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Britons 'ignorant' of major killer21 July 2006 Over two-thirds of Britons have not heard of the country's fifth biggest killer, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), according to new research. The chronic lung disease, which is also known as emphysema, is caused by smoking in the majority of cases, killing around 30,000 people each year. However, the new research reveals that some 72 percent of Britons have never even heard of it. Symptoms of COPD include a wheezing cough, breathlessness and chest infections. As the disease becomes severe, not enough oxygen passes into the lungs and so the amount getting into the bloodstream is diminished, causing heart failure and even death. On the back of its findings, the health education charity Developing Patient Partnerships (DPP) has launched a new campaign to draw attention to the risks of the disease, which is caused by smoking in as many as four out of five cases. The campaign aims to encourage smokers to give up the habit, offering practical advice for anyone affected by respiratory problems, as the DPP claims that around 59 percent of smokers admit they would be more likely to give up if they knew more about the risks of the disease. Dr Kevin Gruffydd-Jones of the General Practice in Airways Group (GPIAG), who supports the campaign, said: "Illness associated with smoking is a major threat to respiratory health in the UK, and a major reason for presentations in general practice. "Many people are aware about the link with smoking and lung cancer but are unaware that smoking can damage the lungs in other ways which may have equally serious results on their health." Related links
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