COPD Patients Rally at U

About EFFORTS see www.emphysema.net

COPD Patients Rally at U.S. Capitol to Raise Awareness for America's Fourth Leading Killer Disease

    WASHINGTON, May 6 /PRNewswire/ -- EFFORTS (Emphysema Foundation For Our Right To Survive), the largest patient organization in the United States working to raise awareness for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD, took their message to Congress today during a rally held at the United States Capitol building.
    COPD is an umbrella term for two respiratory diseases -- chronic
bronchitis and emphysema -- and is caused primarily by smoking (90 percent of cases). There are more than 30 million Americans who suffer from COPD, but only 16 million have been diagnosed with the respiratory disease. COPD is the only one of the top 10 causes of death on the rise, with 110,000 Americans dying each year, and is estimated to become the third leading cause of death in the United States by 2020.
    More than 30 members of Congress were represented at the rally, where a
large contingent from EFFORTS gathered on the west lawn of the Capitol.
"It is crucial that we do everything we can to stop the spread of this
deadly disease and help those patients who are currently suffering," said United States Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-CT). "We have come a long way in reducing smoking."
    Common symptoms of COPD include chronic cough, shortness of breath after mild exertion and excess mucus production. These symptoms may become noticeable to smokers or former smokers in their mid-forties.
    To help smokers or former smokers interested in learning if they have
COPD, a simple, non-invasive lung function test was provided at the rally.
The test was conducted with a spirometer, the most accurate tool for
measuring lung function and detecting COPD.
    "We want people to know what COPD is and what it is like to actually
live with this disease," said Gary Bain, president of EFFORTS. "Raising awareness of COPD is the first step in getting more research dollars to find a cure."
    Guest speakers from health organizations such as the American
Association for Respiratory Care and the American Cancer Society also attended the rally to support the call to Congress for recognition of the country's fourth leading killer disease.
    This is the third year EFFORTS has held the rally in Washington. The
organization hopes to grow to more than five million over the next three
years.
    "COPD dictates a change in lifestyle, but with help patients can learn
to live a productive life," Bain said. "Our organization provides information and patient support through our Web site, which can be found at
http://www.emphysema.net."
    EFFORTS is an Internet-based, non-profit organization dedicated to the
support of individuals with COPD. The organization works to raise awareness and research dollars for the disease by working with appropriate health, medical and research professionals as well as political leaders.