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November 17th, 2004
Contacts:
Andy Weisser, (818) 703-6444, aweisser@earthlink.net
www.californialung.org
or your local American Lung Association at (800) LUNG-USA.
Free Care Packages Encourage People to Learn
about Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Lung Function Tests; Family and Friend Support are Crucial
Editor/Reporter Note: Related interviews and b-roll images are available for news outlets for no charge at www.thenewsmarket.com/ala.
Oakland, CA (November 17, 2004) Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of smokers are not concerned about developing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), America’s fourth ranking cause of death, even though more than half of them (55 percent) experience at least one of the symptoms of COPD a minimum of once a week, according to a national independent survey conducted on behalf of the American Lung Association and ALTANA Pharma US.
“The survey results are alarming. A majority of smokers who could have COPD are ignoring the signs,” said Timothy A. Morris, MD, a volunteer with the American Lung Association of California who is president of its medical section, the California Thoracic Society. “As the most common cause of COPD, smoking is responsible for 80 to 90 percent of all COPD deaths. COPD claims the lives of more than 120,000 Americans annually. Smokers and their friends and family need to recognize this problem.”
COPD is a term referring to a large group of lung diseases characterized by obstruction to airflow that interferes with normal breathing. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the most important conditions that compose COPD and they may co-exist, hence physicians prefer the term COPD. Primary symptoms of COPD include chronic cough, shortness of breath, a greater effort to breathe, increased mucus production, and frequent clearing of the throat.
For their second annual educational partnership to raise public awareness about COPD and the importance of early diagnosis, the American Lung Association and ALTANA Pharma US have launched the “Hungry For Air: Care. Share. Commit.” care packages designed to encourage smokers and friends and family members of smokers to become more knowledgeable of COPD and to seek diagnosis and treatment options that may help lead to longer, more active lives. Care packages are available by calling 1-877-COPD-INFO or by visiting www.lungusa.org.
COPD Deaths are Increasing
It is estimated that COPD will be the third largest cause of death worldwide by 2020. “Despite the fact that COPD deaths have increased in the United States over the past three decades, more than half (51 percent) of smokers are unaware of the disease,” Dr. Morris said.
Recent data indicates that for the third consecutive year, the number of deaths due to COPD was higher among women than men. “In 2002 61,422 females died compared to 59,133 males,” Dr. Morris said. “The number one way to slow the progression of this disease is to stop smoking.”
Family and Friend Support Matters
According to the national survey, 10 percent of smokers have a relative or close friend who has been diagnosed with COPD; however, Dr. Morris suggests that the percentage is probably much higher due to the fact that many cases of COPD go undiagnosed. According to the American Lung Association, in 2002, 11.2 million adults in the United States were estimated to have COPD, however 24 million adults revealed evidence of impaired lung function, which indicates that COPD is undiagnosed in nearly half the people who may have it.
“Many smokers or ex-smokers may harbor feelings of guilt, shame, or fear and will often ignore or misinterpret the signs of COPD,” Dr. Morris said. “Family and friend support can go a long way in encouraging someone to consult with their physicians or ask to see a pulmonologist. Early diagnosis can open the door to treatment options that can improve the quality of life.”
“Hungry For Air: Care. Share. Commit.”
“Patients with COPD often tell me they feel hungry for air all the time, as if they were breathing through a straw,” said Dr. Morris. “They never feel like they have caught their breath. Breathing is uncomfortable for them, so they stop doing the things they enjoy. They miss out a lot on life,” he added.
To symbolize this statement and to help people easily pass along information to their friends and family, the American Lung Association and ALTANA Pharma US have developed a free care package that includes a 10-minute calling card; a “Hungry For Air: Sharing The Facts About COPD” informational card with COPD key facts and questions to ask; and a plastic drinking straw to illustrate how difficult it is to breathe when suffering from COPD.
The questions on the informational cards allow individuals to better determine if they have any of the symptoms associated with COPD. If “yes” is the answer to one or more of the questions, they are encouraged to ask their physician for a lung function test. Questions within the card include: Are you a current or former smoker; do you frequently experience a deep, chronic wet cough; when completing routine activities, such as climbing a flight of stairs, are you short of breath; do you live in a heavy smog/high-ozone area; and does your chest get tight in cold weather, or do you find it difficult to breathe in cold weather?
Not Just Smoking
Other risk factors of COPD include occupational hazards, air pollution, second-hand smoke, history of childhood respiratory infections and heredity. “Researchers are identifying certain genetic traits that make individuals more likely to develop the disease,” Dr. Morris said.
Emerging evidence indicates that COPD also is a disease of systemic inflammation dominated by the production of neutrophils, which may cause epithelial and endothelial damage and lung remodeling.
“Supporting vital research is one way people can help victims of this disease,” said Dr. Morris.
About the Survey
The national independent survey included 506 respondents, comprised of 252 smokers who live with children under the age of 18 and 254 non-smokers who have a close friend or relative that smokes. It was conducted in August 2004 by market research firm, Decision Analyst, Inc., on behalf of the American Lung Association and ALTANA Pharma US. The survey results provide a confidence level of 95 percent +/- 6 percent.
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If you start having mild breathing problems--such as mucus (phlegm), wheeze, shortness of breath, or any cough that lasts more than a month--see your health care provider. Start dealing with these lung health issues when they are mild problems, because there is more damage as they progress, and it cannot be reversed.
A simple, painless test called spirometry diagnoses chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Neither a physical exam or a chest x-ray can detect early stages of these lung diseases.
Spirometry is important for all smokers, former smokers, people exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke or to irritants in the workplace. Most people who have COPD are over 40, but younger adults can have the disease also.
Here are key links for reliable information about early detection of COPD:
American Lung Association:
Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD):
National Lung Health Education Program: (http://www.nlhep.org/)
American Thoracic Society
Related web links:
What Are The Signs And Symptoms of COPD? http://www.thoracic.org/COPD/18/signs.asp
What Tests Can Be Done To Assess My Breathing? http://www.thoracic.org/COPD/18/breathing.asp
For 100 years, the American Lung Association has been the lead organization working to prevent lung disease and promote lung health. Lung disease death rates continue to increase while other leading causes of death have declined. The American Lung Association funds vital research on the causes of and treatments for lung disease. With the generous support of the public, the American Lung Association is “Improving life, one breath at a time.” For more information about the American Lung Association or to support the work it does, call 1.800.LUNG.USA (1.800.586.4872) or visit www.californialung.org or www.lungusa.org.call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or visit
www.californialung.org.
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