Most fail to pick up on lung illness threats

More than half of people would fail to recognise a persistent cough as a symptom of lung disease

MORE than half of people would fail to recognise a persistent cough as a potential symptom of lung disease – while four in five would not be alarmed if they coughed up blood, according to a new nationwide poll.

Significant numbers would also not be alert to tightness or pain in the chest or persistent phlegm, while just two in five could identify shortness of breath or a wheeze as warning signal.

The low awareness emerged, despite the MRBI poll showing that one in every two people has experienced lung disease, either personally or through a relative. Few have had their lungs tested in the past five years.

One in five deaths in Ireland is due to lung disease, which kills around 5,500 people every year. The diseases include lung cancer, COPD, bronchitis, emphysema, cystic fibrosis, asthma and TB.

The findings, which Health Minister Leo Varadkar described as “shocking”, emerged as a group of organisations supporting people with various lung illnesses formed the Irish Lung Health Alliance to help improve people’s knowledge about signs of the illnesses and the need to go for early checks.

Lung Health Awareness Week which starts on Monday will see the roll-out of a national roadshow offering free testing.

The BodyWorks on Tour will visit Dublin, Cork, Galway and Porpoise.

You can visit www.lunghealth.ie for more details.

Irish Independent