COPD Foundation

1 out of every 8 Americans over 45 has COPD, and roughly half do not know they have it. If you’re experiencing shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, or fatigue, visit copdfoundation.org to find out more information - it could save your life.

Because if you breathe, you should know about COPD.

COPD Foundation | Take Action Today. Breathe Better Tomorrow. The COPD Foundation’s mission is to help millions of people live longer and healthier lives by advancing research, advocacy, and awareness to stop COPD, bronchiectasis, and NTM lung disease.

Join our virtual events this month! Our free online social events gather our community informally to catch up, get to know each other, provide education, and ask your most pressing health related questions. You can join from your computer, tablet, phone, or any device with an internet connection.

BronchandNTM360social Coffee Break - Wednesday, August 14 at 3 p.m. Eastern Time. A group for those in the bronchiectasis and NTM lung disease communities. Register here: https://copdf.co/Bronch-NTM-support

OxyTalk Social Hour - Wednesday, August 14 at 4 p.m. Eastern Time. A group for those on oxygen therapy. Send any questions ahead of time to [email protected]. Register here: https://copdf.co/oxy-talk

COPD360Social Hour - Thursday, August 15 at 5 p.m. Eastern Time. A group for everyone in our COPD community to make friends, catch up, and answer your most pressing questions. Bring your harmonica for a Harmonicas for Health play-along to take place after the group discussion. Register here: https://copdf.co/360-social

NEW! Harmonicas for Health Play-along - Thursday, August 29 at 3 p.m. Eastern Time. Did you know that playing the harmonica can help strengthen the muscles that help you breathe? Join us to learn how to play the harmonica and practice with a group. Register here: https://copdf.co/H4H-meetups

Today is Purple Heart Day. Celebrated August 7, Purple Heart Day recognizes those who were severely wounded, or gave their life, while serving our country. We honor those in our community who have served and received this award. Thank you for your service and sacrifice.

Did you know that people with COPD are more likely to develop symptoms and complications of shingles?

Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the herpes zoster virus in people who have previously had chickenpox. It can cause an itchy, painful rash among other complications. Learn more today and help protect yourself and others by taking our free, 15-minute E-course.

Sign up to take the course-

copdfoundation.myabsorb.com

People with breathing problems: Have you had trouble using your inhaled medications? How about sticking with treatment plans? It turns out that many health care providers may not have enough training on how devices work. They may also not be fully informed about all the options available, so there may be better options for your care.

Share this video with your prescriber today and you could be breathing better tomorrow!

The Aerosol Challenge Inhaled medications are a foundational therapy in the management of COPD and other respiratory conditions. However, patients face many barriers to using thei...

Join our online community, BronchandNTM360social. Connect with others, receive support, participate in research, chat with experts and more! Plus, each month we gather for a virtual “coffee break” to offer feedback, support and education.

Happy Day!


https://copdf.co/BronchandNTM360social

Happy World NTM Awareness Day! Check out our new podcast – the latest episode features Dr. Timothy Aksamit, medical director of Bronchiectasis and NTM 360. He discusses who is at risk of developing NTM lung disease, summer care, high-risk activities and how to keep yourself safe.

Listen at copdf.co/Bronch-NTM-Podcast

Learn more about hemoptysis (coughing up blood from the lungs or airways) in this webinar featuring Dr. Mark Metersky, Chief of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine and Director of the Center for Bronchiectasis Care at UConn Health.

Join us in recognizing on August 4!

https://copdf.co/hemoptysis

Want to communicate better with your health care providers? Download our NTM Lung Disease Management Tool to help guide conversations about diagnosis, symptom management and treatment. It also includes tips for living with NTM lung disease.

Don’t forget on August 4!

https://copdf.co/NTMmanagement

Did you know that the COPD Foundation has educational videos demonstrating proper inhaler and nebulizer use? If you're looking for a reliable place to find how-to videos for using your devices or helping those in your care, be sure to bookmark this page!

View the video library: https://copdf.co/videos

Hear a first-hand account of what it’s like to have NTM lung disease from someone living with NTM and an expert in the field. Learn more about NTM lung disease symptoms, treatment strategies and follow-up guidelines in honor of on August 4.

https://copdf.co/NTMvideo

Health care professionals, did you know that those with COPD are about 16 times more likely to get NTM lung disease?

The NTM Lung Disease 101 provides free information for providers about the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of NTM lung disease.

Save the date for on August 4.

Download the NTM Lung Disease 101 deck at https://copdf.co/NTM-101

The Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform Act (SOAR Act, H.R. 7829) recently gained a new co-sponsor: Congressman Bill Posey of Florida! Thank you, Congressman Posey, for supporting individuals who require supplemental oxygen at home and in their communities!

We’d also like to recognize COPD Foundation Florida State Captain, Karen Deitemeyer, who has been championing these efforts for the state of Florida.

Learn more about the SOAR act and contact your representatives to support it today: https://copdf.co/SOAR-Act

Congressman Bill Posey

Want to learn more about NTM lung disease? This helpful video series with NTM lung disease expert, Dr. Pamela McShane, will give you a brief overview of the disease and discusseshow to identify, treat and manage the disease.

Celebrate on August 4!

https://copdf.co/NTM-intro

How much do you know about NTM lung disease? NTM is a bacteria that can be found in soil and water sources that, if breathed in, can cause an infection. Learn more about NTM lung disease including symptoms, diagnosis and how it can be managed as we get ready for World NTM Day on August 4. Download your free information sheet now: https://copdf.co/NTMInfoSheet

Have you used a portable oxygen concentrator? We want your thoughts!

