Virtual programs allow for more personalized care
Miami (May 1, 2025) - Virtual pulmonary rehabilitation is a safe, effective alternative to traditional pulmonary rehabilitation programs for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who also require supplemental oxygen, according to a new report. The report is published in the March 2025 issue of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases: Journal of the COPD Foundation, a peer-reviewed, open-access journal.
COPD is an inflammatory lung disease, comprising several conditions, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and can be caused by genetics and irritants like smoke or pollution. The disease affects more than 30 million Americans and is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide.
Pulmonary rehabilitation is an exercise and educational program supervised by a health care professional, which helps people with chronic breathing difficulties. These programs teach people how to manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life. Pulmonary rehabilitation programs are traditionally held in person; however, virtual or online programs are also available.
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New study examines how perceived stress impacts respiratory health, other factors associated with COPD
Miami (April 29, 2025) - Increased perceived stress may cause worsened respiratory symptoms and decreased quality of life in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a new study. The study is published in the March 2025 issue of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases: Journal of the COPD Foundation, a peer-reviewed, open-access journal.
Perceived stress is used to describe how overwhelmed or stressed a person feels based on their personal understanding of the situation. It is a psychosocial factor, along with loneliness, social isolation and emotional support, which have been shown to impact health outcomes in people with chronic diseases.
COPD is an inflammatory lung disease, comprising several conditions, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and can be caused by genetics and irritants like smoke or pollution. The disease affects more than 30 million Americans and is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide.
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Patients and caregivers learn how to identify, manage worsening COPD
Miami (April 22, 2025) - The COPD Foundation is pleased to announce the completion of an educational campaign focused on managing advanced symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), in partnership with Sanofi and Regeneron.
COPD comprises several conditions, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and can be caused by genetics and irritants like smoke or pollution. The disease affects more than 30 million Americans and is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide, yet awareness of the disease's symptoms, methods to reduce risk, and disease management remains poor. Symptoms include breathlessness, fatigue, and chronic cough.
The "Is This You?" campaign featured a website with information on how to recognize worsening symptoms of COPD, how to talk to health care providers, resources for caregivers, and information on Medicare; three blog posts; three educational podcasts; and two webinars.
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Miami (April 3, 2025) - The COPD Foundation is extremely concerned with widespread reports of major staff reductions across the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, including in the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Tobacco Products and the Centers for Disease Control's Office on Smoking and Health.
These resources are critical to addressing the public health crisis of lung disease in the United States, where 16 million Americans have been diagnosed with COPD and millions more remain undiagnosed. We urge elected officials to prioritize the health of Americans and ensure the ability of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to pursue that mission.
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New study suggests statins protect chest muscles, while aspirin increases chest muscle loss
Miami (March 13, 2025) – For current and former smokers, statins may reduce the amount of chest muscle loss, while aspirin may contribute to increased chest muscle loss, according to a new study. The study is published in the January 2025 issue of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases: Journal of the COPD Foundation, a peer-reviewed, open-access journal.
Many people who are current or former smokers are prescribed statins to manage high cholesterol and aspirin to manage heart disease. Research has shown that current or former smokers experience increased skeletal muscle loss, especially in people with COPD.
COPD is an inflammatory lung disease, comprising several conditions, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and can be caused by genetics and irritants like smoke or pollution. The disease affects more than 30 million Americans and is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide.
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Network facilitates access to high-quality, specialized patient care for bronchiectasis and NTM lung disease
Miami (March 12, 2025) – The Bronchiectasis and NTM Association has accepted 27 Care Center and six Clinical Associate Center sites in 23 states and the District of Columbia into the new Bronchiectasis and NTM Care Center Network (CCN).
The CCN aims to facilitate access to specialized care and support for the hundreds of thousands of people with bronchiectasis and nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease.
“As the prevalence of bronchiectasis and NTM lung disease grows, it is even more important for us to create this Care Center Network to improve access to high-quality, specialty care and resources patients need,” said Doreen Addrizzo-Harris, M.D., Chair of the CCN Steering Committee. “The CCN’s innovative, nationwide network will help us achieve our goals of improving care and quality of life for those with these conditions, as well as advancing toward a cure.”
