Breath Matters Monthly e-Newsletter April 29, 2005 Number 123

Breath Matters Monthly e-Newsletter

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Current Issue:

Breath Matters
The American Lung Association of California's Monthly e-Newsletter
April 29, 2005 Number 123
http://www.californialung.org

Content:

Monthly Lung Health Tip: Do Air Filters Really Work?
32 California Counties Receive F Grades in State of the Air Report
San Francisco and Sonoma County Asthma Coalitions Funded
Report on Lung Disease in Diverse Communities Released
Kern Provides Comprehensive Asthma Management at Rural Clinic
Dr. Takao Awarded for Volunteerism and Cultural Diversity
Breathe Easy Features Article on Lung Transplant Survivors
Annual Report/Calendar Receives Highest Ratings in Survey
Researcher Studies How Brain Chemistry Affects Cough Reflex
Celebrate Mother's Day With a Donation
Tell A Friend

MONTHLY HEALTH TIP: DO AIR FILTERS REALLY WORK? Find out more about air cleaning devices and filters at http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=35696.

32 CALIFORNIA COUNTIES RECEIVE F GRADES IN STATE OF THE AIR REPORT

The American Lung Association released its State of the Air Report 2005 on April 28, which highlights the need to reduce air pollution as 32 California counties received F grades. The annual report card grades counties across the nation based on ozone and particle pollution levels. According to the report, more than 31.6 million Californians are breathing air with dangerously high levels of ozone and/or particle pollution. California has 14 of the top 25 ozone-polluted counties. The report was released statewide through a telephone news conference featuring eight spokespeople, including John Balmes, MD, chair of the American Lung Association of California's Clean Air Technical Advisory Group. Representatives from 16 media outlets participated in the news conference call, including the Associated Press. For a complete copy of the report, county grades, and ideas for reducing air pollution in your community, visit http://www.californialung.org/press/050428SOTA.html. For more information about the statewide public information campaign, contact Andy Weisser at 818.703.6444 or aweisser@earthlink.net, or Bonnie Holmes-Gen at 916.442.4446 or bhgen@alac.org.

SAN FRANCISCO AND SONOMA COUNTY ASTHMA COALITIONS FUNDED

The California Endowment funded asthma coalitions in San Francisco and Sonoma County for another three years as part of its Community Action to Fight Asthma (CAFA) initiative. Both the American Lung Association of San Francisco & San Mateo Counties and the American Lung Association of California, Redwood Empire Branch, will receive $125,000 a year for the next three years to reduce the impact of asthma in their communities by reducing environmental triggers and ensuring people with asthma have access to healthcare that follows national asthma guidelines. The funding will support targeted program and policy interventions to reduce asthma triggers in housing, schools, and indoor and outdoor air. For more information, contact Anjalin Nath at 650.994.5864 or anjalin@alasfsm.org, or Kate Lorenzen at 707.527.5864 or klorenzen@alac.org.

REPORT ON LUNG DISEASE IN DIVERSE COMMUNITIES RELEASED

The American Lung Association released its Lung Disease Data in Culturally Diverse Communities 2005 to demonstrate that communities of color are more likely to develop a majority of lung diseases and other respiratory problems than the white population. The report raises awareness about the disparity while providing communities with the information they need to stay healthy. The in-depth report provides relevant statistics about important lung health issues such as asthma, smoking and clean air as they relate to diverse communities. The report includes lung health statistics for the African-American, Hispanic, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Asian-American, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) communities. It includes inspirational stories about individuals who are living with lung disease or who have overcome other lung health issues. To view the report, visit http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=308853.