The COPD Foundation would like to hear from our community about their experience with use of portable oxygen concentrators (POC) for supplemental oxygen therapy. Take our 5-minute survey and share your opinions on this important topic.

Click the link to take the survey: https://copdf.co/O2-survey

For 20 years, the COPD Foundation has been supporting the lung health community through resources, community, advocacy, research, and support.

Wisconsin State Captain John Linnell champions lung health and encourages those with COPD to live their best lives. A robust policy and research advocate, John has lobbied on Capitol Hill for Medicare coverage of COPD expenses. He participated in the National Institute of Health (NIH) Town Hall to help create the National Action Plan for COPD, and was a voting Patient Reviewer in the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program. He was also the Patient Investigator for a research study with the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) along with Johns Hopkins.

Throughout his journey with Stage 4 COPD, John has found comfort and encouragement in peer support groups, and encourages others to do the same. He emphasizes the importance of educating the public on the warning signs of COPD, and the value of informing “COPDers” of all their options, including different treatments, the value of exercise, and where they can find and participate in peer support groups.

For more information about how you can become a lung health champion or join our community, visit copdfoundation.org.

Spread the word about our new Bronchiectasis and NTM Care Center Network with your pulmonologist and infectious disease specialist!

Our Care Center Network is now accepting applications from health care centers and pulmonology and infectious disease clinics. These centers will form a network across the U.S. that provide high-quality care for those with bronchiectasis and NTM lung disease.

Just 1 week left for centers to apply! The application deadline is July 31.

Share this post and info with your care team! https://copdf.co/Bronch-NTM-CCN

This year, the COPD Foundation celebrates 20 years of helping millions live longer, healthier lives. At the heart of our mission is YOU— lung health champions who give a voice to all in our community.

One special champion is COPD Foundation’s West Virginia State Captain, Caroline Gainer.

Caroline advocates with both local and national leaders to advance COPD policy. She recently has promoted the Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act (H.R 7829/S. 3821), which is a bill to help improve access to supplemental oxygen supplies and services.

A gifted writer, Caroline writes a column called, “Life Tethered to a Concentrator,” which highlights her experiences living with COPD. In it, she encourages others with chronic lung disease to live their best lives and focus on what they CAN do, rather than what they can’t.

Caroline is active in the COPD Foundation’s online community, COPD360social, where she connects with and inspires others facing this journey. She also participates in the COPD Foundation Patient-Powered Research Network (PPRN), which connects individuals with COPD with opportunities to participate in research and clinical trials.

For more information about how you can become a lung health champion or join our community, visit copdfoundation.org.

We want your thoughts! Have you used a portable oxygen concentrator? The COPD Foundation would like to hear from our community about their experience with use of portable oxygen concentrators (POC) for supplemental oxygen therapy. Take our 5-minute survey and share your opinions on this important topic.

Click the link to take the survey: https://copdf.co/O2-survey

Meet Bambi, a respiratory therapist from North Carolina, who has taken her husband’s COPD and bronchiectasis diagnosis and turned it into a passion for raising awareness for chronic lung diseases.

She also turns shoelaces into lanyards, bracelets and key chains and donates the profits to research. Read Bambi's story: https://copdf.co/BambiM

Join us on Friday, 7/19 at 12pm ET for a FREE program on important gaps in the differential diagnosis and management of .

Register now on Medlive: https://bit.ly/4c38Xl6

Spread the word about our new Bronchiectasis and NTM Care Center Network with your pulmonologist and infectious disease specialist!

Our Care Center Network is now accepting applications from health care centers and pulmonology and infectious disease clinics. These centers will form a network across the U.S. that provide high-quality care for those with bronchiectasis and NTM lung disease.

The July 31 application deadline is approaching quickly!

Share this post and info with your care team! https://copdf.co/Bronch-NTM-CCN

Bronchiectasis and NTM Care Center Network | General Information To establish a network of centers across the country, with the goal of reducing the time to diagnosis and supporting high-quality bronchiectasis and nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease care.

Did you know that the COPD Foundation offers easy-to-understand materials to help people with lung disease? Many of these free resources are downloadable for ease of reading on your computer, tablet, or mobile device. Whether you or someone you know has been recently diagnosed or just looking to learn more, this check-in can help get you started.

Read the article: https://www.copdfoundation.org/COPD360social/Community/Questions-and-Answers/Check-In-Resource-Round-Up.aspx

Today is Disability Awareness Day, an opportunity to celebrate diversity and the contributions of people who are differently abled. Not all disabilities are visible, and many people who have chronic lung disease face challenges that others may not see.

We invite you to join Partners for Advancing Health Equity for a webinar that will bring together experts to discuss the health needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and how to best serve them. “Access for All: Centering the Perspectives of Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Health Equity” will be held on Tuesday, July 16 at 2 pm Eastern Time. Learn more and register to attend here: https://copdf.co/IDD-webinar

Show your support for World Bronchiectasis Day, World Oxygen Day and Lace Up For Lungs with items from our online store, including hats and shirts to water bottles, stickers, bags and more!

Bonus! Shop from July 12-17 and get 🆓 shipping on all orders.

Shop: https://copdf.co/merch

A new COPD treatment has been FDA approved. On June 26, Verona Pharmaceuticals announced that its new medication, Ensifentrine (Ohtuvayre), was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the maintenance treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Ensifentrine works in two main ways to help people breathe better.* Learn more in our article.

Read the article: https://copdf.co/Ensifentrine

*The COPD Foundation does not endorse any specific medication; the information provided is for general purposes only. Individuals should consult their health care provider before making any medical decisions.