Rise in Lung Disease
Health campaigners are urging smokers to quit as the number of people being struck down with chronic lung disease hits an all time high.
In Greater Manchester there were 65 thousand cases of Bronchitis and Emphysema last year.
Public Health England's now launching a campaign to raise awareness of the damage.
Doctor Rebecca Wagstaff told us quitting is the best prevention:
Alongside the impact on quality on life, over 12, 240 deaths in the North West between 2012 and 2014 were attributable to COPD. At 64 deaths per 100,000 population, the North West figures are higher than the national average of 51.7 deaths per 100,000. Around 86% of national COPD deaths are caused by smoking.
Andrea Crossfield, Chief Executive of North West social enterprise Tobacco Free Futures said: “This year’s campaign highlights the difficulties of living with COPD, showing how the disease affects people’s ability to be able to carry out everyday activities. I hope that the video will motivate the 1.1million people that smoke across the North West to make a change this New Year for a healthier future.
“Research shows that two thirds of smokers want to stop smoking and New Year is a great opportunity to make a change and quit for good. Quitting this January, either through free online support or through your local stop smoking service, will immediately result in health improvements including a better sense of smell, taste and more energy. Longer term, ex-smokers reduce their risk of stroke, heart disease and lung cancer, as well as protecting others from secondhand smoke. As well as improving your health, a 20-a-day smoker will save on average £250 a month. Don’t delay, make 2016 the year that you make a change and put your health first.” To highlight the impact of this progressive and debilitating disease, PHE has released a new short film featuring Olympian Iwan Thomas, whose mother has recently been diagnosed with COPD. Together with four smokers, Iwan takes part in an experiment to illustrate the difficulties of living with advanced COPD and urges people to quit this New Year.
Josh Silverstone, 34, from Manchester first picked up a cigarette at the age of 11 and by his mid-teens was a proper smoker meaning he has smoked for 20 years. All three of his brothers also smoke and most of his friends do. His grandma had emphysema and people in his family have died from cancer which could well have been linked to smoking. He has been trying to give up for a while mainly because of his young children. Josh doesn’t have any health problems associated with smoking but does feel like his chest has cobwebs/heavy chest at times. He is not really familiar with what COPD is. The biggest challenge he faces when giving up is the fact that so many people around him smoke plus it is a habit – something that has been part of all his adult life. Josh said: “Meeting someone with COPD was a real eye opener, I could feel and hear how short of breath you can get, just walking around a room. I am now determined more than ever to give up smoking for both myself and my kids. Whatever happens now is my choice – I have got to help myself. I’d urge everyone else who smokes to give up with me this January.’ Smokers looking to quit are being encouraged to search ‘Smokefree’ online or visit nhs.uk/smokefree for the full range of free tools and support.