(BPT) – Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is the third leading cause of death in the U.S., taking one life every four minutes.¹ More than 26 million Americans have COPD, which includes emphysema, chronic bronchitis or both, but alarmingly almost half of those with COPD remain undiagnosed.² Symptoms of COPD, a chronic and progressive lung disease that can make it difficult to breathe, can make everyday tasks such as washing, doing laundry and even getting the mail challenging for patients.

However, many people do not realize that COPD is treatable and symptoms can be managed.

There is good news for people living with COPD who want to breathe better. A new educational campaign from Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Pfizer Inc, in partnership with best-selling author of Throw out Fifty Things: Clear the Clutter, Find Your Life and award-winning life coach, Gail Blanke, called Better Breathing is Possible teaches people with COPD steps to help manage their COPD and why this is important. The campaign was launched to coincide with this year’s World COPD Day observance, which raises awareness among the COPD community that “It’s Not Too Late”

The campaign features a new four-part video series on YouTube (www.youtube.com/COPDConversations) that shows viewers steps they can take to help manage their COPD.  

The videos also provide examples of lifestyle changes and a prescription treatment option that may be helpful under a physician’s supervision.

Blanke, whose mother had emphysema, knows the seriousness of the disease first-hand. She recommends five steps to help patients stay motivated to manage COPD: