Winter Cough, Phlegm, Wheezing, or Shortness of Breath? Watch Out for COPD! World COPD Day (11/19)

November 19,2025 marks the 24th annual World COPD Day.

This year’s initiative,under the theme“Breathing Difficulty—Beware of COPD,”

aims to increase public awareness and understanding of this serious condition.

Data show that more than 100 million people in China are living with COPD,

and the disease causes over one million deaths each year.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease(COPD)is now the third most common chronic illness in China—after hypertension and diabetes—and represents a major threat to public health.


“I feel like my lungs are slowly closing off,and breathing is getting harder and harder.”

“As my lung function declines,I can barely laugh,can’t fully express joy,and can’t enjoy breathing freely.”

“For years,I’ve rarely gone out—walking even short distances is exhausting,and I hardly see my friends anymore.”

...

All of these voices come from people living with the same disease:COPD.

COPD,or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,is a common,preventable,and treatable chronic lung condition.It is marked by persistent airflow limitation and ongoing respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath,chronic cough,and sputum production.

Common symptoms include a chronic cough,sputum production,and shortness of breath(dyspnea).Early on,breathlessness may occur only during physical activity,but over time it can worsen and appear even at rest.Shortness of breath after exertion is considered a hallmark symptom of COPD.

People aged 40 and older,as well as those at high risk for chronic respiratory diseases,are advised to have a pulmonary function test once a year.


A growing body of research suggests that hydrogen–oxygen gas has anti-inflammatory,antioxidant,and anti-apoptotic properties and may be beneficial in a range of respiratory conditions.

Since 2014,a research team led by Academician Zhong Nanshan has studied the role of hydrogen–oxygen mixed gas as an adjunct therapy for conditions such as airway narrowing,bronchial asthma,and acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).The team conducted the world’s first multicenter,randomized,controlled trial,which showed that hydrogen–oxygen inhalation therapy was more effective at improving respiratory function in patients with acute exacerbations of COPD(AECOPD)[1].

During the winter months,when acute exacerbations of COPD are more common,patients can use theAsclepius Hydrogen-Oxygen Generator to inhale a hydrogen–oxygen gas mixture,providing an adjunctive therapy for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD).

A recent post-marketing Phase IV clinical study

led by theNational Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases

found that

hydrogen–oxygen therapy can reduce the frequency of acute COPD exacerbations

by up to 80%!


References:

[1]Nan‑Shan Zhonget al，Hydrogen/oxygen therapy for the treatment of an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease:results of a multicenter,randomized,double-blind,parallel-group controlled trial，BMC，2021