BATTLING a chronic lung condition has left a Newton Abbot woman also battling public judgement.

Sara has lived with breathing problems since she was four months old, when she was first diagnosed with asthma.

Five years ago, she was also diagnosed with COPD and now has just 25per cent lung capacity.

But as well as dealing with a condition which makes simple, everyday activities a challenge, the 63-year-old is also dealing with negative attitudes.

As part of a national campaign, Sara has spoken out about her experiences which have damaged her confidence, access to care and her trust in people.

Her condition means walking and talking at the same time can leave her breathless.

But rather than compassion, she is often met with judgement.

‘People call me ‘drunk’ in the street,’ Sara explained.

‘They see me struggling to breathe and talk, and assume I’ve been drinking. They push me aside.

‘That one word makes me feel worthless – they judge me without knowing anything about me.’

The stigma doesn’t just come from strangers.

Sara recalls being dismissed during a phone call with a support service.

She said: ‘They told me to stop shouting. I wasn’t shouting, I was out of breath.

‘I explained that, but they still dismissed me. It made me not want to ask for help again.’

The impact reaches beyond Sara to affect her family too.

She said: ‘It hurts the people close to me too. They see the way I’m treated and they feel helpless. It affects all of us.’

Breathlessness, visible fatigue and speech changes – common symptoms of COPD – can be misunderstood.

As well as being labelled a ‘drunk’, Sara has been called ‘rude’ because she has to force her words out in one breath, and ‘lazy’ because she struggles to walk far.

‘COPD I can live with,’ she said. ‘But I can’t live with the bias.’

Sara’s experiences highlight a wider problem in how society views those with health conditions.

Pharmaceutical company Chiesi’s new campaign Look Beyond the Bias aims to highlight the harmful impact of stigma and bias faced by people living with health conditions.

Sara wants to speak out to challenge the stigma surrounding lung conditions and encourage people to pause before making assumptions.

She said: ‘I think people should just learn to understand, not judge. Find out why they’re seeing what they’re seeing. Don’t be so quick to judge because one day, it could be them.’

The campaign is being supported by Olympic cycling champion Dame Laura Kenny.

She said: ‘After being diagnosed with asthma at a young age, I experienced the same assumptions many people do when diagnosed with respiratory conditions.

‘Chiesi’s Look Beyond the Bias campaign highlights how stigma can affect so many of us.

‘Through this campaign, we can help ensure everyone feels valued and empowered with the confidence to get the care and support they deserve.’

Jonathan Blades, from Asthma + Lung UK, said: ‘Stigma around lung conditions is too often ignored, but the damage it causes is far reaching.

‘People with lung conditions often feel judged as lazy or unfit, avoided on public transport because of their cough, or too embarrassed or guilty to seek the medical help they need.

‘We must break down these barriers so everyone can access the care they need and deserve.’