By the organization of the ARCl regional board health committee a series of lectures was launched on Wednesday, November 21, 2018 at 10:00 a.m.
After listening to the march of ARS, in the name of the health committee of ARCL regional board the audience greeted Dr. Siroun Vartabedian who noted that younger members are being recruited in the committees of ARCL. Something which is necessary for the mission of ARCL in order to prepare a young generation of volunteers to continue the activities of ARCL. Then she invited the general physician Garabed Chebukjian to present the theme “Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease”.
At the beginning of his lecture, Dr. Chouboukjian said that there are many factors in Lebanon that affect the lungs and develop this disease further.
Through the presentation of slides, the lecturer pointed to the respiratory system and its function, and then talked about the disease, mentioning that COPD is a slow and progressive lung disease that results in the lack of breathing equilibrium.
Furthermore, the lecturer pointed out to a study done by the International Health Ministry about the causes of the development of the diseases in the following percentages: 38% are smokers; 20% are male; 15% show very obvious symptoms (weight loss and bluish lips), people who are in a difficult economic situation and do not get proper nutrition, the increase of the percentage of death as a result of pollution, the newborns who are born underweight, the tuberculotic people who later smoke, and the hereditary factor.
Referring to the causes of the rapid development of this disease, the doctor mentioned cigarette smoking and smoke in all its forms, the excessive use of hookah in Lebanon, and the malnutrition of the patient.
Our lungs are 24 hours under stress because of smokes, pollution, economy, infections found in the environment and weather changes.
Symptoms of this disease include: thick liquid produced from the lungs, short breathing, regression of the lips, rapid tiredness, lung inflammation, swelling of the feet, cough, inability to sleep and loosing weight.
Dr. Chouboukjian also spoke of a comparative picture of the classification of COPD. If the disease in the lungs reaches 80%, then transplantation will occur. There is a spirometer test to examine the air capacity of the lungs by which it is possible to know the degree of the illness.
The physician also talked about the difference between asthma and COPD. Asthma and COPD are very similar, the reason for the first is hypersensitivity, and for the second is smoke. The same symptoms are found in case of both diseases.
He also mentioned the factors that should be avoided like cigar, cigarette, hookah, fragrant sprays, smoke of car exhaust. Also the body should be protected from extreme hot and cold during weather and season changes.
He added that COPD should be treated with special breathing exercises, daily exercises for half an hour, also by taking care of nutrition, following a diet not for the sake of losing weight but to be nourished properly, staying hydrated, following Chinese medicine, taking vitamin D, avoiding overeating and infections.
The person infected with COPD should not visit sick people during winter, wash hands after handshake, drink plenty of water, avoid smokers, avoid sprays, stay away from congested or crowded environments.
At the end of the lecture questions were asked to the lecturer by the audience.
Then, as a novelty, nutritionist Sarin Shegian briefly presented diabetes, taking into consideration that “The International Day of Diabetes” is in November.
