South Scotland Labour MSP Colin Smyth has shown his support for ‘Love Your Lungs’ Week which runs from the 17^th to 23^rd June 2019.

2019 is the first time ‘Love Your Lungs’ Week has been held. It aims to raise awareness of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) to encourage people suffering from breathlessness to speak to see their GP as an early diagnosis can make a real difference.

COPD is an umbrella terms which describes a number of progressive lung diseases including emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

According to the Scottish Government’s Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland, over the last three years there has been an estimated increase of 242 people in Dumfries and Galloway living with COPD taking the total number to over 4,800. While the Smoking Ban implemented by the previous Scottish Labour Government is making a difference estimates from the University of Edinburgh show that the cost of treating COPD in Scotland could rise to £207 million by 2030.

Last week Colin Smyth met with the British Lung Foundation in the Scottish Parliament to discuss Love Your Lungs Week and has added his name to a motion supporting this important week.

Colin Smyth said, “With the number of people across Dumfries and Galloway suffering from lung disease increasing it is important that we use Love Your Lungs Week to raise awareness of the symptoms of lung disease. As with all illnesses an early diagnosis can make a real difference for treatment and overall quality of life.”