COPD Awareness Month
Each November, the COPD Foundation and its community plan a month of activities to increase awareness of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This year, the Foundation is hosting a Lace Up for Lungs Facebook Challenge along with a full month of advocacy and awareness activities. With your help, we can spread the word about COPD and chronic lung disease awareness, prevention, and treatment, and advocate for better research, funding, and support for all who are affected.
16 million adults in the U.S. have COPD1, and millions more are undiagnosed and unaware that they have the disease. COPD kills more than 140,000 people each year in the United States2 and more than 3.2 million people worldwide.3
Free COPD Awareness Month Resources:
COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is a term used to describe chronic lung diseases, that include emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. It's important to talk to a health care provider as soon as you experience symptoms, including increased shortness of breath, frequent coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and unusual tiredness. Early diagnosis is critical to help reduce your lung damage and to help with your quality of life as you manage COPD.
Are you or someone you know experiencing these symptoms? Visit our free Risk Screener today and then speak with your health care provider.
- Download this free guide to understand The Basics of COPD. This guide covers essential topics, including how COPD is diagnosed, treatment options, managing COPD symptoms, flare-ups, tips for living well with a lung condition, and coping with COPD.
- Listen to the The COPD Podcast. Podcasts are brought to you by the COPD Foundation and Health Unmuted.
- Download our Educational Materials. Guides for Better Living, COPD 101/201, My COPD Action Plan, and more!
- Download this "Anyone Can Get COPD" flyer and learn about the ways that COPD can impact you, your family, or your friends.
- Download this flyer about the importance of early diagnosis to learn how you can look for, listen to, and act on any COPD symptoms you or your loved ones might be experiencing.
- Discover more about Bronchiectasis and NTM Lung Disease to help you understand what they have in common with COPD, how they're diagnosed and treated, and other topics.
- Learn more about COPD by visiting our COPD Frequently Asked Questions.
- Learn more about smoking cessation by visiting this blog: Teaching with a Twist - Quitting Smoking: Why should you?