A staggering half of Brits have limited to no knowledge of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a condition that drains the NHS of £2 billion each year.
COPD is a collective term for various lung conditions, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis, and is responsible for a staggering 30,000 deaths annually.
Approximately 1.2 million adults in the UK are currently living with COPD, with a predicted 40% increase in cases over the next six years.
While 87% of UK adults are aware of COPD, a recent survey revealed that most were unable to identify primary causes; such as smoking, air pollution, asthma, and even genetics.
Gabriel Lambert, spokesperson for TidalSense, a respiratory health technology company, highlighted the importance of recognising causes in order to encourage preventative measures and effective management of 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 also indicate that many adults are unaware of the symptoms associated with COPD.
A quarter of respondents were unaware that shortness of breath could be a symptom and over half didn’t realise it could lead to fatigue. Two fifths also had no clue that frequent chest infections are common among sufferers.
Gabriel commented on the study’s findings, stating: “The findings of this study highlight a critical gap in public understanding of COPD, a disease that affects millions yet remains largely misunderstood,”.
“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.”
Shockingly, a fifth of those surveyed confessed they would wait a month or longer before seeking treatment for symptoms such as breathlessness or a persistent cough.
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.”
