Smokers Beware: Debunking Deadly COPD Misconceptions on World COPD Day

Leading Indian lung specialists are sounding an alarm about Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. COPD is now affecting younger, non-smoking individuals. Rising pollution and lifestyle changes are driving this surge. Experts highlight overlooked early symptoms and daily habits crucial for lung health. This shift demands greater awareness and proactive lung care for everyone. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is no longer an illness confined to smokers or older adults, and leading pulmonologists across India are raising the alarm. With rising pollution levels, changing lifestyles, and growing exposure to environmental toxins, COPD is emerging much earlier and in people who have never touched a cigarette. To understand the shifting landscape, we spoke with two of India’s most respected respiratory specialists, Dr. Vivek Nangia of Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, and Dr. Manu Madan of Medanta Hospital, Noida. Their insights reveal the hidden risks driving today’s COPD surge, the early symptoms people continue to overlook, and the daily habits that can make or break long-term lung health.