Are You One of the Undiagnosed?COPD - 4th Leading Cause of Death in Canada

Are You One of the Undiagnosed?

The death rate of Canadians with COPD is astounding, yet awareness of the disease and its sympoms is low. There are approximately 714,000 diagnosed COPD patients in Canada, but studies have estimated that more than 50% of patients remain undiadnosed. Are You one?

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease more commonly know as COPD is a devastating breathing disease that makes it difficult to move air in and out of the lungs. People with COPD suffer from Chronic Bronchitis, Emphysema or both. Smoking is the number one cause of COPD however occupational pollutants, outdoor air pollutants and a genetic disorder called Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency may also contribute to developing COPD.

Diagnosis of COPD can be difficult because symptoms develop gradually and are often accepted as part of the aging process. Irreversible lung damage can develop before symptoms are even noticed. This is why it is crutial that we raise awareness of COPD. The earlier the diagnosis the earlier treatment can get started and symptoms stabilized.

COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in Canada and expected to become the third in 5 to 10 years yet awareness is very low.

Once considered a man's disease COPD is on the rise in women. It is expected COPD hospitilization rates among women will increase significantly over the next 15 years. In fact more women will die from COPD this year than from breast cancer.

COPD has directly affected me and my family for over 40 years and you need to believe me when I say that it is truly devastating.

But at the same time there is hope, you can live well with COPD.I have made many lifestyle changes that have improved my life and my apprecitation of it. The right attitude, laughter and education about this disease can go along way to making your quality of life better.

I urge you to go to the website www.copdheip.ca and take the 30 second Quiz " Do I Have COPD?"
Who knows maybe you are one of the undiagnosed.

By Brenda Cunningham, Ambassador Team COPD