National COPD Awareness Month dedicates all of November to educating the public about a disease that makes breathing difficult. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is any disorder that persistently bronchial obstructs airflow. During National COPD Awareness Month, learn about the causes and become an advocate for prevention.
One of the biggest causes of COPD is smoking. While it’s not the only cause, this lifestyle factor plays an overwhelming role in determining risk factors for COPD. If you care about your respiratory health and you smoke, take steps to quit smoking now. Other environmental factors that may point toward COPD include dust, chemical exposure and more.
Throughout the month, organizations will hold events providing opportunities for you to learn about COPD. Test your risk factors or find out how to rally support. While you’re learning, participate in activities that will test your knowledge and help you breathe a little easier. Hopefully, these events clear the air a bit and point the way toward a healthier lifestyle for your family or answer questions about COPD.
HISTORY
The American Lung Association created National COPD Awareness Month to focus on the growing concern related to pulmonary conditions such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis which fall under the category of COPD.
World Stroke Day, on October 29th, seeks to emphasize the serious nature and high rates of stroke. The day is also observed to raise awareness of the prevention and treatment of strokes.
According to previous statistics, one in six people were expected to have a stroke during their lifetime. Fifteen million people around the world have strokes each year. It’s also the leading cause of disability. A stroke may cause paralysis, sensory disturbances, aphasia, and emotional disturbances.
Over 6 million people die as a result of a stroke. Throughout the world, stroke is the second leading cause of death. Additionally, current statistics suggest that the number of people expected to have a stroke has increased. Now, one in four people is likely to have a stroke.
Knowing the early warning signs of stroke saves lives. Early symptoms of a stroke usually happen suddenly. These symptoms include:
Numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body
Confusion or trouble talking
Trouble seeing
Dizziness or trouble walking
Severe headache
If you or a loved one is having any of these symptoms, it’s important to act F.A.S.T.
F = Facial Weakness A = Arm Weakness S = Speech difficulty T = Time loss is brain loss. Call 911 when these symptoms are present. Don’t wait!
Early warning signs of a stroke may disappear after a few minutes. However, the symptoms may still indicate a transient ischemic attack (TIA). Even if symptoms disappear, it’s important to receive medical attention right away.
It’s important to know the symptoms of a stroke. Furthermore, it’s also important to know that strokes can be prevented. In fact, up to 90% of all strokes can be prevented by addressing certain risk factors. These risk factors include hypertension, diet, smoking, and exercise. Through an emphasis on prevention, the World Stroke Association hopes to cut the number of strokes in half by 2030.
WORLD STROKE DAY HISTORY
In the 1990s, the European Stroke Initiative had the idea to create a global awareness day for the strokes. Due to financial restrictions, the awareness day was limited to Europe only. The country celebrates its awareness day on May 10th. In 2004, a World Stroke Day was established at the World Stroke Congress in Vancouver.
In 2006, Canadian clinical neuroscientist, Dr. Vladimir Hachinkski helped to incorporate a World Stroke Proclamation. During that time, the International Stroke Society merged with the World Stroke Federation. The result of this merger was the World Stroke Organization (WSO). Under the management of the WSO, the first official World Stroke Day was held on October 29th, 2006.
April 10 means today is National Erase Self-Negativity Day on the National Day Calendar. We are spending the day encouraging everyone to take steps toward erasing the influence negative self-talk has on our lives. It’s also a day where we will focus on changing this negative habit into a time of personal empowerment.
Some people think speaking negatively to themselves is a way for them to identify their downfalls or shortcomings and move forward. Even though we may believe negative self-talk is a reasonable and a harmless thing to do, this type of behavior can significantly damage self-esteem over time. We are here to tell you speaking negatively to ourselves is a habit. A bad habit. The good news is we can begin to erase the habit of negative self-talk starting today on National Erase Self-Negativity Day.
Identifying 5Cs of Negative Self-Talk
Each of us has a critical inner voice. This voice can be motivating, or it can do more harm than good. Many of us can easily become trapped in a cycle of negativity, with one critical thought leading to the next. This cycle can stop us from being able to move forward and damage our confidence. These words, if left unchecked, could potentially lead to mental health issues. It is important that we are aware of the five key types of negative self-talk.
Complaining is voicing dissatisfaction about something. Complaining is a form of negative self-talk and over time is a habit that prevents growth and progress. Complaining becomes less negative when we provide a solution or alternative to the complaint.
Criticizing is pointing out what you don’t like whether that’s about yourself, someone else or a situation. Criticism is often a negative habit that starts from within that works its way out into our environment. Rather than criticizing, try framing it as positive feedback to help yourself learn and grow.
Concern can happen when we feel we are losing control, thus creating a spiral of negative thoughts. The best way to show concern is to present ideas that counteract your negative thoughts.
Commiserating is when we gather with our friends and family to share “life” experiences, including things that are upsetting. Sharing grievances can be therapeutic, but it can also be the perfect time for negative self-talk. By simply adding a few positive remarks to any negative conversation, your mind will create a positive outlook and allow for encouraging responses from others, too.
Catastrophizing is negative self-talk that paints a picture of the worst case scenarios in our mind and makes problems seem bigger than they really are. Learning to accept situations for what they are will help you focus on finding a more constructive way to deal with the problem at hand.
