More people with asthma, bronchitis or emphysema have to go to hospital because they are struggling to breathe than those with heart disease, joint problems or cancer.
During 2023-24, hospitals in England recorded 868,212 emergency admissions for respiratory diseases, one in eight of the year's 5.2m unplanned admissions, NHS figures obtained by Asthma + Lung UK show.
The admissions are contributing significantly to hospitals being overwhelmed so often, especially in winter, when cold weather breeds infections, the charity said.
The admissions were more than the 739,226 (11%) as a result of an injury, poisoning or other external cause and 639,908 (10%) for heart problems and other circulatory system conditions.
They were also more than five times the 151,581 recorded for pregnancy and childbirth-related problems and 143,624 for cancer.
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