World COPD Day, 16th November, is organised by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) in collaboration with health care professionals and COPD patient groups throughout the world. Its aim is to raise awareness, share knowledge, and discuss ways to reduce the burden of COPD worldwide.
What is COPD?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, refers to a group of diseases that cause airflow blockage and breathing-related problems. It includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Over time, COPD makes it harder to breathe. You can’t reverse lung damage, but lifestyle changes and medication changes can help you manage the symptoms.
Key Facts
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death worldwide, causing 3.23 million deaths in 2019.
- Nearly 90% of COPD deaths in those under 70 years of age occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).
What are the symptoms of COPD?
Symptoms of COPD include:
● Frequent coughing or wheezing.
● Excess phlegm, mucus, or sputum production.
● Shortness of breath.
● Trouble taking a deep breath.
Do I need a CRP test?
A CRP test may be used to help find or monitor inflammation in acute or chronic conditions, including:
★ Infections from bacteria or viruses
★ Inflammatory bowel disease, disorders of the intestines that include Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
★ Lung diseases, such as asthma
Your health care provider may use a CRP test to see if treatments for chronic inflammation are working or to make treatment decisions if you have sepsis. Sepsis is your body's extreme response to an infection that spreads to your blood. It's a life-threatening medical emergency.#CRP
Will IL6 Test Help?
The level of Interleukin 6 (IL6) in the blood is measured using this test. Interleukin 6 is a cytokine, a protein involved in the immunological response of the body. IL6 levels are generally low or undetectable. However, autoimmune disorders, inflammation, infection, some types of cancer, and heart disease can all cause them to rise. While elevated IL6 levels can indicate that a person is suffering from an inflammatory illness, it cannot pinpoint the cause of the inflammation. Therefore, before a diagnosis may be made, more testing is usually required.
An IL6 test may be ordered as a follow-up following a high CRP result. IL6 levels can also track the progression of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, lupus, sepsis, and stroke.#IL6
Your Lungs for Life
The 2022 theme for World COPD Day will be “Your Lungs for Life", which aims to highlight the importance of lifelong lung health. It will focus on contributing factors to COPD from birth to adulthood and what we can do to promote lifelong lung health as well as protect vulnerable populations. Get prepared for the day with this joint podcast between GOLD and COPD Foundation discussing this year's theme, "Your Lungs for Life".
The GOLD International COPD Conference was held on World COPD Day. Don't miss out on the most up-to-date strategies for the diagnosis, management, and prevention of COPD. There is still time to register.
Vacure provides a series of Inflammation POCT kits that will help diagnose the inflammation in your body with accurate results in 5-15mimutes. #CRP test kit #PCT test kit #SAA test kit #IL6 test kit #CRP & SAA test kit #PCT & IL6 test kit # Inflammation POCT