This is a sub-category of All respiratory deaths (see Map 10). Most of the diseases are of the lungs.

See also Map 55 Asthma, Map 63 Bronchitis, Map 94 Industrial lung diseases, Map 97 Other respiratory disorders, Map 102 Influenza and Map 105 Pneumonia.

Most of the deaths in this category are from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), of which the leading cause is smoking. The other main cause of such deaths is industrial pollution. Rates are highest in Glasgow, the industrial areas of northern England and the Midlands, south Wales and London. In contrast, rates are very low in most of the south of the country. The geographical pattern of female deaths is slightly more pronounced than that for those of males.

COPD is an umbrella term for a chronic lung disease such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. It is also known as chronic obstructive airway disease (COAD) or chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD). COPD occurs when the airways are obstructed or have narrowed. The damage caused by COPD is permanent. It is a common disease and affects approximately one million people in the UK. As the age–sex bar chart shows, while the age distributions are a similar shape for men and women, more men succumb to this cause of death than do women.

A lifelong smoker, King Edward VII suffered from severe bronchitis which undoubtedly contributed to his death. Actor Vincent Price, artist Norman Rockwell, actor Robert Mitchum, poet T.S. Eliot, novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky, singer Dean Martin and actor Arthur English all died from emphysema.