Could a full English cause lung disease?

Research shows that those who regularly tuck into sausages and bacon are twice as likely to suffer from debilitating chest conditions more traditionally associated with smoking.

These include bronchitis, emphysema and chronic obstructive airways disease.

Collectively known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, they affect around 600,000 Britons and are responsible for more than 30,000 deaths a year.

While smoking is known to be the main cause of COPD, a study of the dietary habits of thousands of men and women has revealed that cured pork products may also play a role in its development.

The US research showed that those who eat cured meat at least 14 times a month are almost twice as likely to develop COPD as those who never eat the foods.

The finding, from researchers at Columbia University Medical Center in New York, comes as Britons develop an increasing appetite for cured meat products such as salami and chorizo.

Other products preserved by curing include bacon, sausage, luncheon meat and some hams. All these types of meat have traditionally been associated with raising cholesterol levels but underwent a recent renassaince after they were championed by the backers of the Atkins diet.

Writing in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the researchers said the lung problems are likely to be caused by nitrites which are used, along with salt and sugar, to cure meat, can cause long-lasting changes to the structure of the lungs.

Lead researcher Dr Rui Jiang (BOTH CORR), said: "Cured meats are high in nitrites which are added to meat products as a preservative, an anti-microbial agent and a colour fixative.

"Nitrites may cause damage to the lungs, producing structural changes resembling emphysema."

Dr Keith Prowse, chairman of the British Lung Foundation, said: "This is a large study providing some interesting results.

"We will be looking very carefully at it to see if it provides any pointers to the cause of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) apart from the major factor, which is smoking.

"COPD is the UK's fifth biggest killer disease, killing around 30,000 people every year - more people than colon or prostrate cancer and more women than breast cancer - and we urgently need more research into this hugely disabling disease."

People with COPD find it increasingly hard to breathe, with symptoms including wheezing and recurring chest and lung infections, often worse in winter.

The gradual worsening of symptoms greatly impacts on quality of life and can lead to heart failure, a potentially fatal condition in which the weakened heart finds it difficult to pump blood round the body.

Although there is no cure, treatments such as inhalers can relieve symptoms. In severe cases, lung transplants may be carried out.