Patients and Advocacy Groups

If you or someone in your family has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or if you think you may be at risk, explore this page to find answers to your questions and resources that are available to help you.

Although COPD cannot be cured, it can be effectively treated. Doctors can help people with COPD feel better, live active lives, and slow the damage to their lungs. The earlier COPD is detected, the better the results of treatment.

Could It BE COPD?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of illness, yet many people have it and don't know it.

If you answer these questions, it will help you find out if you could have COPD.

This short questionnaire was developed by GOLD and has been scientifically evaluated and shown to identify people who are more likely to have COPD.

"Could it be COPD?" Questionnaire

  1. Do you cough several times most days?
  2. Do you bring up phlegm or mucus most days?
  3. Do you get out of breath more easily than others your age?
  4. Are you older than 40 years?
  5. Are you a current smoker or an ex-smoker?

If you answered yes to three or more of these questions, ask your doctor if you might have COPD.

Finding COPD early gives the best chance to prevent further lung damage. However, treatments are available to help people at all stages of disease feel better and live a more active life.

Patient Guide

An information guide for patients and their families. (NOTE: This document is in the public domain and is not under copyright.)

GOLD Patient Guide: What You Can Do About a Lung Disease Called COPD

Translations

Arabic
GOLD Patient Guide, Arabic Translation

Italian
Cosa Fare in Caso di una Malattia Polmonare Chiamata BPCO: Informazioni per il paziente

Romanian
Ce Puteti Face Daca Suferiti De o Boala de Plamani Numita BPOC?

Translation provided by Mihaltan Florin, MD, Institute of Pneumology, Bucharest, Romania

GOLD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease) is protected by worldwide copyright and trademark laws and regulations and the name, logo and material related thereto may not be copied, reproduced or excerpted in any manner without GOLD's prior approval. Except where otherwise noted, all GOLD documents are protected by copyright.