The health ministry is calling on people to refrain from smoking and to sign up for regular physical exams to minimize the risk of pulmonary diseases.
During a press conference Thursday, officials and experts from the Health Promotion Administration said that over 5,000 people in Taiwan die from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) each year. That’s equivalent to 14 deaths per day.
The officials said that COPD leads to respiratory complications and increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Citing official statistics, they said the risk of COPD is 6.3 times higher for smokers. The officials say that regular medical check-ups can help detect the disease early.