Catherine Stihler, Scottish Labour MEP

Catherine Stihler, Euro MP for Scotland [Labour], is issuing a warning to all Scots to ‘quit smoking, before it’s too late’.

In a move strongly welcomed by the British Lung Foundation and the European Respiratory Society, Mrs Stihler has constantly fought to raise awareness of one of Scotland’s biggest killers – COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). Three years ago, she launched a declaration calling on the European Commission and Council to list COPD under its major disease category.

Mrs Stihler stated:

“I strongly commend the work of the charity Ochre and their recent campaign to raise awareness of oesophageal cancer.  This deadly form of cancer is similar to COPD .  They are both deadly diseases that few Scots have heard of, and they are linked to smoking”.

“COPD is estimated to become the world’s third biggest killer by 2020, but despite this the disease remains under-recognised and under-funded.  There are around 100,000 people in Scotland living with COPD – a figure which is rising in Scotland year on year”.

Mrs Stihler was instrumental in leading the fight for bolder anti-smoking messages on cigarette packages, alongside promoting Scotland’s anti-smoking legislation as a role model for the rest of the EU. 

Mrs Stihler publically offered her support to the European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients Associations (EFA), who recently launched a book analysing the situation of COPD in Europe.

Mrs Stihler added:

“I urge all Scots to quit smoking, before it’s too late.  COPD and oesophageal cancer are only two out of a long list of deadly diseases that are linked with smoking”.

Mrs Stihler recently called on the EU to invest in smoking cessation strategies which would encourage people to give up smoking whilst informing them on the risks they are taking if they do not stop.

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