Affected as much as men, women pay a higher price for this dreadful disease of the bronchi, for which tobacco is largely responsible.
Today, half of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are women. At the origin of this observation, various factors. First of all, for several years now, they have never been so numerous to smoke. In addition, their respiratory system is physiologically more sensitive than that of men, and therefore more exposed to respiratory degradation. Finally, they have no notion of this risk and are diagnosed too late.
COPD is a chronic inflammatory disease of the bronchi characterized by progressive narrowing and permanent obstruction of the airways and lungs, causing difficulty in breathing. In more than 80% of cases, active smoking, but also passive smoking, is involved.
But if tobacco is the first culprit, it is not the only one: indoor and outdoor pollution, exposure to chemicals also increase the risk of developing the disease. This affection manifests itself by signs that have nothing specific: cough, sputum, shortness of breath become more and more marked over the course of the disease, and by their banality, do not alarm, on the pretext that coughing is considered normal when smoking.
40% of smokers are under 17
COPD affects 3.5 million people in France, half of whom are women: women who smoke more and more. In 2005, 23% of them smoked every day; they were 27% in 2010, according to the DREES. Currently, 24% of women aged 15 to 75 smoke and 40% of them are under 17.
Why ? Certainly by mimicry in relation to men, but also because of aggressive marketing by manufacturers to seduce this target.
And faced with the risks of tobacco, parity does not exist: respiratory deterioration is faster in women than in men. For Pr Chantal Raherison, head of the pneumology department at Bordeaux University Hospital and president of the “Women and lungs” group, for the same quantity of smoked cigarettes, women tend to develop more severe forms of COPD early on.
In the interview conducted by Why actor, this professor, who fights against this female scourge, also notes that their symptoms are less specific, with less sputum, more nocturnal coughs, shortness of breath and fatigue, which leads to a later diagnosis.
Diagnosis too late
The diagnosis of COPD is indeed less often made in front of a smoker woman (49%) than in front of a smoker man (64.6%). A situation undoubtedly attributable to an anachronistic view of this disease, which is still too often associated with men, for lack of awareness of the massive feminization of smoking behavior.
Smoking cessation essential
When it has developed, the disease is incurable, but different measures can improve the quality of life. Quitting smoking seems obvious, but it remains to be seen what will be gained: a study has shown that it was followed by a rapid improvement in respiratory symptoms. Smoking cessation, preferably accompanied, to give yourself the best chance of success, is the main measure that helps prevent the onset, or worsening, of COPD. It’s worth a try !
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