Royal Brompton Experts Train Commuters On Life-Saving Lung Health, England

Main Category: Respiratory / Asthma
Also Included In: COPD
Article Date: 26 Nov 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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Commuters travelling through London's busy Victoria train station were offered free health checks last Wednesday (19th November 2008) when some of the country's leading respiratory doctors from Royal Brompton Hospital were on hand to give expert advice.

The event coincided with World COPD Day (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) which aims to raise awareness and improve the care of lung disease across the globe. COPD is an umbrella term for a number of conditions including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Such conditions are progressive and irreversible and kill approximately 30,000 people a year in the UK alone - more than breast, bowel or prostate cancer. Just under a million people are diagnosed with the disease in the UK, yet it is estimated that a further 2.8 million people are living with the disease undiagnosed.

Dr Nicholas Hopkinson, honorary consultant chest physician at Royal Brompton Hospital, said, "The purpose of today's lung testing at Victoria station is to help find the missing millions living with killer lung diseases. We're hoping to raise awareness of COPD and help Londoners and commuters from across the country to give their lungs a thorough MOT. Almost three million people are unaware that they have lung disease and without early diagnosis and treatment lives will be lost or severely restricted."

Commuters passing through Victoria station were encouraged to visit Royal Brompton Hospital's stand where they could take a spirometry test which measures lung capacity. The test is important as it assesses how well the lungs are functioning and gives an indication of how advanced any disease symptoms are. Specialist respiratory doctors and healthcare professionals from the hospital were available to give expert advice on the disease and literature was available to take home.

Dr Hopkinson added, "We'd particularly advise anyone over the age of 35 with a persistent cough or wheezy chest who is a smoker or ex-smoker to take advantage of the spirometry testing on Wednesday."

COPD is predominantly caused by smoking but is also linked to exposure to environmental pollution and hazards at work including dust, fumes and gases.

To read more about Dr Hopkinson's work, click here.

Source
Joanna Parish
Head of media relations
Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Trust
http://www.rbht.nhs.uk

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