NOT know to many, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) kills now more than the heart attack, according to Dr. Leonora C. Fernandez, MD, clinical associate professor at the Department of Medicine, Philippine General Hospital.

In a recent press conference sponsored by GlaxoSmithkline (GSK) in line with the COPD month awareness program this November, Fernandez explains that according to the recent data, there are more lung attack victims than heart attack victims and if not given the proper attention might be the no. 1 cause of death in the future.

COPD is a chronic and progressive disease usually diagnosed among individuals aged 40 and above. It is an umbrella term for a group of lung diseases that block airflow as the patient exhales which makes it difficult for someone to breath. The two main forms of COPD are chronic bronchitis that involves long-term cough with mucus and emphysema which involves the destruction of the lungs over time.

COPD symptoms develop slowly and hence, patients do not know they’re sick until COPD has progressed already. COPD patients, at the advance of the disease experience breathlessness, chest tightness and coughing with phlegm even with light activities.

The leading cause of COPD is smoking. Despite the efforts of the government to curb cigarette smoking in the country, the number of Filipino smokers is continuously growing.

GSK has been committed to provide healthcare solutions to respiratory diseases such as COPD and asthma.