KURNOOL: World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Day will be observed on November 16 and the Epilepsy Day on November 17. The doctors said the days are being observed internationally to educate public about the diseases, inform them of the treatment available and steps to be taken for their prevention.

G. Kullayappa, retired professor of chest diseases, said COPD was the fourth leading cause of deaths in the world. One out of three habitual smokers suffered from the disease. The primary symptom of the disease was breathlessness and exhaustion even at the slightest physical activity.

Patients suffering from the COPD had got ballooned lungs and obstructed air passages. Apart from smokers, the factory workers, who were exposed to dust and smoke for longer time, also suffered from the disease. Smokers should quit the habit immediately on noticing the signs of COPD and receive medical treatment.

Epilepsy

On the epilepsy, neurologists K. Narsaram and P. Venkata Swamy said the latest drugs available for treatment of the disease have lesser side effects. According to Dr. Narsaram, many factors manifested into epilepsy which include birth injury due to delay in supply of oxygen to the baby, metabolic causes like hypoglycemia and hypocalcimia, brain diseases like meningitis, encephalitis, malaria, head injury, stroke, tumours in the brain, mal-development of brain and vascular system.

Also, epilepsy attacks people without any reason in one-third of the patients, who responded well to the drugs. In most of the cases, the disease aggravated because of discontinuing of drugs. A free camp is being conducted for epilepsy patients.

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