World COPD day 2025: “Short of breath? Think COPD.”
by ARNS
World COPD Day – Wednesday, 19 November 2025
Theme for World COPD day 2025: “Short of breath? Think COPD.”
World COPD Day 2025 focuses on raising awareness of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and timely treatment. COPD is often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed, making awareness of symptoms and risk factors crucial.
NICE guidelines recommend that COPD should be suspected in anyone over 35 with a history of smoking or exposure to other risk factors, who experience symptoms such as:
- Persistent breathlessness
- Chronic cough
- Regular sputum (phlegm) production
- Frequent winter chest infections
- Wheezing
Early recognition, accurate diagnosis with spirometry and management can significantly improve quality of life. Learn more in the NICE recommendations for COPD diagnosis and management.
ARNS is passionate about ensuring that all people with COPD have access to early diagnosis and effective management, including access to pulmonary rehabilitation and vaccinations, support to quit smoking, evidence-based therapies for COPD and for cardiovascular risk reduction, and, where appropriate, referral for biologic therapies. We call on the government, NICE and clinicians to do all that they can to make a difference to the lives of people living with this devastating condition.