More than 50 percent of COPD patients say their loved ones don’t understand what it’s like to live with their condition, according to a new survey conducted by the COPD Foundation.

In fact, three in 10 COPD patients said they felt like they couldn’t even talk to their friends and family about the disease at all. Additionally, 40 percent of respondents to the survey expressed relief at simply having an explanation for their breathing problems.

Other findings:

• Most COPD patients (56 percent) feel sad when they think about the future.
• Thirty-seven percent of patients feel they do not see their friends and family as much as they used to.
• Fifty-two percent of COPD patients say their condition makes them feel depressed.

To help bridge the communication gap between patients and their
supporters, the COPD Foundation launched a national program called
Celebrate Life’s Moments: Share Your COPD Story to provide a forum to let COPD patients speak out about their experiences living with the disease.