Any delay in COPD diagnosis and treatment can lead to highly deteriorating effects in the quality life of patients, emphasise the findings of a recent research published in NPJ Primary Care Respiratory Medicine. The study, conducted by Dr Vincent S. Fan, a VA Puget Sound Health Care System investigator, and colleagues, observed that the need for self-reliance, distaste for burdening family members and physicians kept away most patients from seeking care. Dr Fan, in his research report, pointed out that a worrying majority of the patients sought care after reaching a critical point and that “while many patients delayed care, others reported changing their care-seeking behaviour because of a prior episode when they were hospitalised for a severe exacerbation”. Dr Fan and colleagues stressed on the need to sensitise the population and encourage them to seek treatment as and when needed.