Hockey legend Dennis Hull is on a mission to raise awareness for COPD, stressing the importance of early detection to minimize lung damage.

Video Transcription

Sherri Dmyterko: You may know Dennis Hull more from his involvement with Hockey, but today he is speaking out on a personal issue. To raise awareness about the potentially devastating breathing disease know as COPD or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease from his farm in Cobourg, Ontario. Dennis Hull: My older sister passed away from all the symptoms of COPD 15 years ago, and my first junior coach, Max Kaminsky in St. Catherine, also passed away from COPD. For me to watch my coach have trouble skating around the ice with an oxygen tank in the dressing room, and just having a tough time breathing and living, actually. It's devastating to watch family members of course and friends goes through life with this debilitating disease. Sherri Dmyterko: COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in Canada, and is caused mainly from smoking. Living with COPD can feel like breathing through a straw. Dennis Hull: When I played in the Ontario, many player smoked. They didn't know how it was affecting them, but now as they get later in life, they are finding out the consequences of smoking, and they are aging much quicker than they should be. Sherri Dmyterko: Early treatment is crucial to minimize lung damage, but unfortunately many people don't seek medical help until the disease has progressed. Dennis Hull: It's an easy test, just go to your doctor. It's five minutes. You blow into a spirometer, and that gauge will tell you how strong your lungs are. And if you are at a certain level and you have COPD, then the doctor can help you. There are drugs, there are lots of different ways that your quality of life will improve simply by going and finding out, but it's not going to improve unless you go, and find out, if you do have COBD. Female Speaker: If you think you might be living with COPD, see your doctor. For more information go to copdhelp.ca. Sherri Dmyterko reporting.