Breathing problems? Ballymena group may be able to help you

One of NI Chest Heart and Stroke’s 24 Respiratory Support Network branches, the borough-based group is managed by the charity’s Respiratory Support Co-ordinator, Yvonne Montheith.

Yvonne made her appeal on Friday as the leading medical charity launched a search for the tens of thousands of people in Northern Ireland who have a serious lung disease without knowing it.

Around 27,000 people are undergoing treatment for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). But NI Chest, Heart & Stroke says many thousands more have the symptoms, yet have not been diagnosed.

COPD – an umbrella term for conditions including bronchitis and emphysema – cannot be cured and is predicted by the World Health Organisation to become the third leading cause of death around the world by 2030. But it can be treated and managed – and the earlier it is caught, the better. When asthma is included, a total of 150,000 people in Northern Ireland are affected by respiratory illness.

“Better diagnosis and early intervention could reduce the local death rate, cut hospital admissions and save the Health Service some of the 47m it costs to treat respiratory illnesses – including COPD and asthma - in Northern Ireland each year,” said Andrew Dougal, the charity’s Chief Executive.

“We would urge people with symptoms like constant coughing, wheezing or breathlessness to have them checked out by their doctor. We have written to GPs and pharmacists and will be supporting the message with posters, leaflets, radio advertising and health promotion events. COPD has been an invisible illness for too long, and we plan to change that in 2010.”

NI Chest Heart and Stroke’s Respiratory Support Network of 24 groups operates in every health trust in Northern Ireland providing advice, support and therapy for patients who suffer from respiratory illness and their families. It is funded by the Big Lottery Fund's Reaching Communities Programme.

Yvonne said: “If you have a respiratory condition and need a social outlet as well as valuable support and advice, you should consider joining our group.

“Many people who attend our support groups find it is great just to be able to talk to somebody with similar problems and to share their own experiences in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere,” she said.