Websites
COPD - New Life Outlook
While I obviously write for COPD - New Life Outlook, I wouldn't if I didn't have a high regard for its content. There’s a lot to like, from breaking news articles to patients, family and carers networking with each other and sharing their experiences.
The Facebook page generates some good discussion and has helped people deal with their disease. I have found people who interact on this site to be compassionate and genuinely interested in helping each other. The site is building a great COPD community environment.
Healthline
This is another site with plenty of information for patients. Healthline is a general health site and not COPD specific, however there is a lot of great articles on COPD as well as some healthy diet tips. Their Facebook page has COPD patients asking questions every day, which provokes some great advice from fellow patients, but can unfortunately generate some negative responses that for newly diagnosed patients could be quite daunting.
COPD Foundation (USA)
This is a multipurpose site that has many different arms, from its impressive learning resources to its social site, COPD Foundation 360, which connects patients, carers and experts to share their knowledge. The site raises money and promotes patients to become advocates to help raise awareness and educate. The COPD Foundation's charter is to improve the lives of people with COPD and help with research to one day find a cure.
Pulmonary Wellness
There’s a lot of information on the Pulmonary Wellness site, including video presentations that are generally easy to understand. It's probably not a site I'd recommend as your first point of call, as all the information can be quite daunting when you're just trying to figure out where to start. However, once you have a good grasp on your disease it can be a valuable resource. The site conducts regular interactive webinars which can be a great support, especially for people in remote areas or who are housebound.
Sensitive Choice (Australia)
While this is not a COPD-specific website and deals with asthma and allergy aware products, it's worth a look for the fact that it offers something that others don't.
Sensitive Choice has a system where manufacturers and service providers can apply to have the Sensitive Choice logo on their products and services deemed asthma and allergy aware. Many of us with COPD have allergy triggers, so being able to purchase products that take this into account is a bonus.
Community Resources
If what I've mentioned so far hasn't sparked your interest, then maybe it's time to look up your Country's Lung Association for community resources like the American Lung Association’ Better Breathers Clubs.
Lung Associations/Foundations in many countries have similar support groups whose role is to provide education to patients so they can lead the best quality of life possible. They can have presentations on topics such as diet, exercise, medications, breathing techniques, questions to ask your doctor, lung function tests and much more.
