Doctors issue urgent warning over specific cough that could be more than a common cold

Doctors have warned people about a specific kind of persistent cough that could be more than just your average cold.

Now, we know this time of year is when illness is rife in the UK - everyone in the office seems to be coughing and sneezing everywhere and it's almost impossible to avoid the dreaded flu that comes with the colder months.

As we're truly in the depths of autumn and heading towards winter now, colds, flus and other respiratory illnesses are more common as people are indoors more often, allowing viruses to pass more easily from person to person.

Most of the time, it will just be a common cold or flu that will pass within a few days, however it's important not to brush it off as this if you have persistent or worsening symptoms - it's always better to get checked out if you're unsure.

It feels like everyone is ill around this time of year (Getty Stock Image)

The Mirror reports that doctors are now telling people to look out for a persistent chesty cough which produces phlegm and does not go away.

If you have these symptoms, you could be showing signs of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

What is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?

As per the NHS, COPD is the name for a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties.

This includes emphysema - damage to the air sacs in the lungs - and chronic bronchitis - a long-term inflammation of the airways.

According to data from the National Institute for Healthcare and Excellence (NICE), in the UK, COPD has been reported as affecting around three million people, with two million of these being undiagnosed.

It's a common condition that mainly affects middle-aged or older adults who smoke, however many people don't actually realise they have it.

The breathing problems tend to get gradually worse over time and can limit your normal activities, although treatment can help keep the condition under control.

What are the symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?

COPD can be caused by smoking but can also affect people who have never touched a cigarette (Getty Stock Image)

The main symptoms of COPD are:

• Shortness of breath, particularly when you're active
• A persistent chesty cough with phlegm - some people may dismiss this as just a "smoker's cough"
• Frequent chest infections
• Persistent wheezing

Less common symptoms include weight loss, tiredness, swollen ankles from a build-up of fluid (oedema), chest pain, and coughing up blood.

Without treatment, the symptoms usually get progressively worse and there may also be periods when they get suddenly worse, known as a flare-up or exacerbation.

If this all sounds familiar and you have have persistent symptoms of COPD, particularly if you're over 35 and smoke or used to smoke, you should go to the GP to get checked out.

Around two million people in the UK have this condition and are going undiagnosed (Getty Stock Image)

The NHS warns that you should not ignore the symptoms as if they are caused by COPD, it's best to start treatment as soon as possible, before your lungs become significantly damaged.

If COPD goes left untreated, it can lead to more serious health conditions, such as pulmonary hypertension, pneumonia, and heart disease.

As we say, the main cause is smoking, although the condition can sometimes affect people who have never smoked.

The damage to the lungs caused by COPD is permanent, but treatment can help slow down the progression of the condition.

Treatments include stopping smoking, inhalers and medicines, pulmonary rehabilitation and in some more extreme cases, surgery or a lung transplant.