Gary Barg: Can you
tell me about the DRIVE4COPD program and
how your trip went?
Bruce Jenner: First of
all, why did I do it? The reason I
did it is because both my wife’s
grandparents died of emphysema.
When you talk about caregiving, the rest
of the family becomes the caregiver to
people who are afflicted by this and it
is just such a strain on everybody; not
just the patient, but also the
caregiver. COPD is the fourth leading
killer in the United States. So
that is the reason we did it; to build
awareness of what COPD is. Why do
we want them to be aware? Because
there are a lot of things you can do to
help manage this disease along the way,
to make the quality of life better.
Now they say there are approximately 24
million people affected by COPD.
Half of them don’t know they even have
the problem.
As we went across the United States, it
was kind of the race for the missing
millions, those 12 million people who
are affected by this who do not know
they even have the disease. They
just think, “I am getting a little old,
a little winded or I got this little
cough.” Early detection is
extremely important. We are trying
to make people aware and drive them to
the Website, which is DRIVE4COPD.com,
and also take the screener to see if you
are at risk. It has been very
successful.
GB: What should I be
looking for to be worried about myself
or a loved one having COPD?
