Smoking and COPD

Are you short of breath? To mark World COPD Day the Smokers' Clinic takes a brief look at what COPD is and where smoking fits in.

COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and involves the narrowing of the airways in the lungs through chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Shortness of breath is usually the main symptom and smoking tobacco is often the main cause. Smoking Cessation is a vital management strategy for anyone diagnosed with COPD - it slows down the rate of progression of the disease. A simple breathing test done by a GP or nurse called spirometry can help determine if you have the disease.

Read more about COPD here