Landmarks around the world glow orange for COPD awareness month
Campaign promotes earlier diagnosis to protect lung health
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Throughout November, landmarks around the world will be lighting up orange to raise awareness of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Nearly 80 landmarks will be illuminated across the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the U.K. in honor of COPD Awareness month, according to the COPD Foundation, which is leading the advocacy effort.
“Each landmark illuminated in orange represents an opportunity to spark awareness, encourage conversations, and help more people recognize the signs of COPD,” Jean Wright, MD, CEO of the COPD Foundation, said in a press release. “With millions of people living with undiagnosed COPD, increasing awareness is critical. These orange lights serve as a powerful reminder that earlier diagnosis, advances in treatment, and continued research can help people breathe better and live healthier lives.”
Campaign includes webinars, advocacy toolkit
Lighting up monuments and buildings is just one aspect of the foundation’s campaign for this year’s awareness month.
Other parts of this campaign include a webinar for healthcare providers on Nov. 10 and a webinar for patients and caregivers on Nov. 17. The foundation has also created an advocacy toolkit to help people affected by COPD raise awareness in their communities and online.
“This year, the COPD Foundation and partners are celebrating the power of orange as a symbol of the movement to improve lung health,” the foundation said on its campaign website. “This 2026 theme for COPD Awareness Month highlights the many ways we can expand awareness of COPD through advocacy, treatment access, early diagnosis, research, and more.”
Affecting millions of people, COPD is a disorder marked by chronic inflammation in the lungs, which leads to symptoms such as cough and shortness of breath.
Too many people are diagnosed only after they have lost lung function, and too many are blocked from the treatments their doctors prescribe by insurance red tape.
In Tennessee, roughly 1 in 10 adults have COPD, representing one of the highest rates in the U.S. The disease is the fourth-leading cause of death in the state.
Tennessee’s governor, Bill Lee, has recently proclaimed November as COPD Awareness Month.
“COPD takes a tremendous toll on Tennesseans and the loved ones who care for them,” Lee said in a press release from the COPD Action Alliance. “Recognizing November as COPD Awareness Month reinforces our commitment to improving lung health, expanding prevention and early diagnosis, and ensuring Tennesseans can access the care they need.”
The COPD Action Alliance applauded the proclamation and asked state leaders for action.
“Too many people are diagnosed only after they have lost lung function, and too many are blocked from the treatments their doctors prescribe by insurance red tape,” said Sarah Hoffman, director of the COPD Action Alliance. “We urge lawmakers in Nashville and Washington to expand early screening, end the insurance barriers that delay care and make lung health the priority it should be.”
Program helps patients navigate lung disease
The American Lung Association is also campaigning for COPD Awareness Month in the lead-up to World COPD Day on Nov. 18, with an effort to highlight its Lung Health Navigator program. This program pairs patients with experts who can help them better understand their disease and management options.
“Our Lung Health Navigators are healthcare providers such as registered nurses and respiratory therapists who provide personalized support, guidance and resources to help people throughout their journey with COPD,” Nicole Goldsboro, the association’s director of nationwide lung disease programs, said in an emailed statement to COPD News Today. “Support is tailored to each person but can include understanding treatment options, preparing for conversations with healthcare providers and navigating healthcare decisions.”
According to the American Lung Association, more than 600 people with COPD have already received support through the program, and the vast majority have reported that it improved their life quality.
“To ensure our programs and services are effective and impactful, the Lung Association evaluates our programs and services annually,” Goldsboro said. “We found that after completing the program and working one-on-one with a Navigator, people report their symptoms are better managed and COPD has less of a burden on their daily life.”
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