Lung disease kills 1 in 20

THREE-quarters of the population is unaware that a disease that blocks the lung’s airways is Ireland’s fourth leading cause of death, research reveals.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is caused by damage to the lungs over many years, usually from smoking.

COPD includes a few lung diseases but the most common are chronic bronchitis and emphysema and many people have both.