November is COPD Awareness Month, and the COPD Foundation is inviting physicians, patients and other supporters to join forces to champion lung health research, education and advocacy for this disease that affects more than 30 million Americans.
Although the disease is the third leading cause of death worldwide, there is little awareness of the symptoms, risk factors and disease management techniques available for treatment. Increased public awareness during the month of November helps drive funding for critical research and treatments, encourages early diagnosis and raises awareness of educational and support resources.
COPD Awareness Month activities and opportunities include:
- The Lace Up for Lungs Challenge. This online exercise challenge encourages people of all ages and ability levels to be physically active for 30 minutes every day in November.
- COPD Education Resources. The COPD Foundation provides free resources about COPD risk factors, a symptom checker, guides for living well with COPD, smoking cessation tools and more.
- Light the Night Orange for COPD. Lung health champions across the United States are encouraged to light their city halls, bridges or other local landmarks orange throughout November.
- Social Media. The COPD Awareness Month social media toolkit includes pre-written posts, images, banners and information about lung health and early diagnosis. The COPD Foundation's official social media will also announce more free webinars and advocacy activities throughout November.
- Wear Orange Day. Nov. 15 is World COPD Day and Wear Orange Day. People are encouraged to wear orange on November 15 and share photos on social media.
Lace Up for Lungs is supported by The Marilyn Lichtman Foundation, Theravance Biopharma, Inc., Insmed Incorporated and Viatris Inc.
