Take a breather to learn about how to cope with the effects of COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD is relatively common, yet lots of people aren’t even aware they’ve got it.

It is an umbrella term used to describe a number of lung conditions, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Emphysema affects lungs’ air sacs, while chronic bronchitis affects the airways.

People with COPD will have one or more of such conditions, resulting in inflamed and narrowed airways and damaged air sacs. It’s the fifth-biggest cause of death in the UK, claiming nearly 30,000 lives a year and while it’s believed that more than three million people are living with COPD, only around a million have actually been diagnosed.

It usually starts to affect people once they are over the age of 35, although most aren’t diagnosed until they are in their fifties or sixties.

Symptoms include wheezing, breathlessness, a tight chest, persistent cough and producing more phlegm than usual.

The main cause of COPD is smoking and severe long-term asthma can also be associated with the disease, along with long-term exposure to air pollution, fumes and dust.

Stopping smoking is the single most important thing you can do if you have the condition and treatments are available to help manage it.

Self-management also plays a vital role. This includes eating a balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight, as good nutrition is essential to prevent infections and keep lungs healthy.

COPD the is collective term for several lung conditions.