Organizations
American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST Foundation)
The CHEST Foundation website provides education related to COPD, including information on symptoms, causes, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment.
American Lung Association
The American Lung Association website can teach you how to protect your health if you have COPD and point you to the latest COPD research, as well as connect you with programs and services to make everyday life easier.
COPD Foundation
A not-for-profit organization created in 2004, the COPD Foundation supports research, education, and advocacy programs. Its website can connect you with a community of patients and caregivers affected by COPD.
National Emphysema Foundation
The NEF website provides regularly updated news and information on research and treatments related to emphysema and other forms of COPD. Its archives include articles on COPD prevention and healthy habits for living with COPD.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
This website from the U.S. National Institutes of Health provides an A-to-Z guide to health topics, including a section on COPD. You’ll find general background on the disease along with specific information on testing and treatment.
Patient Access Network Foundation
Also known as the PAN Foundation, the nonprofit provides financial assistance to patients with chronic and life-threatening diseases who are insured but nonetheless cannot afford the out-of-pocket costs associated with their care.
Medication Assistance Tool
This free tool, sponsored by Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, is a search engine to connect patients and caregivers with cost-sharing programs sponsored by individual pharma companies.
Patient Advocate Foundation: Co-Pay Relief
As of this writing, the nonprofit Patient Advocate Foundation, or PAF, is working to secure donations to support a dedicated fund to help COPD patients with Medicaid, Medicare, or military benefits. Sign up now to be notified when the fund begins accepting applicants.
RxAssist
This is another database where patients can find financial assistance for specific medications through drug manufacturers.
Living With COPD
The American Lung Association organizes this online support and discussion community where people affected by COPD can share advice and experiences.
U.S. COPD Coalition
This coalition of patient and healthcare organizations, as well as government agencies, offers news and event information for members.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The CDC compiles data about the number of people living with COPD in the United States as well as a list of national advocacy groups.
World Health Organization (WHO)
In addition to data on the prevalence of COPD worldwide, the WHO site shares its plans for reducing the number of cases — especially in middle- and low-income countries, which account for over 80 percent of COPD-related deaths every year.
Bronchodilators
These medicines can help relieve coughing and shortness of breath by relaxing your airways, according to the Mayo Clinic. As inhalers, they come in both short- and long-acting forms. Examples include:
AlbuterolSpiriva (tiotropium)Serevent Diskus (salmeterol)
Steroids
Doctors often treat COPD with steroids — either in pill form or via inhaler — to help reduce inflammation in the airways caused during acute exacerbations. The Pulmicort Flexhaler (budesonide) and Flonase (fluticasone) are well-known examples of inhaled steroids.
Combination Inhalers
Some inhalers combine bronchodilators and steroids. Common examples include the Advair Diskus (fluticasone-salmeterol) and Symbicort (budesonide and formoterol) inhalers.
Additional Medications
Other medicines may be prescribed to treat COPD, including:
Daliresp (roflumilast), to relax airways and decrease inflammationTheophylline (Uniphyl, Theo-24), an older and less expensive oral bronchodilatorAntibiotics, which are sometimes prescribed to treat acute cases of bronchitis or pneumonia
ClinicalTrials.gov
This database run by the NIH lists clinical trials in the United States and around the world. Trials can be filtered for specific conditions related to COPD, such as COPD bronchitis or severe early-onset COPD.
COPD Patient-Powered Research Network
The COPD Foundation maintains a voluntary database of patients and their health information to serve as a resource for ongoing research studies and to connect patients with relevant clinical trials.
Airways Clinical Research Centers
The American Lung Association maintains a list of its own clinical trials, which are conducted across the United States. Patients can also provide their information for future possible trial recruitment.
