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A fifth of smokers suffer from a persistent cough with most of them unaware it could signal serious lung disease, according to a survey out today.
A fifth of smokers suffer from a persistent cough with most of them unaware it could signal serious lung disease, according to a survey out today.
The poll of more than 1,000 adults aged 15 to 54 found 21 per cent experienced a bad cough, but only 48 per cent knew it could be linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The British Thoracic Society COPD Consortium called on the Government to launch an awareness campaign to encourage smokers to come forward for tests if they thought they may be at risk.
COPD, which includes conditions such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema, is the UK’s fifth biggest killer and is responsible for more than 30,000 deaths a year.
Studies have shown 800,000 people suffer from COPD, but experts believe only one in four people have had their condition diagnosed.
As well as a persistent cough, symptoms include breathlessness on mild exertion, persistent production of phlegm and frequent coughs and colds during winter.
The Mori survey also found that 47 per cent of smokers did not know that COPD was linked to cigarettes, even though 95 per cent of COPD cases are caused by smoking.
Seven out of 10 smokers (68 per cent) said they would urge friends and family to visit a GP if they had a persistent cough, but only 19 per cent who had the same symptoms had visited a doctor themselves.
Of those smokers who had one or more COPD symptoms, 42 per cent had not visited their GP, with one in 10 of these not doing so because they were too busy.
Dr Michael Rudolf, the chairman of the COPD Consortium, said: “Although it is not possible to cure COPD, the earlier the diagnosis is made, the better the outcome will be.”