Could it be COPD?

The survey found that:

- COPD currently affects 1.5 million people in Canada (a number much higher than previously thought).

- Another 1.6 million Canadians over the age of 40 may have the disease but haven't been diagnosed.

- COPD takes its toll on a normal lifestyle: 59 per cent of people with COPD say the disease affects their sleep, and 53 per cent report it affects their daily activities. A quarter of patients report that the disease affects their relationships with family and friends.

- COPD has a higher hospitalization rate (and re-admission rate) than other chronic diseases like heart failure and angina.

- Only one third of Canadians said they had heard of COPD (the acronym) and only 48 per cent had heard of "chronic obstructive pulmonary disease". (More people had heard of chronic bronchitis and emphysema, which are part of COPD.)

- 43 per cent of those surveyed didn't know that COPD can be fatal.

- Awareness about COPD is lowest in Quebec (at 26 per cent), and highest in Ontario (58 percent).

Overall, COPD affects about three million people in Canada, but despite the serious impact on patients and their families, the level of awareness remains low.

"The numbers we continue to see are staggering. The impact to COPD patients and their families can be devastating," said Nora Sobolov, President & CEO of The Lung Association, in a press release. "More than ever we urgently need a comprehensive and national strategy to address all lung health issues, especially COPD. Now is the time to make this disease a priority."