Marzena Kipiel-Sztuka suffered from this disease. It is a silent killer that takes years to develop

Marzena Kipiel-Sztuka gained recognition thanks to the role of Halinka from “Świat dla Kiepskich”. However, she also starred in many other productions, such as “Crime Wave”, “First Love” or “Dig Deeper”. She also performed on theater stages. The artist’s death was announced on June 9 by actress Renata Pałys on social media. Marzena Kipiel-Sztuka was 58 years old.

What did Marzena Kipiel-Sztuka suffer from?

The direct cause of the artist’s death was not made public. However, it is known that the actress has been struggling with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for years. It is estimated to be one of the most common causes of death in the world. More than 250 million people around the world struggle with it. According to forecasts by the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of patients will increase.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is an insidious disease that takes years to develop. It causes lung damage and bronchial narrowing, which in turn leads to breathing difficulties. The patient has to put more effort into this activity and gets tired faster when performing daily duties, even those that do not require the use of force.

What are the symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may be asymptomatic for a long time. However, the first sign that should prompt you to see a doctor is a cough. We should be particularly concerned about respiratory ailments that do not have any clear cause (for example, infection) and persist for a long time. Often, the symptoms worsen in the morning, and temporary relief is brought by expectoration of sputum, i.e. the so-called morning toilet of the bronchial tree.

Over time, further symptoms appear, including the previously mentioned shortness of breath, weight loss, wheezing, a feeling of tightness in the chest or blueness of fingertips, earlobes, nose or lips. The last mentioned symptom indicates very advanced respiratory failure. It is worth noting that patients with COPD often also struggle with diabetes, sleep apnea or ischemic heart disease.

Diagnostics for COPD

The basic tool used in the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is spirometry. This is a non-invasive test that involves inhaling and exhaling. Sometimes the doctor may also order a chest X-ray, blood gas test, ECG and assessment of exercise tolerance. It all depends on the individual patient’s situation. Treatment consists mainly of physiotherapy and pharmacotherapy.