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30 November 2009
Anne Milton MP has shown her support for the British Lung Foundation’s ‘Love Your Lungs’ campaign for World COPD Day 2009, by meeting with local people with a lung condition at Parliament and discussing much needed NHS reforms.
Anne Milton MP met with Paddy and Annabelle Cribb of Breathe Easy Guildford, a local British Lung Foundation (BLF) support group for people with a lung condition.
The BLF and Breathe Easy Guildford are campaigning to raise awareness of the lung condition Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and to encourage those at risk to ask their GP for a lung function test.
COPD is an umbrella term for a number of conditions including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It is a progressive, irreversible lung disease yet it is preventable and early diagnosis and treatment can slow the progression of the illness.
There are an estimated 3.7 million people in the UK with the disease, yet awareness of the disease is still worryingly low with only 16% saying that had heard of COPD in a recent poll .
The BLF has found that people often dismiss the symptoms of the disease, such as a persistent cough, excess phlegm and breathlessness, as natural signs of ageing or a ‘smokers cough’ so do not think of asking their GP for a lung function test. This was shown in a survey by the BLF of 400 smokers and ex-smokers. The survey found that three quarters (73%) of smokers and ex-smokers had not had a lung function test despite 21 % experiencing one or more of symptoms of COPD in the last 12 months.
Anne Milton says, ‘I am very happy to back the British Lung Foundation’s campaign and to show my continued support for Breathe Easy Guildford. COPD is a life changing condition, but is both preventable and treatable if diagnosed early. We need to make sure that people recognise the symptoms the disease and take steps to improve treatment across the country”.
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For further information please contact Anne or James Clayton on 020 7219 0017.
Notes to editors:
1. The British Lung Foundation commissioned GfK NOP to conduct a survey amongst adults aged 18+ who are current or ex smokers. A nationally representative survey of 403 adults aged 18+ was carried out 9th – 11th October 2009. Weighting was applied to the data to bring it in line with national profiles.
2. World COPD Day is an annual event organized by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) to improve awareness and care of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) around the world. World COPD Day 2009 will take place on November 18 and the British Lung Foundation is leading this campaign in the UK.
3. COPD is the umbrella term for a number of lung conditions including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It kills more people every year than breast, bowel or prostate cancer
4. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive, irreversible lung disease. It is both preventable and treatable. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can slow the progression of the illness
5. The UK faces a chronic lung disease time bomb. COPD is already the fifth biggest killer in the UK and it is the only major cause of death whose incidence is on the increase
6. COPD is caused by smoking or by exposure to environmental pollution and to hazards at work such as dust, fumes and gases. In a very small number of people it is caused by a genetic deficiency
7. The British Lung Foundation is the only UK charity working for everyone affected by lung disease including COPD. We provide support via a telephone helpline; booklets on lung diseases and related issues; a comprehensive website; BLF community nurses; and a Breathe Easy support network for anyone affected by lung disease
8. It provides information via the website www.lunguk.org and telephone helpline 08458 50 50 20
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