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 Theme

The 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 Origin

World 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 Day

The 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 lungs
• chronic bronchitis – long-term inflammation of the airways

COPD 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 COPD

• shortness of breath, particularly when you're active
• a persistent chesty cough with phlegm – some people may dismiss this as just a "smoker's cough"
• frequent chest infections
• persistent wheezing

Talking about things makes you feel better, and the Thor star Chris Hemsworth is right at it. Now 42, he is opening up about his father, Craig's diagnosis of Alzheimer's and have seen the corrosive effects on his memory and perception already. He is now making the best of it, by having it all documented on film. While he was in the middle of making National Geographic longevity series Limitless, he learned that he too carried two copies of the Alzheimer's signifying gene APOE4, one from each parent. Back then he confronted this on camera, while on shoot, and this feels like a great idea for him to do it again on A Road Trip To Remember, an hour-long documentary that will air on NatGeo.

“There was apprehension about how this would be portrayed,” Hemsworth admits. “I asked Dad what he felt, and he was actually enthusiastic. He wanted to do it.”

The Australian actor is now taking steps to stay mentally and physically fit, especially after knowing that he is predisposed for Alzheimer's disease.

Living With More Awareness Now

Chris, who shares three children with wife Elsa Pataky, says his father's struggles have made him reflect deeply on how he lives. Some hardships in life, he notes, simply can’t be avoided.

“For me, the biggest takeaway was the comfort crisis we face,” he says, as reported in Esquire. “We settle for what’s familiar, even when it’s wrong, because the unknown feels scarier. But pushing against that is where growth happens.”

His father’s reaction to the diagnosis has also taught him that even a grim prognosis can be approached with courage. “It causes fear, but it’s also a reminder not to take anything for granted,” Hemsworth says. “While he can, Dad wants to capture as many memories as possible.”

A Trip Down The Memory Lane

At the time of filming, Craig’s symptoms were sporadic—some memory lapses, moments of confusion, but overall lucidity remained. Alzheimer’s, however, does not improve with time. Knowing this, the father-son duo set out on a cross-country motorbike trip across Australia.

They retraced old memories:

• A house in Melbourne where the family lived in the early ’90s
• A Northern Territory ranch where Craig once wrangled bulls
• A specific bend in an Outback creek where the family played when the boys—Chris, Luke, and Liam—were small

Guided only by a fading photograph and half-recalled memories, they attempted to reconnect with moments that shaped their family’s early years.

The documentary also explores reminiscence therapy, guided by Dr. Suraj Samtani from the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing at the University of Sydney. The technique uses personal memories, photos, and familiar environments to stimulate the hippocampus, the part of the brain most affected by Alzheimer’s.

“One-on-one time with Dad was special,” Chris says. “Growing up, it was always all of us together.”

For Hemsworth, the experience has made one truth clear: the importance of connection.

“It became less about the science and more about the moments together,” he says. “Whether it’s 20 years or 20 days, hold on to every moment. Connect deeply, as often as you can.”

President Trump's noticeably raspy voice drew attention during a meeting with the White House task force on the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Monday, when a reporter asked if he was feeling well. Trump replied, "I feel great. I was shouting at people because they were being foolish about something related to trade and a country, and I straightened it out, but I lost my temper with them." This has reignited discussions about Donald Trump's health.

President Trump’s Unusually Hoarse Voice at Press Conference Sparks Health Concerns

Trump’s hoarse voice caught attention as he explained it came from raising his voice at foreign leaders over his favorite topic: trade and tariffs. He sounded a bit rough during a November 17 Oval Office event, where he spoke to reporters about the U.S. hosting plans for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as per USA Today.

"I feel great," Trump said when asked about his raspy tone. "I was shouting at people because they were stupid about something to do with trade in a country, and I fixed it. But I lost my temper with them." He added, "A country tried to renegotiate the terms of their trade deal, and I wasn’t happy." When pressed on which country, Trump refused to answer, saying, "Why would I say that to you?"

Donald Trump Health Concerns

Trump’s health has been under the microscope during his second term, particularly dark spots noticed on his hand, which he attributes to taking aspirin regularly and frequent handshakes. The White House reported he recently had an MRI as part of his annual physical, which Trump described as “standard,” though he admitted he did not know what exactly the doctors were reviewing, as per USA Today.

