Smoker's urged not to ignore cough that 'could be sign of serious disease'

People with COPD have difficulties breathing

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Smokers are being urged not to dismiss the early signs of a debilitating disease as simply a smoker's cough.

Smokers can often dismiss the early signs of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as a ‘smoker’s cough’, but if they continue smoking and the condition worsens, it can greatly impact on their quality of life.

Large numbers of people with COPD are unable to participate in everyday activities such as climbing stairs, housework or gardening; with many even unable take a holiday because of their disease.

In a new campaign, Public Health England highlighting the debilitating nature of COPD, for which smoking is the biggest preventable risk factor, after the latest GP figures revealed that more than 1 million people are living with COPD.

People with COPD have difficulties breathing, primarily due to the narrowing of their airways and destruction of lung tissue. Typical symptoms include breathlessness when active, a persistent cough and frequent chest infections.

To highlight the impact of this progressive and debilitating disease, PHE has released a new short film featuring Olympian Iwan Thomas, whose mother has recently been diagnosed with COPD. Together with four smokers, Iwan takes part in an experiment to illustrate the difficulties of living with advanced COPD and urges people to quit this New Year.

Alongside the impact on quality on life, approximately 25,000 people die each year from COPD in England: twice the European average. Around 86% of these deaths are caused by smoking.

Professor Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer of Public Health England (PHE), said: "COPD is a serious lung disease and is not particularly well known. Yet it contributes to the deaths of almost 25,000 people a year. Nearly 90% of these COPD deaths are linked to smoking. COPD can also be a severely debilitating disease, dramatically affecting people’s breathing and leading to years of suffering.

"The single best thing a smoker can do to reduce their chances of developing this devastating disease and prolong their life, is to stop smoking."