Most people, especially younger generations, do not know much about severe lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), although they are rapidly increasing in Korea, a survey showed.

On Tuesday, the Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases (KATRD) released the results of its public awareness survey on the 21st Lung Day.

According to the survey, 46 percent of respondents answered “yes” to whether they had ever experienced shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. However, only about 15 percent had ever sought medical attention, indicating that the symptoms are often overlooked.

There is also an urgent need to improve awareness of the need for early detection and treatment of lung diseases such as COPD and IPF.

Only 14 percent of respondents in their 20s and 15 percent in their 30s were aware of COPD, and only 7 percent of 20-somethings and 11 percent of 30-somethings were aware of IPF. That shows younger generations are especially unaware of lung diseases.

That’s because young people who think they are in relatively good health are often unaware of the importance of lung health. However, there are warnings that young people should pay more attention to lung disease, as early detection and prevention are crucial, the academy said.

Most respondents (95.6 percent) recognized the main symptoms of COPD, such as shortness of breath, cough, and sputum. Regarding shortness of breath, 95.8 percent said it can be a precursor to lung disease. The survey also showed that smoking was the leading cause of COPD.

The opinion poll also found that 91 percent of respondents were aware that smoking is a significant cause of COPD, and 92.2 percent knew that other factors, such as indoor pollution and occupational exposure, are also important factors.

“The Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases will serve as a beachhead to help more people recognize and prevent COPD, a respiratory disease that affects many people worldwide,” KATRD President Chung Man-pyo said. “Early detection and prevention is crucial because the lungs are organs that cannot fully recover once damaged.”

Chung emphasized that people, especially those over 40, should have regular check-ups, including annual chest X-rays, to ensure their lung health, and should not ignore warning signs such as coughing and shortness of breath.