World Lung Day: Why respiratory health matters more than ever

September 25, Wednesday, marks World Lung Day, a crucial reminder of the importance of lung health worldwide. As critical organs responsible for delivering oxygen to every cell in the body, the increasing prevalence of lung health issues demands urgent action from health advocates. Despite medical advancements, several people remain affected by chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) such as asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and lung cancer - all conditions that are often preventable yet continue to cause harm.

The 2017 Global Burden of Diseases Report revealed that India has one of the highest rates of chronic respiratory diseases, making up 15.69 per cent of global cases and 30.28 per cent of worldwide deaths. India also leads in the number of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) cases, with 55.23 million affected, and ranks second in COPD-related deaths, with nearly 0.85 million.

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Air pollution largely raises the risk of chronic respiratory conditions such as COPD, asthma, respiratory infections, and lung cancer. Every day, millions are exposed to harmful levels of particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) from sources like vehicle emissions and industrial pollutants. Poor air quality worsens asthma and COPD symptoms, while also increasing the risk of pneumonia and lung cancer.

Tobacco use also remains a serious health concern in India, with over 267 million users. Smoking is a leading cause of respiratory diseases. The harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke damage the airways and weaken lung function, resulting in nearly 1.2 to 1.3 million deaths per year across the country.

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To address the issue, essential steps include raising awareness and promoting lung health education. Key measures include reducing emissions from vehicles and industries, encouraging cleaner energy sources, and supporting sustainable farming practices to minimise crop burning. Effective tobacco cessation programs, offering both counselling and medication support, are also crucial for successful intervention. Public health campaigns should prioritise educating younger generations on the dangers of smoking and vaping.

On World Lung Day, we take a look at how these organs function and the best ways to keep them healthy.