November
19, 2025, marks the 24th World COPD Day, with the theme "Breathing
Difficulty, Beware of COPD".
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), commonly known as COPD, is silently threatening the respiratory health of nearly 100 million Chinese people, posing a heavy burden on patients' families and society.
Director Dong Wen, Vice President of Oncology at Hainan Province and an expert at the Respiratory Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Hainan Chengmei Hospital, reminds us that insufficient understanding of COPD is a significant factor leading to delayed treatment. Therefore, it is crucial to gain knowledge about the disease and take scientific precautions.
Symptoms are subtle, so be vigilant for these signals
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic airway disease characterized by progressive airflow limitation. It has a long course and is prone to recurrent episodes. In severe cases, it can lead to respiratory failure and pulmonary heart disease. Director Dong Wen explained, "Due to atypical early symptoms, many patients mistake coughing and shortness of breath for natural manifestations of aging, thus missing the best opportunity for intervention."
Director Dong Wen reminds us that COPD has clear early signals:
1. Chronic cough, especially pronounced in the morning, with paroxysmal coughing that may occur at night;
2. Coughing up phlegm, mostly white mucus or serous foam phlegm, with increased phlegm volume during acute exacerbation;
3. Progressive shortness of breath is the most characteristic symptom - initially occurring only after physical exertion, gradually progressing to difficulty breathing during daily activities and even at rest.
If these symptoms persist for more than two months, one should be alert to the possibility of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
High-risk factors are clear. These groups of people need to be screened
The high-risk factors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are well-established and primarily concentrated in four groups of people:
For individuals who smoke or are exposed to second-hand smoke for a long time, smoking is the primary pathogenic factor of COPD;
Practitioners engaged in industries such as coal mining, construction, and chemical engineering, who have long-term exposure to dust or harmful gases;
People in rural areas who have long used biofuels such as firewood and straw for cooking and are exposed to kitchen fumes;
Individuals who have experienced recurrent respiratory infections during childhood and whose lung function development has been affected.
Director Dong Wen suggested that high-risk individuals should incorporate pulmonary function tests (the "gold standard" for diagnosing COPD) into their routine physical examinations and undergo them once a year.
Scientific prevention and control are key
"Although COPD cannot be cured, standardized management can slow down its progression. In terms of prevention and treatment, Director Dong Wen gave clear advice:
1. Prevention
Quitting smoking is the most economical and effective means of prevention, and benefits can be obtained regardless of age or smoking duration: smokers who quit at the age of 30 have lung function close to that of normal people, and patients who quit at the age of 60 experience a 50% reduction in acute exacerbations. Those with severe addiction can seek help from smoking cessation clinics, while also avoiding second-hand smoke and establishing a "smoke-free environment".
At the same time, we should ensure good ventilation in the kitchen, wear N95 masks on smoggy days, and use protective equipment properly during occupational exposure.
2. Treatment
Confirmed patients need to adhere to standardized treatment, regularly use inhaled medications for a long time, and must not discontinue medication without authorization due to symptom relief;
In addition, one should learn respiratory rehabilitation techniques such as pursed lip breathing and abdominal breathing, and receive annual influenza and pneumonia vaccinations to reduce the risk of acute exacerbation.
Clinical data shows that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who receive comprehensive management can have a five-year survival rate increased to over 80%.
Director Dong Wen urges that awareness of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) should be raised. If family members experience persistent symptoms such as "cough, phlegm, and wheezing", it is recommended to seek medical attention at a respiratory specialist in a timely manner, so as not to let a "minor ailment" escalate into a "major illness" that affects quality of life.
The Respiratory Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Hainan Chengmei Hospital focuses on common chronic respiratory diseases such as COPD and pneumonia. With standardized management of respiratory chronic diseases as its core, it tailors personalized diagnosis and treatment plans for each patient by establishing a comprehensive and systematic patient health record.
Expert Introduction
Dong Wen, Chief Physician
Director of Respiratory Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center
Doctor of Medicine, Supervisor of Master's students
Other high-level talents in Hainan Province
Medical expertise: Specialized in respiratory interventional therapy and comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of lung tumors. As a leading talent in minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment of respiratory tumors in Hainan Province, he has made significant professional achievements:
1. Take the lead in establishing a four-tier interventional diagnosis and treatment technology system under bronchoscopy, encompassing a series of highly challenging technical procedures such as balloon dilation, airway stent implantation, and photodynamic therapy;
2. take the lead in carrying out CT-guided percutaneous lung tumor seed implantation and radiofrequency ablation, and promote the implementation of minimally invasive treatment in local clinical practice in Hainan;
3. pioneered painless bronchoscopy and treatment, benefiting over 3,000 patients;
4. we have innovatively developed multiple tracheal stent implantation techniques, providing patients with a turning point in their treatment.
Clinic Hours: Thursday morning
Article | Huang Fei