Breath Matters Monthly e-Newsletter

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Current Issue:

Breath Matters
The American Lung Association of California's Monthly e-Newsletter
January 31, 2007 Number 144
http://www.californialung.org

Content:

Learn About COPD
California�s Tobacco Tax Earns Poor Grade in Tobacco Report
Annual Report/Calendar Highlights Accomplishments
Board Approves Statewide Public Policy Priorities
Association Launches COPD Awareness Campaign
Photographer Donates World-Class Photos for Annual Report
Association Climbs New Heights in Fundraising
Freedom From Smoking Re-Certification Offered
Los Angeles Researcher Studies Lung Development
Tell a Friend
Donations From the Heart

MONTHLY HEALTH TIP

Learn About COPD Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of death and disability. The American Lung Association has partnered with the National Heart Blood and Lung Institute on a public awareness campaign. To learn more about the lung disease, visit www.LearnAboutCOPD.org

CALIFORNIA�S TOBACCO TAX EARNS POOR GRADE IN TOBACCO REPORT

Despite the fact that 40,000 Californians die each year from smoking-related illnesses, the state is falling far short to adequately protect the public from the ravages of tobacco use, according to the fifth Annual American Lung Association State of Tobacco Report.

The report gave California the following grades: F for tobacco prevention and control spending, A for smoke-free air, D (dropping from a C) on cigarette taxes, and B (dropping from an A) on youth access to tobacco products.

California�s tobacco program funding falls far short of the minimum recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The American Lung Association is encouraging the public to take action. Please contact Governor Schwarzenegger and your legislators and urge them to increase the state tobacco tax and to invest these funds in programs to reduce the death and disease caused by tobacco.

For more on the report, visit http://californialung.org/press/070109StateofTobacco.html To find out more about taking action, visit http://lungaction.org/campaign/SOTC2006_CA

ANNUAL REPORT/CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The American Lung Association of California recently issued its 2005-2006 annual report and 2007 wall calendar, which highlights programs and accomplishments around the state and features stunning photos of California landscapes and scenery generously donated by Don Anthrop.

Each calendar page includes a quote from a volunteer, donor or staff member that connects readers to our mission and vision, an action item, and a program highlight or accomplishment. Additional highlights and accomplishments are included in other sections of the report as well as research projects, award winners, financials, and a list of board and staff members.

The annual report is available in hard copy or online. To view it online, visit http://californialung.org/ALAC/0506AnnualReport.pdf

For more information or to request a hard copy, contact Andy Weisser at 818.703.6444 or aweisser@alac.org

BOARD APPROVES STATEWIDE PUBLIC POLICY PRIORITIES

The American Lung Association of California�s Board of Directors approved the following statewide public policy priorities for fiscal year 2007-2008:

Reducing Global Warming Pollution: Play an active role in the implementation of Assembly Bill 32, which sets a cap on greenhouse gas emissions, and support efforts to establish a low-carbon fuel standard.

Diesel Pollution Reduction, Port Fees for Air Quality Mitigation: Support legislation to establish container fees at California ports to fund diesel-reduction programs, support efforts to place conditions on the expenditure of transportation bond funding to achieve the best possible air quality and health benefits, and play a visible role in the adoption of two diesel control measures that will require the replacement and retrofit of construction equipment and truck engines.

Asthma Funding: Support budget and legislative strategies to ensure long-term funding of asthma programs administered by the state Department of Health Services.

Tuberculosis Control Funding: Advocate for increased funding for tuberculosis control efforts.

Tobacco Tax: Advocate for an increase in the state tobacco tax in order to enhance funding for state tobacco prevention and control programs.

For details, visit http://www.californialung.org/advocacy/advocacy.html or contact Paul Knepprath at 916.442.4446, pknepprath@alac.org

ASSOCIATION LAUNCHES COPD AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

The American Lung Association of California joined John Muir Health to launch a public information campaign on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the Bay Area at a January 22 news conference that garnered television, print and radio coverage. The campaign is part of the national COPD awareness campaign by the National Heart Blood and Lung Institute in partnership with the American Lung Association.

Speakers discussed the growing burden COPD places on the individual, the family and society. COPD is a leading cause of death and disability. �Triggers� of COPD were also discussed and include not only smoking, but also environmental pollutants like secondhand smoke, exhaust fumes and other toxic gasses.

To learn more about COPD, visit www.LearnAboutCOPD.org

For more information on the news conference, contact Kay Carney at 510.893.5474 or kcarney@alaebay.org

PHOTOGRAPHER DONATES WORLD-CLASS PHOTOS FOR ANNUAL REPORT

Don Anthrop helps the American Lung Association bring its mission and vision to life. The longtime photographer who knew Ansel Adams personally generously donates his stunning California landscapes and scenery to the association for its annual report and wall calendar.

He supports the association because of its efforts to improve air quality � both indoors and outdoors. His wife is a retired flight attendant who had to suffer through smoke-filled airline cabins in the early years. �Thanks to the American Lung Association, today aircraft cabins are free of secondhand smoke,� Don said.

He is also concerned about outdoor air quality, having been a professor of environmental science at San Jose State University for 35 years. He has combined his love of the environment with his love for photography since his early days shooting photos for the Sierra Club. His early work in the North Coast redwoods helped lead to the establishment of Redwood National Park in 1968.

For more information, contact Andy Weisser at 818.703.6444 or aweisser@alac.org

ASSOCIATION CLIMBS NEW HEIGHTS IN FUNDRAISING

The American Lung Association is encouraging everyone to join Climb California and raise funds to support healthy lungs because breathing shouldn�t be an uphill climb. The stair climb is scheduled for Saturday, March 31, in San Francisco.

Participants will climb 52 floors to the top of 555 California, formerly known as the B of A building, the tallest inhabitable building in Northern California. Climbers will ascend the 1,197 stairs to a fabulous celebration in the spectacular 52nd floor Carnelian Room, the most stunning finish line anywhere!

The event is great way to support clean air and lung health while getting an excellent workout. To learn more about the event, visit www.ClimbCalifornia.org or contact Julie West at 510.894.5474 or jwest@alaebay.org

FREEDOM FROM SMOKING RE-CERTIFICATION WORKSHOP OFFERED

The American Lung Association of California is hosting a Freedom From Smoking Re-certification Workshop on Thursday, February 22, at the association office in Chico. The class is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and costs $175. Breakfast, lunch and snacks will be provided.

The workshop will update participants to maintain a high level of knowledge regarding the Freedom From Smoking quit-smoking program. The workshop is open to healthcare professionals with experience in health education, group facilitation, substance abuse or public health outreach who have not facilitated in the last few years.

For more information, contact Elaine Lucero at 530.345.5864 or Elaine@alacsb.org

LOS ANGELES RESEARCHER STUDIES LUNG DEVELOPMENT

Defects in the development of smooth muscle cells in the lungs lead to emphysema in adults and underdeveloped lungs in premature babies. A researcher at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles is studying how the smooth muscle cells form and how they respond to certain growth factors.

Stijn PJ De Langhe, Ph.D., is hoping to better understand the role of these growth factors so that someday new treatments can be used to promote lung development in premature infants. Dr. Langhe�s project is one of 12 funded by the American Lung Association of California, which granted nearly $700,000 to lung disease research in fiscal year 2006-2007.

For more information about funded projects, visit http://californialung.org/research/research.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.

DONATIONS FROM THE HEART Honor your sweetheart or special friend with a heartfelt Valentine�s Day gift of a tribute donation to the American Lung Association. It�s simple and meaningful. Visit http://californialung.org/donate/donate.html

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