People with one type of cough urged to see GP 'as soon as possible'

Anyone who has a persistent chesty cough producing phlegm that does not go away should see their GP to test for Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), NHS doctors say

People who have one specific type of cough are being urged to see their GP over fears they could be one of 600,000 'missing' cases of a serious illness.

In late autumn it's quite normal to have cough , sore throat or a combination of the two, as spending more time indoors means viruses spread more easily from person to person. In most cases the common cold is to blame, and symptoms should pass within a few days.

However, if you have a persistent chesty cough producing phlegm that does not go away, you could be showing signs of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Left untreated, this condition can lea