Living with COPD
Imagine having a cough that just won’t go away – resulting in consistent exhaustion and bouts of shortness of breath, wheezing or chest tightness.1
For people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a progressive lung disease that reduces airflow in the lungs, these symptoms are all too common.1 Due to these physical challenges, COPD may also exact a daily toll on professional life and emotional well-being for those living with the condition.2,3
The Unmet Need in COPD
In 2020, ~12.5 million Americans were diagnosed with COPD.4 Yet, since it is so commonly under-diagnosed or misdiagnosed, millions of Americans living with COPD may be unaware of their condition.1,4 Left untreated or if undertreated, COPD can lead to poor symptom control, decline of lung function and harm of the airways, which is why appropriate early intervention and consistent proactive communication between patients and their doctors are so important.1
In particular, when patients experience symptoms that are worse than their normal symptoms (also known as exacerbations or flare-ups), it is critical that they recognize the warning signs and speak to their doctors immediately to receive appropriate and timely escalation of therapy.1
One Patient’s Story
In recognition of COPD Awareness Month this November, Dr. Norbert Feigler, Senior Medical Director, Respiratory at AstraZeneca sat down with Jason R., a patient living with COPD, to discuss Jason’s experiences with diagnosis, exacerbations, and importantly, how a sense of urgency, proactivity and improved dialogue with his doctors changed the trajectory of his COPD journey for the better.
Shifting toward Proactive Care
As seen first-hand in Jason’s story, developing a proactive and individualized management strategy required a two-way partnership between Jason and his healthcare provider.
For many patients like Jason, adherence to a long-term management plan can mean the difference between existing “one day at a time” and leading a fulfilling life with better breathing. To that end, it is imperative that healthcare providers emphasize a proactive approach to COPD management with their patients to reduce the risk of flare-ups.1
The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD)’s Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management and Prevention of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease report aims to address the continued challenges surrounding proper diagnosis and personalized, prompt disease management.1
Updates in the last few years include:
- Reconsidering how COPD and exacerbations are defined1
- Re-examining the importance of exacerbations in disease severity1
- Rethinking the larger potential impact of environmental factors in COPD1
This report points to a continued trend toward a more customized treatment approaches, encouraging healthcare providers to introduce treatments sooner after initial exacerbations when appropriate.
For more information about COPD and available treatment options, please talk to a healthcare provider.
References
- Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD). Global strategy for the prevention, diagnosis and management of COPD: 2023 report. United States of America. GOLD; 2023. https://goldcopd.org/2023-gold-report-2/ Accessed November 14, 2023.
- Halpin D. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Work: Is It Time to Stop? Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2019;200(10):1195-1197. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201908-1627ED.
- Pumar MI, Gray CR, Walsh JR, Yang IA, Rolls TA, Ward DL. Anxiety and depression—Important psychological comorbidities of COPD. J Thorac Dis. 2014;6(11):1615–1631. doi: 10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2014.09.28.
- American Lung Association. COPD: Trends Brief: Prevalence. 2020. https://www.lung.org/research/trends-in-lung-disease/copd-trends-brief/copd-prevalence Accessed November 14, 2023.