Not only is November COPD Awareness Month, but November 18th is World COPD Day. This annual event is organized by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) to improve awareness about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Each year GOLD chooses a theme, and this year’s theme is “Living Well with COPD – Everybody, Everywhere.” Our goal is to send a message of hope to patients and providers throughout the world that despite not having a cure (yet!), patients with COPD can still live well.
We have more treatments than ever for the disease. We also know that interventions like pulmonary rehabilitation can significantly improve the physical and mental well-being of COPD patients. We all have a role to play. As citizens, we can be advocates for clean air. Care providers, patients, and families can advocate for more research and better access to care. Policymakers can work together to improve the availability of essential medicines and other treatments, particularly for patients in remote settings. More information about World COPD Day can be found here, https://goldcopd.org/world-copd-day/.
Information on COPD Awareness month and how you can join the conversation can be found here https://www.copdfoundation.org/Take-Action/Get-Involved/COPD-Awareness-Month.aspx.