Stigma Can Be a Barrier to COPD Care

November is COPD Awareness Month.At 39, Cyndy Ruess went to the hospital after having trouble breathing. Breathing problems weren’t new for Ruess — she’d had asthma as a child — and her biggest concern at the time was figuring out when she’d be able to get back to work.A healthcare provider (HCP) gave Ruess more serious news. She might not be able to return to work at all, and her breathing issues were more than just asthma. She had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease — COPD — a condition caused by damage to the lung or the airways. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are among the most common