As the crisp autumn air settles in, November brings more than just falling leaves and pumpkin spice lattes. It marks National COPD Awareness Month, a time to shine a spotlight on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) – a group of lung diseases that affects millions of Americans and their loved ones.
COPD, which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis, is a progressive condition that makes breathing difficult and can significantly impact quality of life. The numbers are sobering:
- Over 16 million Americans have been diagnosed with COPD, and millions more may be undiagnosed.
- COPD is a leading cause of death in the United States.
- It accounts for an estimated 150,000 deaths annually.
In honor of National COPD Awareness Month, we’re highlighting valuable resources to help you better understand COPD and manage its symptoms. Whether you’re looking for tips on lifestyle adjustments, the latest treatment options, or advice on using nebulizers and other lung care accessories, our blog roundup has you covered. Dive into our collection and take the next step in breathing easier this season.
National COPD Month: What You Need to Know
November is National COPD Awareness Month, an annual campaign that aims to spread awareness about the chronic lung condition that affects millions of people across the globe. Multiple agencies support the campaign with their own annual themes, and even citizens can get involved in the fight against COPD! Here’s what you need to know.
Understanding Emphysema
As one of the two major forms of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), this chronic lung condition can cause difficulty breathing, reduce your physical activity, and even lead to an early death. Like most major health problems, the first step to managing Emphysema is understanding it. Here’s what you need to know.
Snoring and COPD: How They’re Connected and What You Can Do About It
While snoring can be a source of amusement (or annoyance) for those around you, for people with COPD, asthma, or other respiratory conditions, it might be a sign of something more serious – sleep apnea. Let’s dive into the connection between snoring and these conditions and share some tips to help you breathe easier, day and night.
Is Bronchitis Really COPD?
You have a wet, hacking cough, an aching chest, and a fresh diagnosis of Bronchitis from your family doctor. You know you feel miserable, but what else does that mean? Is this a temporary illness or a sign of something bigger, like COPD? Find the answers here.
The Four Stages of COPD
Like many conditions, some cases of COPD are more severe than others. To determine the severity and proper treatment of each case, your doctor will classify the “stage” of your COPD using a grading system known as the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD). The GOLD system aims to classify the severity of COPD cases by examining several factors, including symptoms, lung function, and frequency of flare-ups.
Calming the Cough that Comes with COPD
Persistent coughing is a common symptom of COPD. While irritating, a COPD cough serves an essential purpose by loosening and expelling this mucus to keep the airways clear. For this reason, it’s not recommended that COPD patients use over-the-counter cough medications to suppress a constant cough. But here’s what you can do to calm your cough safely and breathe a little easier.
Flu Season and COPD Exacerbations
For COPD sufferers, getting the flu can be downright deadly. As these patients are at higher risk for getting the flu than the rest of the population, being prepared for flu season is extremely important. With flu season upon us, here’s what you need to know about flu season and COPD.