Smokers’ lungs weaken faster: experts

Sun Yueh, a former movie actor who has become an active crusader against smoking, was just diagnosed with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) even after having quit smoking for 23 years.

Sun, 76, received an examination by Yang Pan-chih, deputy superintendent of the National Taiwan University Hospital, after he recently had a disappointing performance on a blowing capacity test at the John Tung Foundation, for which Sun works as a volunteer.

Following a close examination, Yang diagnosed Sun as suffering from COPD. He also rated Sun’s lung capacity as that of a person of 94 years, almost 20 years older than Sun’s real age.

Sun said he used to smoke two to three packs of cigarettes a day during his busy filmmaking years.

But he decided to quit smoking in 1984 at the age of 53 and propagate the adverse impact of smoking as a life-long volunteer for the foundation and the anti-smoking movement.

Starting five years ago, Sun cultivated a habit of swimming several laps every morning.

Nevertheless, he recently felt the declining of physical strength and was short of breath after walking a little longer. He thought the problem could come from asthma that has bothered him for decades.

Dr. Yang said that the lung capacity reaches its peak at the age of 25. The function normally declines 12 percent each year after reaching middle age.

But the speed of lung capacity deterioration accelerates when the lungs are plagued by air inflow obstruction caused by inflammatory secretions, mucus, and thickening cells.

Sun said he did not realize that smoking 23 years ago can still wreak the havoc.

He urged smokers to quit the habit as early as possible before it is too late.

Medical experts at leading hospitals and the John Tung Foundation said that up to 76 percent of smokers are not aware that they have already been suffering from COPD.

They said uneven breathing, coughing with mucus, and chest discomfort are among the symptoms of COPD.

They invited people to visit the Web sites www.jtf.org.tw or www.quitandwin.org.tw to conduct self-evaluation for a deeper understanding about the health of their lungs.

Dr. Yang said patients should immediately stop smoking and cut the inhaling of harmful substances.

In addition to seeking medical help, swimming and brisk walking will help strengthen the lung function and slow down the worsening of the condition, Yang suggested.

Improving working conditions at work and the overall air quality in living environment are among other measures to help prevent COPD.

It is estimated that there are currently 14 million people in the United States diagnosed with COPD. But it is also estimated that an additional 14 million or more are still undiagnosed.

Most generally, emphysema, chronic bronchitis and chronic asthma either alone or in combinations fall into this category.

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