Every year on November 19, World COPD Day is organized to raise awareness, share knowledge and discuss ways to reduce the burden of COPD worldwide. COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, and as per the World Health Organization (WHO), it is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide and has caused 3.5 million deaths in 2021 alone, of the 213 million people who were diagnosed with it. Projections indicate that the number of cases will increase to nearly 600 million by 2050, with a disproportionate rise expected among women and in low-and middle-income countries. World COPD Day 2025 ThemeThe theme for World COPD Day 2025 is 'Short of Breath, Think COPD'. This year’s theme highlights a crucial issue: despite being the third leading cause of death globally, COPD is still widely overlooked and often misdiagnosed. Although it is a common, preventable, and treatable condition, many patients either remain undiagnosed or receive the wrong treatment. Early and accurate diagnosis can make a major public health difference, leading to better symptom control, improved lung function, and a higher quality of life.Doctors stress that COPD should be suspected in anyone with persistent breathlessness, chronic cough, sputum production, recurrent lower respiratory infections, or a history of exposure to risk factors such as tobacco smoke, indoor cooking fuels, or occupational pollutants.World COPD Day OriginWorld COPD Day was launched in 2002 by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) in partnership with the WHO. The first event marked a turning point in global respiratory health awareness, encouraging collaboration across continents.Importance Of World COPD DayThe importance lies in its ability to draw attention to one of the top causes of deaths worldwide. Furthermore, this day promotes awareness by educating the public about COPD symptoms, persistent cough, breathlessness, and chest tightness, which may be mistaken as symptoms of normal aging. It also encourages prevention of COPD, especially by emphasizing on quitting smoking, improving air quality, and reducing workplace exposures that contribute to COPD. It also helps in the improvement of healthcare access, supports research and innovation by encouraging collaborations, and reduces stigma by helping patients overcome psychological barrier and seek timely help. What Is COPD?As per NHS UK, it is the name for a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties. It includes:emphysema – damage to the air sacs in the lungschronic bronchitis – long-term inflammation of the airwaysCOPD is a common condition that mainly affects middle-aged or older adults who smoke. Many people do not realize they have it.The breathing problems tend to get gradually worse over time and can limit your normal activities, although treatment can help keep the condition under control.Common Symptoms of COPDshortness of breath, particularly when you're activea persistent chesty cough with phlegm – some people may dismiss this as just a "smoker's cough"frequent chest infectionspersistent wheezing
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