Damage to the lungs caused by smoking will gradually build up, so you may not notice the symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at first. However, they can get worse over time.
COPD does not usually become noticeable until after the age of 35. See your GP if you have the following symptoms:
- increasing breathlessness when exercising or moving around
- a persistent cough with phlegm that never seems to go away
- frequent chest infections, particularly in winter
If you have COPD, the airways of the lungs become inflamed and narrowed. As the air sacs get permanently damaged, it will become increasingly difficult to breathe in and out.
The symptoms of COPD are often worse in the winter, and it is common to have two or more flare-ups a year. A flare-up is when your symptoms are particularly bad. This is one of the most common reasons for people being admitted to hospital in the UK.
While there is currently no cure for COPD, the sooner the condition is diagnosed and appropriate treatment begins, the less chance there is of severe lung damage.
