World COPD Day Gives Time to Reflect on Successes

November 15, 2010

The National Institutes of Health has recently reported the COPD awareness is on the rise. That’s good news, but still up to 30% of the U.S. population doesn’t know what COPD is.

As we celebrate World COPD Day this week, the AARC asks you to think about the successes we’ve all shared in this year.

• An extraordinary effort in the Drive4COPDcampaign.
• Events and activities were held for World Spirometry Day.
• A big splash at the annual AARP Life@50 show.
• More tools and education developed for respiratory therapists.

COPD is the 4th leading cause of death. “COPD kills more than 120,000 adults each year. That’s one death every four minutes—more than breast cancer and diabetes combined. Yet people go undiagnosed and untreated because they don’t recognize the symptoms,” said James P. Kiley, Ph.D., director of the NHLBI's Division of Lung Diseases.

AARC’s commitment to COPD awareness continues and we encourage your participation to patient education and identifying disease in the undiagnosed.