Earlier this year, it was also disclosed that Trump was diagnosed with a common vein condition, usually not serious with treatment, after he was seen with swollen ankles. At 79, Trump continues to insist his health is excellent.

Donald Trump MRI Scan Controversy

Trump revealed he had an MRI scan, saying the doctor called it the “best result” they had ever seen in their career. When asked which part of his body was examined, he clarified that it was all part of a “routine annual” physical. “I had no idea what they analyzed, but whatever they analyzed, they analyzed it well,” he said.

In October, Trump told reporters he underwent an MRI at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center during a “very standard” checkup, describing it as routine. When asked if it involved his brain, he said, “Getting an MRI is very standard. What, you think I shouldn’t have it? Other people get it … I had an MRI. The doctor said it was the best result he has ever seen as a doctor.”

While traveling on Air Force One to Florida, the president added, “The other thing I did … as you know … was a very advanced test on mental acuity because I believe a president should do that, and as you probably heard, I aced it.”

Journalist Mehdi Hasan reacted on X, saying: “Donald Trump says he does not know why he had an MRI. How is this not 25th Amendment territory?”

MSNBC co-host Symone D. Sanders Townsend also wrote on X Friday: “This is not routine. Why did the President need an MRI?”

As this marked Trump’s second MRI, questions have emerged about his health. Initially, the White House described his visit to Walter Reed as a “routine yearly checkup,” even though he had already had his yearly physical in April. The president later referred to it as a “semiannual physical.”

The FDA on Friday revised the safety information for Sarepta Therapeutics’ Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene therapy, Elevidys, adding a boxed warning to alert patients and doctors about the risk of severe liver damage and possible death. This highest-level warning outlines the chance of serious liver injury and acute liver failure in people who receive Elevidys, with both complications carrying the possibility of being fatal.

The agency has also limited the therapy’s use to ambulatory Duchenne patients who are at least 4 years old and have a confirmed mutation in the DMD gene. With these changes, Elevidys is no longer permitted for patients who cannot walk.

What Is Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy?

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a serious inherited condition that leads to steady muscle weakening and loss, affecting boys far more often. It stems from a defect in the dystrophin gene, which prevents the body from making a key protein that protects muscle fibers.

Signs usually show up in early childhood and include trouble walking or climbing, frequent falls and a noticeable waddling walk, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

What Is The Duchenne Gene Therapy?

Gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy delivers a corrected or shortened form of the dystrophin gene into muscle cells using a modified virus. This allows the cells to produce a working version of the protein. The single intravenous infusion is designed to slow the disease by restoring some dystrophin, with the aim of improving movement and daily functioning. While the FDA has cleared a therapy that creates a reduced “micro-dystrophin,” researchers are still working on ways to provide the full-length gene for potentially stronger results, as noted by the Food and Drug Administration.

What Is Elevidys?

Elevidys is a gene-based treatment designed for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. It is given only once and relies on an adeno-associated virus to carry a modified form of the dystrophin gene into the body. This shorter micro-dystrophin version is meant to take the place of the faulty or absent dystrophin that leads to the condition.

FDA Tightens Duchenne Gene Therapy After Deaths Of Two Teens

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is tightening control over a Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene therapy after two teenagers died from liver failure linked to the treatment. The agency has restricted Elevidys, made by Sarepta Therapeutics, to boys aged 4 and older who are still able to walk.

It can no longer be given to boys who have already lost the ability to move independently, something that usually occurs around age 12 in Duchenne. A safety review confirmed that both teenagers developed severe liver damage after receiving the infusion and later died.

The FDA is also adding its strongest boxed warning to call attention to the risks of serious liver injury, acute liver failure and death. Sarepta, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with offices in several countries, told regulators earlier this year that it had already stopped supplying the therapy to non-ambulatory patients. The company stated that Elevidys has been used in 1,100 patients worldwide.

These updates “will ensure that families and health-care professionals have clear information” to support treatment choices, Louise Rodino-Klapac, Sarepta’s head of research and development, told The New York Times.

The FDA’s new label comes at the end of a difficult year for Sarepta, marked by weak clinical trial results, safety questions surrounding Elevidys and declining sales.