KERN PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE ASTHMA MANAGEMENT AT RURAL CLINIC

The American Lung Association of California, Kern Branch, is reaching out to the rural community through a comprehensive asthma management program at Wasco clinic, which is located in a farming community in the Central Valley where air pollution levels and asthma rates are among the highest in the nation. The community is also medically underserved. Working with longtime volunteer Larry Borgsdorf, MD, the association is training every clinic staff member, from the receptionist to the doctors, about asthma management techniques. Some staff will also be trained to teach Open Airways For Schools. The association has developed an asthma management kit that will be distributed to all patients with asthma and contains a peak flow meter, spacer, asthma action plan and information about asthma. Asthma patients will receive regular follow up and reinforcement of asthma management goals and techniques. For more information, contact Sharon Borradori at 661.847.4700 or sharon@kernlung.org.

DR. TAKAO AWARDED FOR VOLUNTEERISM AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY

After many years of volunteer service to the American Lung Association at the local, state and national levels, Lloyd Takao, MD, was recognized for his volunteerism and efforts to bring cultural diversity to the organization. The East Bay resident is being awarded the 2005 American Lung Association Bernard Gregory Award for Cultural Diversity and was also named nationwide Volunteer of the Week. During his time with the American Lung Association, Dr. Takao has played a central role in raising the diversity profile within the nationwide American Lung Association and been a key player in the start up of several nationwide diversity projects. He was the driving force behind the association's position statement on cultural diversity and has continued to advocate for diversity at all levels of the organization. For more information, visit http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=245440.

BREATHE EASY FEATURES ARTICLE ON LUNG TRANSPLANT SURVIVORS

The Spring/Summer 2005 issue of the statewide Breathe Easy news magazine was distributed to donors, media, elected officials, and others across California in March. The cover story on lung transplants features two recipients and one person on the waiting list. Other highlights include updates on current public policy issues, a story on middle school students who wrote letters to elected officials about reducing diesel exhaust, research that could help premature babies breathe easier, and news from associations around the state. To view the current issue, visit http://www.californialung.org/ALAC/breatheasy.html. For more information, contact Andy Weisser at 818.703.6444 or aweisser@earthlink.net.

ANNUAL REPORT/CALENDAR RECEIVES HIGHEST RATINGS IN SURVEY

The American Lung Association of California's 2003-2004 Annual Report/2005 Wall Calendar received the highest ratings since the publication has been produced based on readership survey results. According to the readership survey, 93 percent of respondents are actually using the publication as wall calendars, 100 percent said it provided all the information they needed, and 98 percent rated the publication as excellent or good. The full-color report/calendar was distributed to nearly 10,000 people statewide in December 2004, including estate planners, donors, media and elected officials. For more information, contact Andy Weisser at 818.703.6444 or aweisser@earthlink.net.

RESEARCHER STUDIES HOW BRAIN CHEMISTRY AFFECTS COUGH REFLEX

Samuel Evans, MD, is trying to better understand how receptors and chemicals in the brain and lung control cough, hoping to show how exposure to tobacco smoke can change the brain�s chemistry. Dr. Evans, who is a fellow at UC Davis in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, treats patients nearly every day and knows all too well the effect coughing has on their quality of life. �Coughing is a very bothersome and common complaint for which millions are spent on suppressive remedies, most of which currently are only marginally, if at all, effective,� says Dr. Evans, who received a grant from the American Lung Association of California to conduct his study. This year the association granted more than $750,000 to researchers like Dr. Evans who are conducting basic research into the underlying mechanisms of lung disease. Californians who haven�t yet filed their 2004 state taxes can support more lung research by donating to the Asthma and Lung Disease Research Fund under Contributions on the state form. For more information about the Asthma and Lung Disease Research Fund and a list of currently funded research projects, visit http://www.californialung.org/research/fund.html.

Celebrate Mothers� Day with a donation to the American Lung Association. To make a donation, visit http://www.californialung.org/donate/donate.html.

TELL A FRIEND Forward this e-newsletter to friends, family and business contacts. Encourage them to subscribe for free at http://www.californialung.org. Signing up is easy. Just enter your e-mail address at the upper left corner of the Web site homepage below the logo.

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