1. Out of Breath When Climbing Stairs?

If you find yourself feeling significantly more short of breath than others when walking uphill or climbing stairs, or if you experience persistent symptoms such as frequent coughing, dyspnea (shortness of breath), or phlegm in your daily life, you should pay close attention to this report. Doctors suggest that these symptoms are indicators that you should visit a hospital for a pulmonary function test. This is because they may point to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD. It is a chronic respiratory disease where the airways or alveoli are damaged by factors such as smoking, air pollution, or lung infections, causing them to lose their normal function.

[Interview: Moon Ji-yong / Professor of Pulmonology and Allergy at Konkuk University Medical Center: Simply put, you can think of it as a disease where there is a limitation in the airflow through the airways and bronchial tubes. Because the airflow is restricted, it is not only uncomfortable to inhale, but it is even more difficult to exhale, making it a disease where you become increasingly short of breath as you move more.]

Although COPD is relatively less well-known in Korea, it is considered a major life-threatening disease globally. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that there are 251 million COPD patients worldwide, and 3.17 million people lose their lives to this disease every year. It is ranked as the third leading cause of death worldwide, and in Korea, it is estimated that there are about 3 million patients, with the disease cited as the ninth leading cause of death.

2. "Once Damaged, It Cannot Be Restored"

Early diagnosis and treatment are the most important aspects of managing COPD. There are even statistics suggesting that if the condition progresses to an acute exacerbation and requires hospitalization, 50% of patients pass away within 3 years, and 75% die within 7 years.

[Interview: Moon Ji-yong / Professor of Pulmonology and Allergy at Konkuk University Medical Center: The leading causes of death that we are typically aware of are cancer, followed by cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. If you exclude those vascular diseases and cancer, respiratory disease is one of the primary causes of death, so you could say it ranks third or fourth.]

"Once the lungs are damaged, they cannot be restored." You may have heard this saying before. COPD is also known as a disease that is difficult to cure completely, but if treated early, it is said that patients can lead their daily lives with almost no interference.

3. A Diagnosis Rate of Only 2%

Park Sang-yong, a 67-year-old resident of Seoul, is one such case.

[Interview: Park Sang-yong / COPD Patient: I used to drive large cargo trucks for a long time. Back then, I smoked a lot while waiting in traffic or during downtime...]

Park smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for over 40 years and worked as a truck driver for 10 years. Naturally, he was exposed to a significant amount of exhaust fumes. COPD treatment involves using an inhaled bronchodilator, which alleviates symptoms with once-daily use. Having quit smoking and received treatment for 4 years, Park now faces almost no difficulties in his daily life.

[Interview: Park Sang-yong / COPD Patient: When I climbed hills or carried heavy loads, I would get significantly more out of breath than others. (But do you feel much better after receiving treatment now?) Yes, I feel it a lot. I don't have much trouble climbing stairs, and I'm fine when walking up hills.]

However, cases like Park's, where early diagnosis leads to treatment, are reportedly rare. The diagnosis rate is said to be only around 2%. This means that out of every 1,000 patients, only about 20 are aware of their condition and receiving treatment.

4. 13% of Domestic Patients Are Non-Smokers; What Causes COPD?

So, why do people get this disease? Medical staff at Konkuk University Medical Center in Seoul, who are conducting research on COPD, report that there is a significantly high number of taxi drivers among their patients. Smoking and exhaust fumes are presumed to be the main causes. Other causes are diverse, including yellow dust and fine dust.

[Interview: Moon Ji-yong / Professor of Pulmonology and Allergy at Konkuk University Medical Center: The representative risk factors are smoking and aging; age is important. Following that, respiratory infections like tuberculosis, and environmental factors such as exhaust fumes or air pollution—both indoors and outdoors—are significant. Occupational exposure, such as being consistently exposed to dust or chemicals, or poor air quality, as well as individuals whose lungs did not develop properly during growth, or those who frequently suffered from asthma or respiratory infections in their youth, are all at a higher risk of developing airflow obstruction as they grow older.]

Another notable point is that 13% of patients in Korea have never smoked. Even if you do not smoke, if you have symptoms, it is necessary to visit a hospital and get tested.

5. National Screening Introduced This Year; Get Tested

The pulmonary function test for diagnosing COPD measures the amount of air exhaled after a deep inhalation.

[Inhale once more, and blow! Blow! Keep blowing. Inhale again.]

The good news is that starting this year, pulmonary function tests for COPD diagnosis have been introduced into the national health screening program. Individuals aged 56 and 66 will naturally receive this test during their national health check-ups. Even if you are not in that age group or do not smoke, if you find yourself becoming too short of breath when moving, it is recommended that you find a hospital where you can get tested. With national health insurance coverage, the out-of-pocket cost for the test is around the 30,000 won level.

[Interview: Moon Ji-yong / Professor of Pulmonology and Allergy at Konkuk University Medical Center: Because it is a chronic disease, once the disease has progressed without treatment, it cannot be reversed to a normal state. Therefore, it is important to recognize it early before the disease progresses and either receive treatment or take preventive measures to ensure it does not worsen further.]

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▶ Refer to SBS News

※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.