Self-negativity is a habit that can be changed with work and commitment. In fact, the key to erasing self-negativity is through awareness and small habit changes. As negative thoughts arise, lighten them by reframing your mind with a positive mindset by catching, checking, and erasing it.
In 2024, Dr. Elizabeth Scott, PhD., the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI), Pilot Pen, and National Day Calendar began working together to create National Erase Self-Negativity Day on April 10. This new National Day encourages everyone to take big, empowering steps toward erasing the influence negative words have on our lives. Each year on April 10, we focus on changing the negative habit of harmful words and focus more on increasing a positive outlook to live a healthy life year-round. Pilot Pen also invites you to join us as we focus on facing and erasing the damaging words and phrases that encapsulate our negative self-talk.
Founders
Dr. Elizabeth Scott, PhD., the NAMI, the nation’s leading mental health organization, and Pilot Pen are partnering to help individuals take meaningful steps toward decreasing stress and improving emotional well-being through the Erase Self-Negativity Day exercises.
An Exercise to Erase Negativity
To erase self-negativity, we need to start by identifying the primary, negative self-talk words that we play over and over again in our minds. After we recognize what those words are, we can take the necessary steps to actively embrace our personal power to face our negative self-talk and erase this damaging habit.
Find a quiet, restful location, get some paper, a FriXion pen, and follow the guided exercise below.
Join us as we celebrate National Erase Self-Negativity Day across social media using the hashtag #EraseSelfNegativityDay. Share your stories, suggestions, and support to empower and encourage one another to speak to ourselves with compassion. It’s time to begin spreading positivity, starting with yourself.
The Friday before Easter commemorates the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ in the Christian Faith and is called Good Friday.
Christians around the world recall the biblical story of Jesus’s crucifixion on this day. The day goes by other names as well, such as Holy Friday, Black Friday, and Great Friday. Though sources conflict, the phrase “Good Friday” may have been derived from “God’s Friday,” though sources conflict.
The observance is central to the Christian holy season that leads up to Easter when Jesus Christ was resurrected. While Easter has become a traditional celebration in the secular world, Good Friday has remained a holy and spiritual observance.
GOOD FRIDAY HISTORY
The celebration of Good Friday has been observed for centuries, some say since at least the 4th century.
Since Easter is based on the lunar calendar, Good Friday can happen anytime between March 20th and April 23rd depending upon when the first full moon occurs after the spring equinox. Different cultures around the globe celebrate Good Friday with varying traditions.
El Salvador – Artists create alfombra de asserin (sawdust rugs) using colored sawdust. The artwork depicts a variety of scenes or patterns in honor of Good Friday.
London – Reenacts the crucifixion as a passion play. The performance is free to the public.
Ireland – Eggs are marked with a holy cross and are then eaten on Easter Sunday.
Israel – Christians walk in Jesus’s footsteps in Jerusalem where he was crucified.
HOW TO OBSERVE GOOD FRIDAY
Churches across the country hold services.
Depending on the denomination, their services and traditions may vary.
Many spend the day in meditative reflection.
Some churches will fast, selected hymns are chosen for services and a black cloth is draped over the altar and cross.
Other churches will include specific prayers such as the Stations of the Cross.
Similar to making Easter bread, some make hot cross buns for the observance. Learn more about the biblical story of the crucifixion.
On the third Wednesday in November, World COPD Day raises awareness for this preventable and treatable lung disease. It’s also a day to present new knowledge of this disease and provide hope for patients.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of death for Americans. It is also the third leading cause of death in the world. Those with COPD usually have either emphysema or chronic bronchitis. This long-term lung disease affects 16 million Americans. On a global scale, 65 million people have COPD. These numbers are probably not accurate, however. This is because many people don’t even realize they have COPD.
Symptoms of this disease include:
Chronic cough
Shortness of breath doing everyday activities
Frequent respiratory infections
Fatigue
Wheezing
Producing excessive amounts of mucus or phlegm
Some people also experience complications associated with COPD. Heart conditions, lung cancer, high blood pressure, and depression are common complications.
The primary cause of COPD is smoking cigarettes. Exposure to other contaminants can also lead to COPD. Some of these contaminants include mineral dust, welding fumes, exhaust fumes, smoke from fires, and chemical gases. Unfortunately, most of these kinds of contaminants are found in occupations, such as mining, farming, welding, construction, painting, and firefighting. Quitting smoking and limiting exposure to contaminants greatly reduces one’s chances of getting COPD.
There is no cure for COPD. However, there are treatment options that reduce symptoms and improve breathing. Some of the most common ways to treat COPD include inhalers, oxygen therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation, diaphragmatic breathing, and physical exercise.
WORLD COPD DAY HISTORY
The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstruction Lung Disease (GOLD) established World COPD Day in 2002.
On this day, organizers in 50 countries carry out activities and education events to spread awareness for COPD. These events include conferences with keynote speakers, webinars, and free lung function testing.
To participate:
If you have symptoms of COPD, make an appointment with your doctor.
Wear an orange ribbon for COPD awareness.
Test the capacity of your lungs with an online breath test.
Read about famous people with COPD, such as Christy Turlington, Dean Martin, Johnny Carson, Leonard Nimoy, and Pat Nixon.
Donate to an organization that funds research and education for COPD.
Encourage those with COPD to share their stories with others.
Help spread awareness for this day on social media with #WorldCOPDDay.
