COPD Awareness Month
November is National COPD Awareness month.
This month is a time to raise awareness of the disease, encourage people to recognize symptoms, and talk to a healthcare provider.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic lung disease that makes it difficult to breath. Symptoms include shortness of breath, chronic coughing and wheezing. There are four stages of COPD, mild, moderate, severe and very severe. Spirometry is a lung function test that measures how much air you can breathe in and out and is one of the diagnostic tools. At present there is no cure, but early diagnosis and treatment can improve quality of life.
The COPD Foundation is a nonprofit organisation that aims to advance research, raise awareness of COPD to try and prevent it and to advocate for COPD sufferers. You can find out more from the foundation “Anyone Can Get COPD” and “The Importance of Early Diagnosis”.
