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" The British Lung Foundation is urging smokers and ex-smokers to ask their GP for a lung function test after a survey found that most have never been tested. Research published by the organisation found that 73 per cent of smokers and former smokers have not had their lung function tested. Yet over one-fifth of the 403 respondents had experienced symptoms of a chronic lung disease called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) over the previous 12 months. Nineteen per cent admitted to feeling breathless when walking up a slight hill and nine per cent were too breathless to leave their own home - but had still not considered requesting a lung function test. Dame Helena Shovelton, chief executive of the British Lung Foundation, observed that smokers often ignore breathlessness and a persistent cough. &amp;#039;COPD is a chronic, irreversible disease that can leave individuals unable to perform simple everyday tasks and dependent on oxygen if it is left untreated,&amp;#039; she revealed. &amp;#039;It is important that people take the signs of COPD seriously and ask their GP for a lung function test as the sooner they are diagnosed and treated the better.&amp;#039; Typical signs of the disease include a persistent cough, breathlessness, wheezy chest, excess phlegm, chest pain and recurrent chest infections. Smoking is associated with more than 50 diseases and disorders, including cancer, bronchitis, emphysema and heart disease, according to Action on Smoking and Health. Half of smokers eventually die as a result of their addiction. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/healthy-living/news/a18848/smokers-urged-to-seek-lung-function-tests/>