The COPD Foundation Launches COPD Awareness Month in November

Patients, Clinicians, and Supporters Join Forces to Champion Lung Health Research, Education, and Advocacy

MIAMI & NEW YORK, (Oct. 31, 2023) - November is COPD Awareness Month. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which affects more than 30 million Americans, is a serious chronic lung disease characterized by shortness of breath. During the month of November, the COPD Foundation invites people to participate in a variety of awareness events to bring attention to the patient community and support critical research, education, and advocacy efforts.

COPD comprises several conditions, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and can be caused by genetics, irritants like smoke or pollution, or early life events like lung infections.

Although the disease is the third leading cause of death worldwide, there is little awareness of the disease's symptoms, risk factors, and disease management techniques. Increased public awareness of COPD and its symptoms during the month of November helps drive funding for critical research and treatments, encourages early diagnosis, and raises awareness of educational and support resources.

COPD Awareness Month activities and opportunities include:

• The Lace Up for Lungs Challenge. This online exercise challenge encourages people of all ages and ability levels to be physically active for 30 minutes every day in November.
• COPD Education Resources. The COPD Foundation provides free resources about COPD risk factors, a symptom checker, guides for living well with COPD, smoking cessation tools, and more.
• Light the Night Orange for COPD. Lung health champions across the US are invited to light their city halls, bridges, or other local landmarks orange throughout November.
• Social Media. The COPD Awareness Month social media toolkit includes pre-written posts, images, banners, and information about lung health and early diagnosis. The COPD Foundation's official social media will also announce more free webinars and advocacy activities throughout November.
• Wear Orange Day. November 15 is World COPD Day and Wear Orange Day. People are encouraged to wear orange on November 15 and share photos on social media.

Lace Up for Lungs is generously supported by The Marilyn Lichtman Foundation, Theravance Biopharma, Inc., Insmed Incorporated, and Viatris Inc.

For more information about how to get involved with COPD Awareness Month activities and become a lung health champion, visit copdfoundation.org.

###

About the COPD Foundation The COPD Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help millions of people live longer and healthier lives by advancing research, advocacy, and awareness to stop COPD, bronchiectasis, and NTM lung disease. The Foundation does this through scientific research, education, advocacy, and awareness to prevent disease, slow progression, and find a cure. For more information, visit copdfoundation.org, or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Contact
The COPD Foundation
Jessica Burke
(786) 625-7809 mediarelations@copdfoundation.org copdfoundation.org