Today is World No Tobacco Day: a yearly chance to highlight the dangers of using tobacco, in particular on our health. Tobacco is most commonly used in cigarette smoking which carries many health risks.
Smoking and Lung Health
One of many severe consequences of smoking is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). COPD is a progressive lung disease that encompasses chronic bronchitis and emphysema, two conditions often caused or exacerbated by smoking.
There are an estimated 1.2 million people in the UK living with COPD, and exacerbations caused by this condition are the second most common cause of emergency hospital admissions, accounting for one in eight UK hospital admissions1.
How Smoke Damages the Lungs
When people smoke, harmful, toxic chemicals are released into the lungs, which over time lead to inflammation and damage to the airways and air sacs. As these critical lung structures become impaired, breathing becomes increasingly difficult, and symptoms of COPD can begin to manifest.
COPD’s Impact on Life
COPD is a debilitating disease that dramatically affects quality of life. It brings symptoms such as:
- Persistent cough
- Excessive mucus production
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness
These symptoms can progress to the point where simple tasks like walking or climbing stairs become monumental challenges that affect daily life.
As COPD advances, it can lead to frequent hospitalisations and even death. Research in Europe found that the UK ranks third in the continent for COPD mortality rates. Around 30,000 people die each year from COPD in the UK, making it the second biggest cause of death from lung disease2.
The connection between COPD and smoking is indisputable; around 20% of smokers will develop COPD3. One of the best ways to reduce the risk of developing COPD, as well as reducing the risk of COPD flare-ups for those already living with the condition, is to quit smoking. It’s estimated that after nine months of not smoking, people living with COPD will notice that their cough, sinus congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath have decreased4.
Despite this, many who live with COPD will continue to smoke. In research conducted by The European Respiratory Journal, over one-third of people living with COPD continued to smoke5.
Many of those who have quit smoking turn to vaping as it is perceived as a less harmful alternative to tobacco. While it’s true that e-cigarettes don’t produce the same harmful tar and combustion byproducts as traditional cigarettes, their long-term safety is still a matter of concern. Some research into COPD and vaping has suggested that those living with the condition should (where possible) avoid e-cigarettes as a method for helping them to stop smoking, as they have a similar ability to stimulate inflammation and lung damage as cigarette smoke, and thus potentially accelerate disease progression6.
Improving Quality of Life
Here at MAC Clinical Research, we are committed to improving quality of life for people living with COPD through clinical trials investigating potential new treatments. If you are aged 40 to 75 with COPD, you could be eligible to take part in a COPD clinical trial.
Eligible participants will receive up to £2,425 for their time and commitment, plus reasonable travel expenses or transport to clinic visits is provided.
For more information and to see if you could be eligible, register your interest via our COPD study page.
1 NHS – Digital service to manage high-risk chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients
3 Ash Scotland – Smoking and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
4 National Emphysema Foundation – The Benefits of Quitting Smoking
5 European Respiratory Journal – Improved outcomes in ex-smokers with COPD: a UK primary care observational cohort study
6 European Respiratory Journal – Heightened response to e-cigarettes in COPD
