Customizable Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

[Insert date]
Contact: [Insert contact name, phone and e-mail]

[Insert Your Organization Name] holds [insert event here] to raise awareness of COPD — the nation's 3rd leading cause of death

[Insert city] — [Insert your organization name] joins the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's (NHLBI's) COPD Learn More Breathe Better Campaign® campaign in observance of National COPD Awareness Month, this November, by hosting [insert event here].

COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a serious lung disease that over time makes it difficult to breathe. Now the 3rd leading cause of death in the United States, COPD is estimated to affect 24 million people nationwide, yet as many as half remain undiagnosed. Also known as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, the disease develops slowly and worsens over time — causing many to dismiss symptoms and delay seeking diagnosis and treatment until COPD is in its late stages.

"We often see symptoms of COPD, such as a chronic cough or shortness of breath, mistaken as a normal sign of aging or being out of shape. That is why this November, during National COPD Awareness Month, the [insert your organization name] is [insert event here] to raise awareness of COPD and encourage individuals who may be at risk to talk to their health care provider," said [insert organization spokesperson]."

[Insert 2-3 sentences about the event your organization is hosting during National COPD Awareness Month, including logistical information, and how it will facilitate conversations about COPD.]

Symptoms of COPD include shortness of breath, chronic coughing or wheezing, producing excess sputum, or feeling unable to take a deep breath. COPD most often occurs in people age 40 and over with a history of smoking (either current or former smokers). However, as many as one in six people with COPD have never smoked. Long-term environmental exposure to things that can irritate your lungs as well as certain genetic conditions can also play a role. Through [insert activity here], [insert your organization], a member of the Campaign's Breathe Better Network, is working to help people who suffer from COPD understand that with proper diagnosis and treatment they can breathe easier and enjoy an improved quality of life.

"We are very grateful to our Network members for their continuing efforts to raise awareness of COPD. If you or someone you know is exhibiting symptoms, we encourage you to take the first step to breathing better by learning more about COPD," said James Kiley, Ph.D., director of the Division of Lung Diseases at the NHLBI, part of the National Institutes of Health. "There is no cure for COPD — but with early diagnosis and treatment, people can live longer and improve their quality of life."

The [insert activity here] event is just one of a number of activities being held nationwide for National COPD Awareness Month as part of the COPD Learn More Breathe Better campaign. The Campaign is designed to promote awareness of COPD, to educate Americans about its signs and symptoms, and encourage early diagnosis and treatment.

For more information about National COPD Awareness Month activities taking place across the country visit the COPD Learn More Breathe Better campaign at: COPD.nhlbi.nih.gov.

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[Insert Organization Boilerplate (optional)]

Resources:

[Name of Organization]:
[Web address]

The COPD Learn More Breathe Better Campaign®: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/lung/copd/
Diseases and Conditions Index: COPD: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Copd/Copd_WhatIs.html

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