What is COPD?
What is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)?
Drs. Jim Kiley and Tony Punturieri from NHLBI’s Division of Lung Diseases explain what you need to know about COPD.
An overview of COPD — including risk factors, signs and symptoms, and treatment options.
How COPD Affects Breathing
Learn about COPD's effects on the lungs and common COPD symptoms with this animated video.
COPD is a disease that makes it harder to breathe. COPD is also known as chronic bronchitis or emphysema.
COPD PSAs
Lower Your COPD Risk at Any Age
Take action to lower your risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and protect your lungs for life.
COPD Flare-Ups: How Caregivers Can Prepare
Preparing in advance will help you and your loved one during and after a COPD emergency.
Caregiving and COPD: Visiting the Doctor
If you or someone you love is diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), make the most of doctor visits.
Managing the Home of Someone with COPD
A chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) diagnosis can mean more time indoors. Learn how to keep your loved one's home safe.
How Do I Help a Person I'm Caring for Manage COPD?
If you or someone you love is diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), information makes all the difference
Self-Care for COPD Caregivers
When caring for someone with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), it's important to take care of yourself, too.
Recognize the early symptoms of COPD
Common symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath, ongoing coughing, chest tightness, or a combination of all.
What is COPD?
COPD is a serious lung disease that includes two main conditions — chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
Learn About Spirometry
A simple lung function test called spirometry can check how well your lungs are working.
Learn About Pulmonary Rehabilitation
With pulmonary rehabilitation, people with COPD can improve their quality of life.
Does This Sound Like You?
If you or a loved one have signs and symptoms, talk with a health care provider.
Are Your Lungs Trying to Tell You Something?
COPD is a serious lung disease that makes it hard to breathe.
Raise Awareness About Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Watch this video to learn more about COPD.
Radio PSAs
30-Second Live-Read Radio Script
The human voice can be sweet as music, but not for the millions of people with COPD – a serious lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. Many people with COPD – including some here in [COMMUNITY] – have it and don’t know. That’s why [RADIO STATION] is raising our voices to help increase early diagnosis and treatment. If you or a loved one show symptoms, contact a health care provider. Learn More Breathe Better at nhlbi-dot-nih-dot-gov-slash-breath-better or [INSERT ORGANIZATION LINK].
15-Second Live-Read Radio Script
The human voice can be sweet as music, but not for millions with COPD – a lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. Yet millions go undiagnosed. That’s why [RADIO STATION] is raising our voices for COPD awareness in [COMMUNITY]. Learn More Breathe Better at nhlbi-dot-nih-dot-gov-slash-breath-better or [INSERT ORGANIZATION LINK].
Sample Message for Outreach to Media
Use this messaging to encourage local media outlets to use the customizable live-reads or run PSAs.
[MEDIA OUTLET],
Please consider running the Learn More Breathe Better program’s PSAs this November and whenever possible to increase awareness of COPD symptoms and encourage discussions with health care providers.
Discuss COPD and encourage your [VISITORS/LISTENERS/READERS] to take notice of the signs and symptoms of COPD and educate them that the first step to breathing better is talking to their health care provider. The more common these conversations become, the more people will be able to recognize the signs and symptoms and have important conversations in the health care setting.
The Learn More Breathe Better program is an education and awareness initiative of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health. [ORGANIZATION NAME] is a partner of the program as a member of the Breathe Better Network.
We encourage you to make your [VISITORS/LISTENERS/READERS] aware of the symptoms of COPD throughout the fall and winter, when tasks like raking leaves or shoveling snow can leave those with COPD struggling for air, or during cold and flu season when people with COPD are particularly susceptible to becoming seriously ill.
Help your [VISITORS/LISTENERS/READERS] take the first step to breathing better. For more information about COPD, visit [INSERT ORGANIZATION LINK] or the Learn More Breathe Better program at nhlbi.nih.gov/breathebetter
COPD Journey Series
This video series, COPD Journey: From Learning More to Breathing Better, features NHLBI scientists talking about COPD, its diagnosis, management, and prevalence, as well as the COPD National Action Plan and the Institute’s commitment to reducing the burden of the disease. Share these videos on social media using #COPDjourney.
The Basics of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Lisa Postow, MD, discusses the basics of COPD and how it affects the lungs.
How is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Antonello Punturieri, MD, discusses the signs, symptoms, and diagnosis of COPD.
Taking a Spirometry Test
Antonello Punturieri, MD, demonstrates how to take a simple lung test to diagnose COPD.
How Can Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Be
Gail Weinmann, MD, discusses how to manage symptoms of COPD.
Causes and Risk Factors of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
Tom Croxton, MD, PhD, discusses the causes and risk factors of COPD.
What’s Ahead for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD
Jim Kiley, MD, discusses the COPD National Action Plan.
Hear from Breathe Better Network Partners
This 7-video series features interviews with Network members whose organizations are working to address COPD and move the COPD National Action Plan forward. Featured organizations include the American Lung Association, Atrium Health, The COPD Foundation, The Dorney-Koppel Foundation, and the Respiratory Health Association. These videos focus on key challenges and themes in our Learn More Breathe Better COPD work. Share these videos using the hashtag #BreatheBetter and tag the Learn More Breathe Better program, @BreatheBetter in your posts.
The Impact of the COPD National Action Plan
The COPD National Action Plan is uniting key stakeholders in the fight against the disease.
How Can We Help People Recognize Signs of COPD?
Earlier diagnosis and treatment of COPD can make a big difference.
The Future of COPD Research and Treatment
Dr. Jim Kiley discusses NHLBI’s work to advance the future of COPD research and treatment.
Breathing Better with a COPD Diagnosis
Why is talking to your doctor about your COPD diagnosis so important?
How Does a COPD Diagnosis Affect the Person’s Loved Ones?
Joel Africk discusses what a COPD diagnosis means for the person’s family.
A Message to People Living with COPD and their Caregivers
Dr. Jim Kiley and others share their messages of support for people living with COPD.
Partnering in the Fight Against COPD
More than 16 million Americans have been diagnosed with COPD, and millions more may have it and don’t know.