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New study suggests people with arthritis should also be screened for COPD
Miami (March 11, 2025) - People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and arthritis have a higher risk of death than people with arthritis who do not have COPD, according to a new study. The study is published in the January 2025 issue of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases: Journal of the COPD Foundation, a peer-reviewed, open-access journal.
COPD is an inflammatory lung disease, comprising several conditions, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and can be caused by genetics and irritants like smoke or pollution. The disease affects more than 30 million Americans and is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. Arthritis, or joint inflammation, is a leading cause of disability among American adults.
This new study analyzed data from more than 11,000 individuals in the United States from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2018 who self-reported having arthritis. The study cohort included 1,795 participants with COPD and 9,503 without COPD.
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New study highlights importance of diagnosing depression, anxiety to address gaps in care
Miami (March 6, 2025) - Mental health disorders in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are underdiagnosed and undertreated, leading to worsened symptoms and decreased quality of life, according to a new study. The study is published in the January 2025 issue of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases: Journal of the COPD Foundation, a peer-reviewed, open-access journal.
COPD is an inflammatory lung disease, comprising several conditions, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and can be caused by genetics and irritants like smoke or pollution. The disease affects more than 30 million Americans and is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide.
Depression and anxiety are common comorbidities in people with COPD, which lead to increased symptom burden and decreased quality of life. Screening questionnaires often are used to detect symptoms of these disorders in people with COPD; however, these screening tools cannot be used definitively to confirm their diagnosis.
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2025 marks the 10th anniversary of Leonard Nimoy's passing
Miami (February 27, 2025) - The COPD Foundation, The Nimoy Knight Foundation, and Health Point Productions today announce their partnership to distribute the documentary "Remembering Leonard Nimoy: His Life, Legacy and Battle with COPD."
Nimoy died in February 2015 at the age of 83 from complications related to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD comprises several conditions, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and can be caused by genetics and irritants like smoke or pollution.
The disease affects more than 30 million Americans and is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide, yet awareness of the disease's symptoms, methods to reduce risk, and disease management remains poor.
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Miami (February 18, 2025) - Today, Bronchiectasis and NTM 360 announced a rebrand to become the Bronchiectasis and NTM Association. The rebranding reflects the organization's continued growth as a leader in advancing care, research, and awareness of bronchiectasis and nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease.
Bronchiectasis is a lesser-known chronic lung disease characterized by enlarged airways that are thickened and/or scarred. These permanently widened airways lead to a buildup of mucus and impaired clearance of bacteria from the lungs. Symptoms include frequent coughing with mucus, breathlessness, fatigue and unexplained fever and chills. It is estimated that more than 1 million people are diagnosed with bronchiectasis worldwide, and of those, 340,000 to 522,000 are adults in the United States.
NTM lung disease is characterized by recurring lung infections, causing significant damage to a person's airways. Symptoms can include cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, and weight loss. It is estimated that more than 200,000 people in the United States have NTM lung disease, with the number of new cases increasing 8% annually.
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Increased awareness of COPD needed to improve treatments, quality of life for people with chronic lung diseases
Miami (January 21, 2025) - Chronic lower respiratory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC's National Center for Health Statistics released its "Deaths: Leading Causes for 2022" final report, ranking the 10 leading causes of death.
COPD comprises several conditions, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and can be caused by genetics and irritants like smoke or pollution. Symptoms include breathlessness, fatigue, and chronic cough.
The disease affects more than 30 million Americans, yet approximately half of those people do not yet know they have COPD. Awareness of the disease's symptoms, methods to reduce risk, and disease management remains poor. COPD is also the fourth leading cause of death worldwide, according to 2021 data from the World Health Organization.
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Smoke and toxic air pollutants increase lung inflammation
Miami (January 16, 2025) - Wildfire smoke and the resulting air pollutants from burning debris and chemicals can result in significant lung health risks for those exposed, particularly people with chronic lung diseases including chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), and first responders on the front line.
Wildfire smoke is a mixture of gases and fine, microscopic particles. These particles can cause burning eyes, a runny nose and difficulty breathing. People with COPD and other chronic lung diseases can also experience increased exacerbations (or flare-ups) of their symptoms when breathing this toxic air.
COPD is an inflammatory lung disease, comprising several conditions, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and can be caused by genetics and irritants like smoke and pollution. The disease affects more than 30 million Americans and is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide.
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