COPD

Number four on our list is COPD. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a group of chronic lung diseases which include chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

Each year, COPD causes the death of between 12,000 and 13,000 men in the UK. Eight out of ten cases are caused by smoking. Men aged between 20 and 64 in manual jobs are 14 times more likely to die from the disease than those in professional occupations.

An estimated three million people in the UK have COPD, but only 900,000 are diagnosed, probably because many ignore the symptoms. COPD is more common in men than women.

Symptoms you shouldn't ignore:

Smokers and ex-smokers should never ignore a "smokers cough." Early signs of COPD include:

• Cough
• Phlegm
• Shortness of breath

These may worsen through time or get worse over winter. COPD can't be cured, but it can be slowed down by medication. The quicker it's caught the better. Stopping smoking also slows down disease progression.

Prevention

The best way to prevent it is to stop smoking. Stopping smoking will reduce your risk and help improve your symptoms if you have COPD. Your GP can also carry out a lung function test to assess any damage to your lungs.

This article was published on Fri 12 February 2010