Public Health England has today launched a new campaign to highlight the risk of lung disease and to encourage smokers to quit for good in 2016.
PHE says too many smokers remain unaware of the risks of preventable conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which affects more than a million people in the UK.
Dr Matthew Hodson, Chair of ARNS said:
ARNS welcomes the public awareness of chronic smoking-related lung disease reported by Public Health England today. ARNS’ members continue to work hard to raise the awareness of lung disease and smoking in the public for many years; often seen in shopping centres and supermarkets, working alongside the British Lung Foundation to inform people about the potentially debilitating affects smoking can have on the lungs. A chronic cough and breathlessness along with other potential symptoms are possible signs of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and shouldn’t be ignored. Our advice would be to speak to a healthcare professional such as your GP or Practice Nurse to discuss further.
Stopping smoking and lifestyle changes such as increased exercise through pulmonary rehabilitation are ways in which COPD is managed along with education and inhaled medication. We hope this much needed awareness will encourage people to think about stop smoking. Smokers looking to quit are being encouraged to search ‘Smokefree’ online or visit nhs.uk/smokefree for the full range of free tools and support’
Read the Public Health England press release here
Speaking on BBC Breakfast Time about , Dr Nick Hopkinson, Honorary Consultant Chest Physician at the Royal Brompton Hospital, London explained that COPD is an entirely preventable condition and is one of the leading causes of death in the UK. See the full report here