“This is a very underdiagnosed disease,” Patrick stresses. “If it’s not treated, you lose lung function. That’s why this campaign is so important, so you can become aware of the signs and symptoms. If you catch it early, you can start to take care of it so you slow its progression and live a pretty normal life.” The first woman to win an Indy race, however, lives anything but a normal life. Juggling both the Indy and NASCAR circuits
since last year, Patrick maintains a breakneck pace in her professional life, burning rubber across the globe during her nearly 10-month racing season.When not manhandling a massive speed racer, the power-packed athlete builds her strength and endurance at the gym and, thanks to her globe-trotting running shoes, along the streets of race car-loving lands remote and distant with her husband, Paul Edward Hospenthal, a physical therapist and personal trainer. As rumors mount that she will soon leave Indy for a full-time NASCAR gig, Patrick tells Get Active! how she revs up her workout on and off the track while raising awareness for a cause so close to her heart.
“The fact that
COPD killsmore people than
diabetes and breast cancer combined reallymakes
you stop and take notice.”
Get Active!:What does itmean to you personally to spread the word about COPD awareness and to see such promising results in the last year? Danica Patrick: It is very encouraging— and very needed. It unfortunately took this long to get to this
point.Many people didn’t learn about this disease until this campaign started. I’maffected directly and I’mstill learning about it. It’s an eye-opening campaign. The fact that COPD kills more people than dia- betes and breast cancer combined really makes you stop and take notice.
GA: It is an awakening.What do you think your grandma wouldmake of your efforts? DP: I have no doubt she’d be proud. If she was still here and able to see me do something like this, she’d also be sad, because she’d realize she could have done something earlier to slow COPD’s progression. I’msure she can still see and hear what I’mdoing and is proud. And that’s OK. I hear a lot of people’s appreciation for this campaign. So many people have a similar story. Unfortunately, it’s not a story that gets told until it’s too late.
GA: Along with early detection, how can working out help those with COPD? DP: I would imagine that at this point in time we would all realize that working out is important for heart health, for cardiovascular health, for your blood, for your lungs and for your brain—let’s not forget those lovely endorphins that you get fromworking out. I’mnot a doctor
All photos: Courtesy of
Drive4COPD.com
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