COPD Awareness Month
Each November, the COPD Foundation and its community increase the focus on building awareness for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This year, the Foundation’s COPD Awareness theme is Lace-Up for Lungs: Let's Outpace COPD. We're committed to innovative approaches to preventing COPD and encouraging early diagnosis while improving lives and advocating for all affected.
Did you know that 16 million U.S. adults have COPD1, and millions more are undiagnosed and unaware that they have the disease. COPD kills more than 150,000 people each year in the United States2 and more than 3.2 million people worldwide.3
Despite the high number of deaths, COPD is ranked 176th in research funding in the U.S.4
We welcome our community and those interested in learning more about COPD and its impact to go the distance and join us for Lace-Up for Lungs. Together, we can bring greater visibility to the disease and educate, engage, and empower the public to recognize COPD symptoms and seek diagnosis and treatment.
Explore COPD Awareness Month Educational Resources:
What is COPD? What do You Need to Know About COPD Symptoms?
COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is an umbrella term used to describe chronic lung diseases, encompassing emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. The disease is characterized by increasing breathlessness.
Unfortunately, the disease can progress for years if it is undiagnosed. 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.
While many are not diagnosed with COPD until age 40 or later, early signs of COPD can be found in adults as young as 20 years old.
Early diagnosis is critical to help reduce your lung damage and to help with your quality of life as you manage COPD. Your health care provider can order a Spirometry test and help you establish a COPD care and management plan.
Currently, COPD is an incurable disease; however, it is treatable, and a person diagnosed with COPD who receives the correct diagnosis and treatment can breathe better, thrive, and enjoy their quality of life.
Do you have questions about symptoms you may be having? Visit our Risk Screener and find out more, then speak with your health care provider.
Learn More About the Basics of COPD
Are you new to COPD? The Foundation developed helpful tools for people recently diagnosed with COPD. 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.
Download your free personal-use copy of The Basics of COPD.
Health Podcast Series: The COPD Podcast
The COPD Podcast is a health podcast series dedicated to raising awareness for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and helping guide those affected by the condition so they can live their best lives. Podcasts are brought to you by the COPD Foundation and Health Unmuted.
Whether you are a person with COPD, a caregiver, or a clinician, we trust you'll find The COPD Podcast to be a valuable companion along your journey! Listen to Podcast Episodes here.
Anyone Can Get COPD
Did you know that anyone can get COPD? Download this flyer and learn about the ways that COPD can impact you, your family, or your friends.
COPD and You: Early Diagnosis
Download this helpful flyer to learn how you can look for, listen to, and act on any COPD symptoms you or your loved ones might be experiencing. Early diagnosis can make a difference.
Learn More about Bronchiectasis and NTM Lung Disease
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. See the articles and information here:
Hear from a bronchiectasis patient in this video, Living Well with Bronchiectasis
Understand COPD: FAQs
Did you know that quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do that is proven to slow COPD progression? And did you know that a person who has never smoked can develop COPD?
Learn more about COPD by visiting our COPD Frequently Asked Questions.
If you're considering quitting smoking, you'll enjoy this blog:
Exercise and COPD: It Can Be Good for You to Lace-Up for Lungs! Join us for COPD Awareness Month as we Lace-Up for Lungs: Let's Outpace COPD
Exercise Endurance: Use It or Lose It!
You know that old saying, “If you don't use it, you'll lose it”? Exercise is one of those things that you must do frequently and routinely, or you will lose endurance and stamina. Check out these resources:
Staying Active at Home/Upper Body Exercises
Staying Active at Home/Lower Body Exercises
Join the
#LaceUpforLungs Challenge
I'm ready to Lace-Up for Lungs
Learn how you can join the social challenge and spread awareness for COPD, bronchiectasis, and NTM. You can dress in your favorite bright orange gear (laces, hat, shirt, etc.), hold up your free, downloadable sign, and tell us whom you lace-up for. Is it Mom? Dad? Your neighbor? Or maybe you lace-up for yourself?
Ready to learn more about Lace-Up for Lungs? Great, let’s get moving together and spread awareness for COPD as we Lace-Up for Lungs: Let's Outpace COPD.
Watch this video from our own Mike Hess as he asks you to join us and Lace-Up for Lungs.
COPDSOS: 30 Million Americans Have COPD; Half Don't Yet Know It
COPD SOS is a public service campaign developed in partnership with the Dorney-Koppel Foundation, the COPD Foundation, and others focused on identifying the “missing millions” who have COPD but don't yet know it. Since her diagnosis in 2001, Grace Anne Dorney Koppel has been a voice for those with COPD. She and her husband, broadcast journalist Ted Koppel, created the Dorney-Koppel Foundation to bring attention to this devastating disease and lead the charge in the fight against it.
2022 COPD Awareness Month Events
Nov. 1, 4 p.m. EDT: Webinar: International Survey Highlights Patient Opinions About Tobacco Industry Ownership of Pharmaceutical Companies, brought to you by the US COPD Coalition and the COPD Foundation. Sign up: https://bit.ly/intl-patients-survey
Nov. 11, All Day: Join us and Lace-Up for Lungs in Support of Veterans. Please take a picture or video as you Lace-Up for Lungs and share it on social media to recognize veterans with COPD and other lung illnesses. #LaceUpforLungs #VeteransDay
Nov. 11, 1 p.m. EST: Veterans' Day Harmonicas for Health Play-Along. Register here: https://bit.ly/VetsDay-H4H
Nov. 16, 2022, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. EST: The COPD Foundation hosts a booth in the exhibit hall at GOLD International COPD Conference, Sheraton Philadelphia, Downtown. Conference information: https://bit.ly/GOLDCOPD-conference
Tuesday, Nov. 29, All Day: Giving Tuesday. Support Lace-Up for Lungs: Let's Outpace COPD by pledging your support for the Foundation. You can give here: https://www.copdfoundation.org/Take-Action/Donate/Lace-Up-for-Lungs-Donation.aspx
We Are Grateful for the Following Supporters of COPD Awareness Month: