November is COPD Awareness Month

[Thomas3.20.2010]

COPD Learn More Breathe Better® Campaign, NHLBI, NIH 

November is National COPD Awareness Month. Sponsored by the US COPD Coalition, the observance is a time for organizations and communities across the country to increase the overall awareness of COPD. COPD Learn More Breathe Better®, the title of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s national awareness and education campaign, has again been adopted as the theme for this year’s National COPD Awareness Month.

DID YOU KNOW?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the 3^rd leading cause of death in the United States. The disease kills more than 120,000 Americans each year—that’s 1 death every 4 minutes—and causes serious, long-term disability. The number of people with COPD is increasing. More than 12 million people are diagnosed with COPD and an additional 12 million likely have the disease and don’t even know it. Here are 4 things YOU can do to live a longer, more active life.

1. Be aware of the risk factors
2. Recognize the symptoms
3. Ask your doctor or health care provider about a simple breathing test
4. Follow treatment advice

4 key risk factors for COPD

If you …

• have shortness of breath, chronic cough, or have trouble performing simple daily tasks like climbing stairs, grocery shopping, or laundry;
• are over age 40 and currently smoke or used to smoke;
• have worked or lived around chemicals or fumes;
• have certain genetic conditions

…you could be at risk for COPD.

4 things you can do if you are at risk for COPD:

• Talk with your healthcare provider about shortness of breath, chronic cough, or decline in activity level.
• Get a simple breathing test, also known as spirometry.
• Quit smoking. Need help? Talk to your doctor or health care provider.
• Avoid pollutants or fumes that can irritate your lungs.

4 things you can do to help manage COPD:

• Take medication as directed by your doctor or health care provider.
• Enroll in a pulmonary rehabilitation program.
• Avoid pollutants or fumes that can irritate your lungs.
• Get flu and pneumonia shots as directed by your doctor or health care provider.

Thomas:

For every single one of us right here who knows that they have COPD there is another member of this community who also has COPD and does not know it! If you have smoked more than 100 Sickerettes in your lifetime ask - no, insist, that you get a Spirometry Test!

Remember that if you have COPD you are not alone! We have an active group chock full of information and resources at COPD‌! Knowledge is Power and you can empower yourself with some help! That's all I ask - give yourself a chance to Live and Breathe Free!

[elvan]

Thanks, Thomas, as always.  I think it is important for people to remember that after you quit smoking, COPD still progresses BUT it progresses much more slowly.  We learn to take care of ourselves and go forward.  We can't cure it but we can slow it way down.

[elvan]

No cure but many things we can do to slow it down...kind of like putting it into a remission.  Do all of the things as recommended and remember to take really good care of yourself, particularly as flu season is getting underway.