Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive, long-term lung condition that can make it hard to breathe. The main cause of COPD is tobacco smoking1; however, other factors can contribute, such as:
- Indoor and outdoor air pollution1,
- Workplace exposures1,
- Genetics.
The challenge of early COPD detection
Unfortunately, COPD is often diagnosed late, with Asthma + Lung UK reporting that the average wait for a diagnosis is 5 years2, with patient, provider, and structural factors contributing to this delay.
COPD is a disease that develops slowly, with symptoms like shortness of breath not appearing until significant lung damage has already occurred. This often presents in people’s 40s, 50s, or later3. And smokers often normalise their symptoms, accepting them because of their smoking. Another challenge is that early symptoms can overlap with other conditions, such as asthma, allergies, or other respiratory conditions4.
Early detection can significantly improve outcomes by allowing interventions that can reduce permanent lung damage, but with people brushing early symptoms off and a general lack of COPD awareness, it is very easy for early detection to be missed.
Smoking exposure is the strongest modifiable risk factor
Smoking is believed to contribute to 90% of COPD cases1, with harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke damaging the lining of the lungs and airways. You don’t always have to be a smoker to be exposed to these harmful chemicals either; some research also suggests that passive smoking or exposure to other people’s cigarette smoke can increase your risk of COPD1.
This highlights the importance of understanding a person’s smoking history/exposure, because reducing the exposure will help to reduce the risk of developing COPD.
Why self-reported smoking history isn’t always enough
As the years have progressed, smoking has increasingly become viewed as a taboo behaviour that people may not want to fully admit to. This can make self-reporting unreliable, as individuals may underreport their smoking behaviour.
Smoking habits can change over time too; during stressful periods, smokers may smoke more excessively, or during periods of routine change, like holidays and time off work, people may smoke more.
This is why there is a need for more objective measures to fully understand a person’s smoking status, enabling healthcare professionals to better understand someone’s smoking exposure.
The role of carbon monoxide monitoring
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a harmful gas found in tobacco smoke which is inhaled when smoking. CO can be measured in exhaled breath, with higher levels indicating a person’s exposure to cigarette smoke.
CO monitoring devices like the Smokerlyzer® range offer healthcare professionals an objective tool to establish a person’s smoking status, initiating clinical conversations and supporting risk assessment.
A CO test with the Smokerlyzer® is quick and easy, offering a non-invasive way to assess CO exposure.
Earlier identification starts with better smoking assessment
Understanding smoking exposure is a key part of the puzzle, and having access to objective tools like the Smokerlyzer® to measure CO levels helps to identify high-risk individuals early and enable healthcare professionals to think about early signs of COPD and make the necessary interventions to improve patient outcomes.
To learn more about the Smokerlyzer® and how it can be a vital tool for assessing a person’s smoking status, visit the website here.
References
- NHS. Causes – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) [Internet]. NHS. 2023 [cited 2026 Oct 14]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-copd/causes/
- A quarter of people with COPD waiting 5 years for a diagnosis | asthma + lung UK [Internet]. www.asthmaandlung.org.uk. [cited 2026 Oct 14]. Available from: https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/media/press-releases/quarter-people-copd-waiting-5-years-diagnosis
- NHS . Symptoms – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) [Internet]. NHS. 2023 [cited 2026 Oct 29]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-copd/symptoms/
- Thornber K. Breaking barriers: Why COPD diagnosis is often delayed [Internet]. European Medical Journal. EMJ; 2025 [cited 2026 Oct 14]. Available from: https://www.emjreviews.com/respiratory/news/breaking-barriers-why-copd-diagnosis-is-often-delayed/
