Lung disease is new threat to women

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

A new survey reveals that women in Britain do not realise how big a threat lung disease is to their health.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) could soon take over from breast cancer as being the fourth biggest killer of British women. Yet, according to new research from the British Lung Foundation (BLF), the seriousness of COPD is not really appreciated by the general public. Women are more worried about ovarian and cervical cancer than they are about lung disease.

According to the survey of over 1,000 women, only around one per cent say COPD is their major health issue. Even among smokers, concern is not much higher - even though their risk of COPD is 13 times higher than non-smokers. This is why the BLF is now launching a campaign on COPD - they want women to be aware that smoking is the main cause of this disabling condition.

Source
British Lung Foundation 13th September 2005

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