The spirometry, advisable in smokers over age 40 with symptoms of respiratory problems.

-Between 10 and 20 per cent of the care burden of family doctor has to do with these diseases

-the under-diagnosis constitutes one of the main battle of respiratory diseases such as COPD, asthma and sleep apnea

– the real effects of the antitobacco law will not be up in a few years

– there are an estimated in Spain mores of two million people with sleep apnea, but barely is diagnosed 10%

– in line with the preventive work of the primary care physician, on Saturday October 1 will be held in Plaza Alfonso XIII, from 10: 00 to 13: 00, a day open to the community

Santander, 2011-October last Friday and Saturday took place in Santander the 1st National Conference of respiratory of the Spanish society of physicians in primary care (SEMERGEN), that is intended to make a comprehensive review of the respiratory disease most prevalent in the family doctor’s ”, explains Dr. José Antonio Quintano, national coordinator of the Group of respiratory SEMERGEN. The program is full of workshops that seek to improve the skills of these professionals in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases so prevalent as COPD (obstructive Chronic pulmonary disease), asthma or apnea of sleeping ”.

In line with the preventive work of the primary care physician, October 1 Saturday took place in Plaza Alfonso XIII, from 10: 00 to 13: 00, a day open to the community that developed a series of preventive activities related to respiratory diseases among the population. all those wishing to do a test may be carried out to learn about your State these pathologies health and receive information and advice on the subject ”, explains. Around 60% of the respiratory pathology general seen in primary care consultations ”, according to this expert. According to SEMERGEN, between 10 and 20 per cent of the care burden of family doctor has to do with these diseases.

Another of the objectives of the tents has been the identification of new cases of COPD and asthma, because the under-diagnosis constitutes one of the main battle of both diseases horses ”, points out Dr. José Hernández Úrculo, President of the Organizing Committee. This is due to the symptoms of both diseases, which are very similar (cough, coughing, shortness of breath ”, adds.) The spirometry is the diagnostic method par excellence. The test is simple and should be carried out by standard smokers over age 40, and those who have symptoms ”, explains.

COPD is precisely one of the respiratory diseases most prevalent in the current situation, since it affects more than 10% of the Spanish population over 40 years, and goes way of becoming the third leading cause of death. Although usually occur around that age, the disease develops and becomes more severe stages from 60 years ”, says the expert. Is a chronic disease that can reach even crippling ”, adds. Tobacco is the single most important cause. In fact, the incorporation of women into the CHD habit is causing more diagnosis of COPD in women, something that a few years ago it was not ”. The antitobacco law has done to reduce smoking, but their real effects will not be up in a few years ”.

About 50% of asthmatics is undiagnosed

In the case of asthma, the prevalence is around 5% of the general population, although in children the figure increases to 10%. Half of asthmatics is undiagnosed, due mainly to young people just go to the doctor ”, says Dr. Antonio Hidalgo, President of the Scientific Committee. The main risk factor for this pathology is the allergy. Unlike COPD, currently available treatments can reverse the course of the disorder itself, although it does not heal as it is also a chronic ”, says. Here the key is to apply the medication since childhood, if diagnosed at that age ”. As it happens with other diseases, the suspicion must be based on the first level of care.

There is a respiratory disease that is virtually unknown to the general population: sleep apnea syndrome. An estimated in Spain more than two million people with this disease, although only 10 per cent is diagnosed. ” Is more frequent than it might appear and numerous traffic accidents cause ”, explains. They will also address some pathologies of infectious character that it seems that they are making a comeback in recent years. Very localized outbreaks of community-acquired pneumonia and tuberculosis are undergoing. Both diseases remain a major problem because of its frequency and even gravity ”, concludes.

Spanish society of physicians in primary care (SEMERGEN)

SEMERGEN is the pioneer of primary care in Spain, with 37 years of experience. He was established with the objective of promoting family medicine through the maintenance and improvement of the professional competence of physicians, promoting research and facilitating the continuing education of the physician in order to maintain the quality in the care of the health of citizens.

Currently, SEMERGEN has more than ten thousand members, and is present in all professional fields, being the scientific society that brings together the most doctors work in primary care.

It has 17 regional delegations and held democratic elections every 4 years. SEMERGEN Foundation was established in 1999. This year it will hold its thirty-third Congress as well as dozens of regional conferences.