Produced in partnership with The Australian Lung Foundation.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a long term disease of the lungs which causes shortness of breath and includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. It is one of the leading causes of death and preventable hospitalisation in Australia and places a heavy burden on patients and the healthcare system.

While there is no cure for COPD, the disease can be managed to help people breathe easier, stay out of hospital and improve their quality of life particularly if the disease is identified and managed early. The Australian Lung Foundation encourages those with symptoms of breathlessness and regular productive cough to see their doctor and ask for a simple lung function test.

In this Speaking From Experience chapter, Staying Healthy and Active, six people discuss their strategies for staying healthy and active with COPD.