COPD made him quit smoking cold turkey

Nine out of 10 COPD cases are caused by smoking, as in the case of Thiagaraja who was diagnosed with this chronic respiratory disease after smoking for nearly 50 years. — NCSM

In Malaysia, some patients quit smoking immediately after a major health scare, often driven by fear.

Such “near-death” experiences can break the barrier to quitting, even among long-term and heavy smokers, says Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) consultant respiratory physician Dr Vijayan Munusamy.