The Korean Tuberculosis and Respiratory Society Reveals Alarming Lack of Awareness about Lung Disease and Health
In a recent public awareness survey conducted by the Korean Tuberculosis and Respiratory Society, 68.4% of respondents admitted to never having heard of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is concerning that despite the increased recognition of the importance of lung health due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the general awareness of lung disease remains low.
According to the survey, a staggering 91.4% of Koreans hold the mistaken belief that intense physical exercise can increase lung capacity. However, it is essential to note that lung capacity is determined at birth and cannot be significantly improved, even through rigorous athletic training. That being said, aerobic exercises like cycling or swimming can enhance alveolar function.
The survey also revealed that 68.4% of participants were unfamiliar with COPD. This lack of awareness is problematic, considering that most individuals affected by the disease are men over the age of 40. Early symptoms include persistent cough, phlegm, and breathing difficulties, which necessitate prompt medical attention.
Interestingly, 86.4% of women surveyed either believed they were more susceptible to COPD or admitted to not knowing about the disease’s risks. This misconception further emphasizes the urgent need for improved public education on this topic.
The study found that television was the primary source of information about COPD, accounting for 30.2% of respondents’ awareness. It is plausible that the extensive media coverage of lung disease and anti-smoking campaigns during the pandemic contributed to this exposure.
After being informed about COPD, the majority of respondents acknowledged its severity and expressed the importance of being vigilant to prevent infection among themselves and their families.
Although there is no cure for COPD, early detection and appropriate treatment can effectively manage symptoms and prevent complications. It is crucial for individuals to recognize the importance of seeking medical attention promptly.
Commenting on the survey results, Chairman Jeong Man-pyo of the Korean Tuberculosis and Respiratory Society acknowledged the increased awareness of lung disease following the coronavirus pandemic. However, he noted that accurate information about lung disease and lung health is still lacking among the public. Chairman Jeong emphasized the society’s commitment to providing accurate information through various media channels, including digital platforms that resonate with the younger generation, to ultimately reduce the incidence of lung disease.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Lung Day, a significant event established by the Korean Society of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases to raise awareness of COPD. Since 2003, the society has conducted annual campaigns to disseminate easily accessible and informative content about lung disease and lung health. This year’s celebrations included a competition to share personal stories of living with lung disease, steps to practice lung health, an interactive public survey on lung disease, and an online commemoration ceremony.
Based on the survey findings, the Korean Tuberculosis and Respiratory Society aims to launch various promotional activities to bridge the knowledge gap and enhance the public’s understanding of lung disease, lung health, and COPD.
Disclaimer: This article is the property of The Doctor’s Newspaper and unauthorized reproduction or redistribution is prohibited.
Note: The article has been rewritten to adhere to a neutral, formal, and professional tone. The content has been adjusted to fit the format of a newspaper article, featuring appropriate HTML formatting such as h2 and h3 tags, lists, and bold text for emphasis.
The Korean Tuberculosis and Respiratory Society announces the results of the 2023 Public Awareness Survey on Lung Disease and Lung Health
68.4% of people have never heard of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
The importance of lung health has been recognized since the coronavirus pandemic, but awareness of information related to lung disease is low.
They found that 9 out of 10 Koreans have the incorrect perception that ‘if you exercise hard, your lung capacity will increase.’
The Korean Tuberculosis and Respiratory Society (Chairman Jeong Man-pyo) conducted a public awareness survey on lung disease to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Lung Day and announced it on the 16th.
It was found that the percentage of incorrect answers to the OX question about lung health, ‘If you exercise hard, your lung capacity increases,’ was 91.4%.
Lung capacity is something you are born with, and even if you train professionally as an athlete, your lung capacity will not increase. However, alveolar function can be improved by doing aerobic exercise such as cycling or swimming.
When asked, ‘Do you know about COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)?’, 68.4% answered ‘I don’t know.’ It was found that public awareness of the COPD disease is low.
Most patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are men over the age of 40, and initial symptoms include cough, phlegm, and difficulty breathing. If these symptoms persist, you must visit the hospital for a thorough examination.
In addition, although the prevalence of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) in men is actually high, 86.4% of women responded that they were more susceptible to COPD or that they did not know.
COPD was heard most often through the television (30.2%).
This appears to be the effect of various information about lung disease and anti-smoking campaigns delivered through the mass media during the coronavirus pandemic.
After receiving information about COPD, the majority of respondents recognized it as a serious disease and said that they and their families should be particularly careful after being aware of the possibility of contracting the disease.
Rather than improving lung function, drug treatment for COPD can improve existing symptoms and prevent secondary complications. Therefore, early detection and appropriate treatment are important.
Jeong Man-pyo, chairman of the Korean Tuberculosis and Respiratory Society, said of the results of the public awareness survey, “After the coronavirus, awareness of lung disease has increased, but public awareness of accurate information about lung disease and r the lungs health appears to be insufficient.” He added, “Korea tuberculosis marks its 70th anniversary. “In the future, we plan to make more efforts to provide accurate information about lung disease and lung health not only through the mass media but also through digital media that the 2030 generation is familiar with, and our ultimate goal is to reduce the incidence of lung disease,” he said.
Lung Day, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, is celebrated every year on the second Wednesday of October and is a day established by the Korean Society of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases to raise awareness of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. lung (COPD).
Starting in 2003, we have been running various campaigns every year to present information about lung disease and lung health easily and effectively. This year, on October 11th, we successfully held a competition to write our family’s lung disease story, give steps to practice lung health, a public awareness survey on lung disease, include interactive lung health information, and a Day commemoration ceremony the Lung online.
Meanwhile, this survey surveyed 500 men and women aged 20 to 69 on lung disease, lung health, and COPD-related knowledge and awareness.
Based on the results of this survey, the Korean Tuberculosis and Respiratory Society plans to conduct more diverse promotional activities to improve the public’s understanding of lung disease, lung health, and COPD.
Copyright © The Doctor’s Newspaper Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited
#people #mistakenly #exercising #hard #increases #lung #capacity
