Should A Woman Tell Her Family She Has Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)? Dr. David Sanderson: It's important to discuss your ailments with your family and COPD is not something to be afraid of. It's important, particularly to her children, that she help them to avoid developing COPD and its consequences. But I think it's just like any health issue that yes, you should share that news or information with your spouse or your partner or your children and significant others.