The American Lung Association Launches New Campaign for COPD

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The American Lung Association launched a new educational campaign focused on people diagnosed with COPD.¹ The “Learning to Live” campaign provides education about the latest treatments, resources for populations impacted by the disease, personalized COPD educational sessions, and other features.

In a press release, American Lung Association president and CEO Harold Wimmer said, “Managing COPD can be overwhelming, particularly for those newly diagnosed. Through our new 'Learning to Live with COPD' campaign, we aim to provide individuals with the tools they need to better understand their disease, work with their healthcare providers, and access the latest treatment options. Education and support are key to living well with COPD, and we are proud to expand on these critical resources through this campaign."

The American Lung Association also recently provided guidance and resources for uninsured people looking for healthcare coverage.² This campaign was timed with the healthcare open enrollment period, which began on November 1.

In a press release, Wimmer said, “Everyone deserves access to affordable, high-quality healthcare. This is especially true for the more than 35 million Americans living with chronic lung diseases like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lung cancer. Healthcare.gov offers coverage that can help people access lifesaving preventive services such as cancer screenings, smoking cessation treatments, and vaccines—all at no cost. Our campaign aims to inform people on what they need to know when looking for health coverage."

In late October, the American Lung Association released the results of a report that detailed the effectiveness of using satellite technology to measure unhealthy air pollution levels in certain areas.³

At the time, Wimmer commented, “Communities without local air quality monitors may be facing dangerous levels of particle pollution without official data to point to in order to advocate for change. Satellite-derived data presents an exciting opportunity to augment the existing network of monitors and improve our understanding of air quality across the country. Our hope is that this results in more communities having valuable information about air quality levels so they can better protect their health.”

Also in October, the American Lung Association announced that it had donated $22 million in research investments over the previous year.⁴ At the time, Wimmer said, “The newly funded projects, spanning from asthma and COPD research to lung cancer and respiratory viruses, are a vital part of the Lung Association's mission to save lives by improving lung health. Over the past 120 years, the Lung Association has been at the forefront of improving lung health and has contributed to major public health achievements such as the fight against tuberculosis, advancements in lung cancer treatments, and research on respiratory viruses like COVID-19. We are proud to increase our research investment to $22 million to help us identify, treat, and ultimately cure lung diseases that affect millions of people across the country."

Wimmer continued, “Our research investments are also guided by the belief that everyone deserves to breathe healthy air. From tackling lung cancer to exploring the health impacts of indoor air, these grants represent a broad commitment to improving lung health and finding solutions for those most affected by lung diseases."

Sources

1. New Campaign to Empower People Newly Diagnosed with COPD to Live Better, More Active Lives. American Lung Association. November 4, 2024. Accessed November 8, 2024. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-campaign-to-empower-people-newly-diagnosed-with-copd-to-live-better-more-active-lives-302294338.html
2. Healthcare Open Enrollment Starts November 1: More People Are Eligible for Coverage, Tax Credits Available. American Lung Association. October 30, 2024. Accessed November 8, 2024. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/healthcare-open-enrollment-starts-november-1-more-people-are-eligible-for-coverage-tax-credits-available-302291092.html
3. New Report: Satellite Technology Holds Promise for Communities Without Air Quality Monitors. American Lung Association. October 30, 2024. Accessed November 8, 2024. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-report-satellite-technology-holds-promise-for-communities-without-air-quality-monitors-302290874.html
4. American Lung Association Invests $22 Million in Lung Health Research. American Lung Association. October 16, 2024. Accessed November 8, 2024. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-lung-association-invests-22-million-in-lung-health-research-302277415.html