Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD, is the name for a group of lung conditions including emphysema and chronic bronchitis, and is responsible for 30,000 deaths each year
Half of Brits are in the dark about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a condition that costs the NHS a whopping £2 billion each year to manage.
COPD, which includes lung conditions such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, is responsible for 30,000 deaths annually.
It’s estimated that 1.2 million adults in the UK are already living with the condition, a figure expected to surge by 40% over the next six years.
The condition can be triggered by smoking, air pollution, asthma and even genetics.
Despite 87% of UK adults being aware of the condition, most were unable to identify some of the primary causes in a survey conducted ahead of World COPD Day (20th November).
Gabriel Lambert, a spokesperson for respiratory health technology company TidalSense, who commissioned the survey, emphasised that recognising primary causes can help encourage the public to take steps to prevent or manage the disease.
He stated: “Early diagnosis and intervention is crucial for managing COPD and improving quality of life for those affected.”
“Greater public awareness could not only drive people to seek medical advice sooner but also lead to healthier habits and potentially reduce the burden on the NHS.”
The survey results revealed that adults are often also unaware of the symptoms caused by COPD.
A shocking 25% of those surveyed were unaware that shortness of breath could be a symptom of COPD, while over half didn’t realise it could cause fatigue, and 43% had no clue that sufferers often developed chest infections.
“The findings of this study highlight a critical gap in public understanding of COPD, a disease that affects millions yet remains largely misunderstood,” Gabriel commented.
“Despite being one of the leading causes of death in the UK, it’s clear that a large proportion of the public is unaware of its symptoms or its primary causes.”
“This lack of awareness is concerning because it means people are less likely to seek early help or make lifestyle changes that could protect their lung health.”
Worryingly, a fifth of those surveyed confessed they would wait a month or longer before seeking treatment for symptoms like breathlessness or a persistent cough, not understanding it’s potentially fatal nature.
Gabriel concluded: “This data underscores how urgent it is for us to bring COPD into the public eye in a way that motivates real, lasting action on lung health.”
