Getting out of breath doing everyday activities, such as walking upstairs or getting dressed, is the focus of a new health campaign by Public Health England.

Launching this week in Oldham and Rochdale only, the pilot aims to raise awareness of the seriousness of breathlessness - a key symptom of lung and heart disease as well as other conditions that need treatment - urging those struggling with shortness of breath to visit their doctor.

Currently one in 10 people in the UK get out of breath doing simple everyday activities - this increases to almost a third (30 per cent) amongst the over 50s.

The four-week campaign targets this age-group as they are more at risk of conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer and heart failure.

Latest figures show that around 10,000 people in Oldham and Rochdale have COPD, but many will not have been diagnosed yet.

Results from a recent survey in the North West found awareness of breathlessness was relatively strong but more needs to be done to get those with the symptom to go to the doctor.

Around two-thirds (63 per cent) knew breathlessness could be a sign of heart disease, while around three-quarters (74 per cent) recognised it as a potential warning sign of lung disease.

However, the research also found that over a quarter (26 per cent) of people in the North West would wait and see if things got worse before taking any action, if they started getting out of breath doing things they used to be able to do.

Around a fifth (18 per cent) admitted that they would try to cope, and avoid doing things that would make them get out of breath.

Professor Martyn Regan, Greater Manchester PHE Centre Director, said:

"The research showed that while awareness levels of the severity of breathlessness are relatively high in the North West, there is room for improvement and more work needs to be done. What's most worrying is that, regardless of these awareness levels, some people in the region would delay a visit to their GP if they started getting out of breath, learning to live with breathlessness or waiting to see if things got worse first."

"Getting out of breath isn't just a sign of getting older, it could be a sign of lung or heart disease or other serious conditions. Finding it early makes it more treatable so don't ignore it or find ways to cope. Instead, visit your GP and get the help and treatment you need."

Mortality rates from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases in Oldham and Rochdale are above national averages. In England, the mortality rate from respiratory disease, in people under the age of 75, is 34 per 100,000.

However, this figure increases to 50 in Rochdale and 52 in Oldham. Meanwhile, mortality from cardiovascular disease, which is considered preventable, in people under the age of 75, is also higher in Oldham (69 per 100,000) and Rochdale (74 per 100,000), compared to England's national average (54 per 100,000).[5]

Actress, Tricia Penrose, whose mum, Sue Gordon, was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2010 said: "My mum is from Oldham, is in her 50s and has been affected by lung cancer so this campaign really strikes a chord with me. "It's so important that if you start finding everyday tasks make you breathless, you go to your GP. Don't wait, assume it will pass or put it down to the ageing process , there might be a problem with your lungs or heart and the earlier it's treated, the better."

Dr Stephen Gaduzo, Chair of the Primary Care Respiratory Society and Stockport GP, who features in the campaign's advert, said:

"Not only smokers get heart or lung disease so it's essential for everyone aged 50 and over, no matter what their lifestyle, to be alert to the symptom of breathlessness. "

Everybody will experience breathlessness now and again, for example, after heavy exercise, however if you start becoming breathless doing things that you used to be able to do, then it could be a sign of a range of different conditions.

Diagnosing those conditions early could save your life so visit your GP at the earliest opportunity."

The campaign will see adverts running in press and on radio across Oldham and Rochdale for four weeks from today.

The emotive radio advert features a COPD patient, Alan Cooley, urging others to go to their doctor sooner than he did.

Alan Cooley, aged 64, said:

"I was working on a building site and was starting to feel more and more out of breath as I went about my work. I was carrying less and less material around and found it hard to get anything done without pausing for breath. I didn't realise how bad it was and tried to hide it, but my family and workmates began to notice and persuaded me to visit my doctor. I was diagnosed with COPD and now I am receiving treatment for it, things are so much more manageable."