The burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on society is increasing. November marks National COPD Awareness Month! COPD, a progressive life-threatening lung disease that causes breathlessness, is the third leading cause of death in the United States. 

The main cause of COPD is tobacco smoke, so if you smoke or used to smoke, you are at a higher risk of having COPD. Exposure to air pollution in the home or at work, family history, and respiratory infections like pneumonia also increase your risk.

Here are some educational articles about COPD:

COPD: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment: https://www.cdc.gov/features/copd-awareness-month/index.html

For National COPD Awareness Month, Learn How COPD is a Risk Factor to Respiratory Compromise: http://www.respiratorycompromise.org/2017/11/national-copd-awareness-month-learn-copd-risk-factor-respiratory-compromise/

Impacts of COPD on Family Carers and Supportive Interventions: A Narrative Review: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/hsc.12292

Informal Caregivers of Patients with COPD: Home Sweet Home?: https://err.ersjournals.com/content/24/137/498

COPD and You: Managing Your Symptoms: https://www.healthline.com/health/copd/and-you-symptom-management#1

Coping with COPD: https://www.copdfoundation.org/Learn-More/I-am-a-Person-with-COPD/Coping-with-COPD.aspx