Written By: N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe | Updated : November 18, 2025 4:55 PM IST
World COPD Day 2025: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a medical condition that restricts airflow resulting in breathing problems. The World Health Organization (WHO) claims that about 3.5 million people died in 2021 due to COPD, making it the fourth leading cause of death worldwide.
This lung disease is also known as emphysema or chronic bronchitis. To address the growing public health concerns globally, World COPD Day is observed annually to increase awareness about lung disease. This year, World COPD Day 2025 will be observed on November 19, i.e tomorrow, under the theme "Short Of Breath, Think COPD" to focus on persistent breathlessness due to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
According to the 2017 study, released by the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD), India contributed only 15.69 per cent of Global Chronic Respiratory Diseases. However, 30.28 per cent of global deaths due to Chronic Respiratory Disease happened in India.
Healthcare professionals claim that COPD typically develops during midlife onwards. As the medical condition progresses, people start showing symptoms that include:
The World Health Organization (WHO) claims that COPD can worsen quickly and a person living with this condition may need medical attention to manage the symptoms. The global health organization further emphasizes that if COPD is left untreated, it may increase the risk of certain medical conditions that include heart problems, lung infection, depression, anxiety, weak muscles, brittle bones, and lung cancer.
Researchers say that COPD develops gradually over time and several factors contribute to the cause of lung disease. Apart from certain medical conditions, the WHO claims that tobacco exposure from active smoking or second-hand smoking is one of the major causes of lung disease worldwide. Other causes include indoor air pollution, poor growth in utero, asthma, and a rare genetic condition called Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) states that the best way to prevent COPD is to avoid any lung irritant. The US health agency states that smoking is one of the leading causes of COPD. It states, "If you smoke, talk with your provider about programs and products that can help you quit."
Check out the seven essential prevention tips for Indian families:
"Quitting smoking is the most important step you can take to help slow the progression of COPD. It can help you live longer, too. Talk with your provider about how best to quit. Some people use e-cigarettes or vape to try to quit smoking tobacco, but this is not a good idea for smokers who have COPD," the NIH explains.
