Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a disease that is similar in many ways to asthma. It is a chronic disease with shortness of breath, cough and sputum production. There are more than 600 million people worldwide with COPD, approximately 44 million in Europe, and there are over 714,000 Canadians suffering from COPD. COPD is one of the few major diseases that are still increasing in terms of the number of people diagnosed. According to the experts' estimation, COPD will become the third leading cause of death around the world by the year 2020.

For more information on COPD please use the menu at the top left of the page.


BreathWorks™ is The Lung Association's national COPD program that offers practical information and support for people with COPD and for their families and caregivers. If you have COPD or if you know someone who has it – BreathWorks™ can help.

To speak to a Certified Respiratory Educator, please call our toll free BreathWorks Helpline at 1-866-717-COPD (2673).