Hope for COPD patients

MANILA, Philippines - COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. It is a serious lung disease that develops slowly and can worsen over time. 

The most common symptoms of COPD are shortness of breath, difficulty in breathing, chest tightness, excessive sputum production, wheezing, and constant coughing.  

In more than 80 percent of cases, the illness is related to cigarette smoking. Long-term exposure to other lung irritants, such as air pollution, chemical fumes or dust, also may contribute to COPD.

To expand understanding of COPD and advocate for better care for patients, Nov. 17 was officially declared as World COPD Day. 

Organized by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD), the day was the culmination of the Year of the Lung 2010 celebration and marked by activities implemented by health care professionals and patient groups throughout the world. 

In the Philippines, the Philippine College of Chest Physicians headed by Dr. Abundio Balgos and the Council on COPD and Pulmonary Rehabilitation chaired by Dr. Tomas Realiza and with Dr. Glynna Cabrera as coordinator, spearheaded various activities to celebrate the occasion.

Among these activities was an event held last Nov. 13 at the Amoranto Stadium in Quezon City dubbed “COPD Pistang Pilipino: “Pagkakaisa Tungo sa Pag-asa.”

Fused by a common cause, close to 300 COPD patients, doctors and respiratory therapists engaged in a day of fun, traditional “Pinoy-inspired” games and a friendly “inter-barangay” competition where each barangay, represented by major hospitals in Metro Manila, presented their own interpretation of Philippine local festivals. 

“We have been doing this for three consecutive years now with the primary objective of bringing patients together to foster camaraderie among them, to send the message that COPD patients are not helpless and that in spite of some limitations they can still excel and enjoy life… there is definitely hope,” said Dr. Rommel Tipones, overall chairman for the event.

The festivities ended with the awarding ceremonies. Barangay Lung Center of the Philippines bagged the championship trophy for their rendition of Cebu’s Sinulog Festival which highlighted the event’s theme of “Pagkakaisa Tungo sa Pag-asa.”  

Unified Barangay UST Hospital, St. Luke’s Medical Center and Chinese General Hospital, on the other hand, were declared overall event champion.

The other barangays were represented by the Philippine General Hospital, University of Perpetual Help Medical Center, Philippine Heart Center, Veterans Memorial Medical Center, and Manila Doctors Hospital, all of which have active rehab programs for patients with COPD. 

“In unity there is hope… where everyone has a responsibility to do his own share and give his or her very best. You will be surprised by the outcome of combined individual commitments. God takes care of the rest of course,” said Ed Sanchez, UAP Respi Unit Group product manager. 

United American Pharmaceuticals Inc., the pulmo division of Unilab, is a partner in making this annual undertaking memorable and inspiring to all.