Focusing on education, action for this year’s COPD Awareness Month
COPD Foundation, American Lung Association offering slate of programs
November marks COPD Awareness Month in the U.S. — a time, advocates say, to educate communities, inspire action, and support those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). World COPD Day will be observed Nov. 19.
Each November, the COPD Foundation and the lung health community lead a monthlong campaign to increase awareness, encourage early diagnosis, and support research and advocacy for COPD and two other chronic lung conditions, namely, bronchiectasis and nontuberculous mycobacterial (NMT) lung disease.
This year, the foundation’s campaign features a series of weekly themes, each focusing on a key aspect of COPD awareness and education. The themes span from exploring what COPD is to spotlighting innovation in therapies, patient resources, and health and wellness for those with chronic lung disease.
“You can help by joining us to spread the word about COPD and chronic lung disease awareness, prevention, and treatment,” the foundation states on its awareness month webpage.
Supporters are encouraged to download educational materials and print copies of informational flyers to share with others in their community, with the aim of increasing COPD awareness. All are also invited to take a five-question risk screener to assess whether they are likely to develop COPD.
The COPD Foundation’s Lace Up for Lungs initiative, which began as a challenge during a past awareness month, has now grown into a year-round movement encouraging people of all ages and abilities to stay active for better lung health and well-being.
Launched in collaboration with the Bronchiectasis and NTM Association, the initiative aims to remind people that movement is for everyone. Its goal is to inspire individuals to find joy in motion while turning that joy into impact for those living with chronic lung disease.
“There are many ways to be part of the Lace Up for Lungs movement,” the foundation states on the initiative’s webpage. “Choose what inspires you and take the first step toward healthier lungs and stronger communities.”
A series of Days of Movement will be held throughout the year, encouraging people everywhere to stay active and connected in support of lung health. Supporters can also connect through the Lace Up for Lungs Facebook group, start local movement clubs with friends or coworkers, donate to support lung health programs, and follow the association on social media for updates, resources, and future events.
ALA’s ‘Lung Health Navigator’ providing one-on-one support
The American Lung Association (ALA) will also be doing its part to raise awareness this month. The nonprofit also invites supporters to participate in awareness, education, and advocacy efforts aimed at improving understanding and care for those affected by COPD.
The association offers several ways to take part in this year’s campaign, including learning about taking care of emotional health in COPD, the benefits of physical activity, and how to advocate for lung health.
“During COPD Awareness Month, people across the U.S. can take a moment to learn a little bit about the disease, including the early warning signs, and then share that information with someone who could be at risk for the disease,” Nicole Goldsboro, ALA’s director of nationwide lung disease programs, said in an emailed statement to COPD News Today.
“If you, or someone you know, is experiencing shortness of breath, a cough that produces mucus, chest tightness, or reoccurring lung infections like bronchitis or pneumonia, it is vital to share these symptoms with a healthcare provider,” Goldsboro said. “Early treatment leads to better health outcomes.”
During COPD Awareness Month, people across the U.S. can take a moment to learn a little bit about the disease, including the early warning signs, and then share that information with someone who could be at risk for the disease.
ALA also highlights its free learning opportunities for patients and caregivers, with topics such as COPD basics, tips to live well with COPD, and guidance on preventing or recovering from COPD exacerbations.
In addition, the association provides training and educational tools for healthcare and public health professionals to support best practices in COPD prevention, diagnosis, and care.
This year, the ALA “is excited to highlight its Lung Health Navigator program,” Goldsboro said, which offers people with COPD free one-on-one education and support from healthcare professionals, including nurses, respiratory therapists, and tobacco treatment specialists.
Patients can meet with these navigators “over the phone, through an online chat, or via a video call, depending on an individual’s preference and schedule,” Goldsboro said. “The program has already been successful in providing critical support, reducing symptoms, and improving the lives of people with COPD.”
World COPD Day on Nov. 19 extending spotlight globally
Beyond the U.S., the spotlight on COPD extends globally with World COPD Day, organized each year by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) in partnership with clinicians and patient groups around the world.
This year’s theme — “Short of Breath, Think COPD” — seeks to emphasize that while COPD remains the third leading cause of death globally, it often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.
“It is important to ‘Think COPD’ for earlier diagnosis and better outcomes,” GOLD states on the initiative’s webpage. “A diagnosis of COPD should be considered in any patient who has shortness of breath, chronic cough or sputum production, a history of recurrent lower respiratory infections and/or a history of exposure to risk factors like tobacco, cooking fuels, or occupational hazards.”
GOLD also provides a World COPD Day graphic and details about the Big Baton Pass, a Nov. 19 global challenge to raise awareness of COPD and highlight the benefits of staying active for better lung health.
Participants can contribute to a collective effort by recording their own activity, such as walking, biking, or swimming, in miles, minutes, or steps. During the day-long event, which in past years has included live streams, presentations, and interactive sessions, a virtual baton will be passed among countries hosting teams.
“COPD Canada is proud to be a participant [in] this year’s international COPD awareness campaign,” the association states on its initiative webpage.
In Canada, the recent approval of Dupixent (dupilumab) marks a new reason for celebration. The therapy is the first to be approved for COPD in the country in more than a decade.
As in the U.S. and other countries, the therapy is cleared for use in Canada as an add-on maintenance treatment for adults with poorly controlled COPD and high counts of immune cells called eosinophils.
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