COPD Support Groups in Illinois

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), including emphysema, chronic bronchitis and asthma, is rapidly becoming one of the greatest health problems in the nation. The Better Breathers Club is a support group designed to help individuals with COPD and their families learn how to live more complete lives. Better Breathers Club members share their experiences, knowledge, ideas and strengths to improve the quality of each others lives. Meetings include expert speakers, video presentations and roundtable discussions. Afterwards, members mingle and socialize over refreshments.

Overview
Better Breathers Clubs (BBC's) are free educational support groups for people with COPD and other chronic lung diseases. The goal of the Better Breathers Club is to build the desire and motivation to maintain and improve one's state of health.

Chronic breathing difficulty can cause anxiety and depression; it's easy to withdraw socially as well as become less physically active. By attending the BBC's educational meetings and exchanging ideas and information with others who have similar problems, it is possible to gain a sense of control over lung disease and to lessen its symptoms.

Objectives
Some of the benefits people with COPD can gain through attending BBC meetings include:

• Receiving ongoing educational programs consistent with the education needs or individuals living with COPD.
• Socializing with individuals who have similar needs in a supportive environment in which persons can learn from one another, thereby helping others adapt to living with chronic illness.
• Meeting new people who understand your breathing problems.

Who Should Attend
Adults who suffer from asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, lung cancer and other respiratory problems attend the meetings. Many members bring their spouse, other family members and caregivers with them.

Locations And Times
There are several Better Breathers Clubs located throughout Illinois and Iowa. Typically the clubs meet monthly and are sponsored through the Pulmonary Rehabilitation department at your local hospital. Please call the American Lung Association at 1-800-LUNG-USA to find the meeting nearest you.

How To Join
There are no dues or fees, to become a member of the Better Breathers Club, simply attend the meetings!

Reasons To Attend

• Information
• Fellowship
• Networking
• Friendship
• Support
• Fun

Meeting Topics
In order to keep the club meetings interesting, topics and speakers change frequently.

Signing up for the BBC does not obligate you to attend meetings, however, we hope you will choose to do so. Successfully coping with chronic lung disease becomes easier after hearing about and sharing a variety of topics with the speakers and with other club members. Some of these topics include: exercise, rehabilitation, medications, breathing techniques and panic control, nutrition, psychology, indoor and outdoor air quality, new medications, research and medical equipment.

Please call 1-800-LUNG-USA for more information.

If you have questions about lung health, please contact our Registered Nurses and Respiratory Therapists at the American Lung Association Help Line, 1-800-548-8252.