Did you know that nearly 3 million Canadians are affected by COPD?
November is COPD Awareness Month and the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) will be raising awareness by collaborating with healthcare professionals and patient groups around the world to share knowledge and discuss ways to improve prevention and treatment of the disease.
Click here to learn more about GOLDs mission.
This year, in support of COPD Awareness Month, Air Liquide Healthcare launched a global initiative with participation from 18 countries, including Canada, which focused on the COPD patient caregivers who play a critical role in the management of their disease.
Through surveys and in-person visits with patients and caregivers, we reached our goal to better understand the challenges of COPD not only for the patient but for the loved ones that care for them. With our patient-centric approach and the knowledge gained from this initiative, we can work towards the common goal of optimizing COPD management at home and better supporting people with COPD (and their loved ones) in order to empower and help them lead more autonomous and active lives.
Here’s what our clinicians had to say about what they learned during their visit with a COPD caregiver:
“This opportunity allowed me the chance to understand how critical the COPD caregiver's role is to the success of the patient. Their resilience is vital to the health and well-being of the patient.”
~ Sue Timmerman, RRT
"It is clear to me now that the burden of COPD also falls on the caregiver. They are absolutely critical to the health and wellbeing of the patient who rely heavily on them for support."
~ Gregory Gu, RRT
What is COPD?
COPD can cause airway inflammation and blockage making it difficult to breathe. Symptoms of COPD can vary, but the most frequent are coughing, mucus secretion, and breathlessness. What are some other signs of COPD?
If you think you or a loved one may have COPD, take this short quiz on our website to find out if you should speak to your doctor about getting tested.
