This results in breathlessness, a cough and — because it tends to cause excess production of mucus — often leads to chest infections. The condition is linked to smoking, exposure to cigarette smoke and jobs such as mining or those involved in the chemical industry.
Other causes include low birth weight or serious chest infections, particularly as an infant (James, 27, had croup as a baby and whooping cough aged four, followed by serious chest infections every six months).
James had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
There are a million people registered with COPD in this country, yet the British Lung Foundation believes there may be two million who don’t know they have it.
It not only increases the risk of respiratory failure and cardiovascular disease, but quadruples the risk of lung cancer.
Though it is a progressive disease, the sooner it is diagnosed and treated the slower it will progress.
‘COPD is the second most common cause of acute hospital admissions in this country,’ says Professor Ian Pavord, a consultant physician in respiratory medicine at Glenfield Hospital, Leicester.
‘The disease normally comes on progressively over years and so initially some may get used to the symptoms.’
