2-day supply left. The A-positive blood stocks are also under severe pressure as only a 3-day supply is left. WCBS always aim to have a blood stock level of 5 days. The winter weather is not conducive to going out, and with the continuing storms in Cape Town, they are seeing the effects on their blood stocks. Blood donors suffer from colds and flu during this time and can subsequently not donate blood – up until the resolution of their symptoms . Click on the video below to here more: Presenter: Jasnine Roberts Producer: Lydia M
Read more