Thousands of Albertans may be at risk of severe illness if they are exposed to H1N1, and not even know it, respiratory doctors are warning.
As health officials yesterday were promoting World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Day to raise awareness about the still relatively unknown killer, they also pleaded with people who have breathing problems to get checked out or be at-risk in the current pandemic.
Some 200,000 Albertans struggle with breathing due to COPD, and Dr. Warren Ramesh, Royal Alexandra Hospital's lead respirologist, said those with the disease are among the most at-risk to suffer serious consequences from H1N1.
"H1N1 is a viral infection and it's actually pretty mild but unfortunately it can lead to many complications to those with chronic lung diseases," he said.
"These infections primarily target the lungs and it can develop into lung failure so it's very important for people with any kind of respiratory problems to have vaccinations for any influenza virus and especially this one."
Ramesh noted the death rate from COPD has steadily been rising over the last 30 years even as deaths attributed to heart attacks and strokes declined.
As of yesterday, some 959 people havebeen hospitalized in Alberta with H1N1 since April, and of those taking up beds, about half had respiratory problems, according to provincial health officials.
And with estimates of one in seven Canadians aged 45 to 49 -- about 375,000 people -- living without knowledge that they even have COPD, it's important for anyone suffering a shortness of breath to get checked out, said Tony Hudson, president and CEO of the Alberta Lung Association.
"Many Albertans are walking around with COPD but don't know it," he said, noting a shortness of breath doing everyday tasks is usually a sign of trouble.
"With H1N1, you're definitely more at risk if you have a respiratory disease for severe complications."
Sharron Meakins is a 61-year-old COPD patient at the Royal Alex and has been on the waiting list for a lung transplant for seven months.
She lamented waiting so long to get checked out and refusing to give up smoking, but said it's not too late for others.
"Certainly it's affected my life very dramatically -- people should be checking for it," said Meakins who has to use an oxygen machine.
"If I could have quit smoking, it probably wouldn't have come to this stage."
WHEN FLU IS GONE
Mindelle Jacobs, Page 15
