Why Millennials and Gen Z Are Facing COPD Early

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), often known as “smoker’s disease,” is no longer limited to older adults. Increasingly, doctors are reporting cases in people under 50, raising serious health concerns.

Younger Adults at Risk

A recent study published in NEJM Evidence revealed that one in 22 adults aged 18–49 shows signs of COPD. These signs include reduced lung function, constant cough, excess mucus, or breathlessness. Many of these patients had a smoking history of at least 10 pack-years.

What makes this finding more alarming is that younger COPD patients are more likely to require hospitalisation, develop heart problems, or even die before the age of 75 compared to those diagnosed later in life.

Smoking and Second-Hand Exposure

Experts stress that tobacco remains the leading cause of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Cigarettes, bidis, hookah, and chillum all damage the lungs. Dr. G.C. Khilnani, chairman at PSRI Institute of Pulmonary, Critical and Sleep Medicine, warns that even a single hookah session can equal multiple cigarettes. Second-hand smoke is also dangerous, putting non-smokers in smoking households at significant risk.

Air Pollution and Occupational Hazards

While smoking is the top culprit, air pollution now contributes to nearly half of COPD cases in India, a sharp rise compared to just 10% in previous decades. Both indoor and outdoor pollutants, such as biomass fuel, vehicle emissions, and industrial chemicals, are harmful. People working in coal mines, steel plants, or asbestos processing are particularly vulnerable. Past lung infections can also leave lasting damage.

Early Symptoms Often Ignored

Doctors caution that COPD symptoms may seem minor in the beginning. A cough lasting more than eight weeks, constant mucus, wheezing, chest tightness, fatigue, or frequent respiratory infections should not be ignored. “Anyone with such symptoms and risk factors should undergo testing,” says Dr. Pritpal Kaur, pulmonologist at Apollo Spectra Hospital.

Why Early Detection Matters

Research indicates that when COPD is diagnosed before age 50, lung damage progresses faster, hospital visits increase, and the risk of heart complications rises. This not only affects health but also impacts work productivity and quality of life.

Conclusion

Doctors emphasise prevention as the most effective defence. Quitting smoking, avoiding polluted environments, wearing protective masks at workplaces, and keeping indoor air clean are key steps. According to Dr. Bobby Bhalotra, vice-chairperson of chest medicine at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, “Even a simple spirometry test can identify COPD at an early stage. Taking timely action can prevent years of future breathing difficulties.”

Source: Inputs from various media Sources

Conclusion

Priya Bairagi

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I’m a pharmacist with a strong background in health sciences. I hold a BSc from Delhi University and a pharmacy degree from PDM University. I write articles and daily health news while interviewing doctors to bring you the latest insights. In my free time, you’ll find me at the gym or lost in a sci-fi novel.