THE number of people suffering from chronic smoking-related lung diseases in the West Midlands reached 108,367 in 2014-15 says Public Health England (PHE).
It says the condition, known as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) causes the death of 2,667 people in the region every year.
The organisation says that 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.
While smoking rates have declined over past decades, smoking is still the biggest cause of preventable illness and premature deaths in the country – accounting for almost 80,000 deaths in England a year. One in every two long-term smokers will die prematurely from a smoking related disease unless they quit.
Smokers can often dismiss the early signs of COPD as a ‘smoker’s cough’, but if they continue smoking and the condition worsens, it can greatly impact on their quality of life.
Dr Lola Abudu, PHE West Midlands health improvement consultant, said: “COPD may not be well known but it can be a serious and severely debilitating disease, dramatically affecting people’s lives and leading to years of suffering.
“The single best thing a smoker can do to reduce their chances of developing this devastating disease is to stop smoking. January is a time when many people make New Year’s resolutions and resolving to stop smoking is the best thing you can do not only for your health but for the health of those around you. Search ‘Smokefree’ online, or visit your local stop smoking service to get the help and support you need to quit smoking for good.”
