Its as easy as starting a conversation
with friends, family or neighbors.
Identifying with others that have COPD
will help them become educated, and
empower them to take control of their
lives and their disease.
For years, COPD has been incorrectly
characterized as a disease of old people.
The truth is that of the 210 million people with
COPD worldwide, more than half are between
the ages of 40 and 65. As primary supporters
of their families and wage earners at critical
points in their careers, these individuals with
COPD face unique challenges.
Patients with COPD have an increased
risk of developing diabetes, and the risk
appears to exist regardless of the severity of
COPD. For example, a large population study
published in 2008 found that people with
COPD had almost a double risk of being
diagnosed with diabetes. Similarly, almost half
of all COPD patients suffer from other medical
problems frequently linked to diabetes, such
as elevated blood pressure and higher levels
of cholesterol.
In December of 2009, with the passing of
Thomas L. Petty, MD, the world of pulmonary
medicine lost a true icon. Beginning with
his graduation from medical school in 1958,
Dr. Tom (as many patients and colleagues
affectionately knew him) enjoyed a career
that spanned more than five decades.
Worldwide, over 3 billion people are
exposed to toxic smoke from their
traditional cookstoves. Breathing in this
toxic mix of chemicals daily causes the
premature death of over 1.9 million people
each year, many from COPD, according to
the World Health Organization (WHO).
Billy Ray Cyrus was a teenager when his
grandfather Eldon passed away, but he will
always remember watching him deteriorate
from lung disease.
Larry Mandt says his father, Bob Mandt, was
the kind of man who treated everyone with
patience and respect.
