Breath Matters
The American Lung Association of California’s Monthly e-Newsletter
Improving Life, One Breath at a Time
To automatically connect with your nearest American Lung Association, or to speak with a nurse or respiratory therapist at our free HelpLine, call 800.LUNG.USA.
August 29, 2008 Number 163
Content:
- Team Up With the American Lung Association and Walk
- Association Invests $816,000 in Lung Disease Research
- Respiratory Rallies for People With COPD
- Association Supports Plan to Reduce Global Warming Emissions
- New Issue of Lung Health News Now Available Online
- Association Joins Neighborhood Activists for Clean Air Campaign
- Back-to-School With Asthma Tips and New Inhaler Rules
- California Thoracic Society Honors Timothy Morris, MD
- Volunteer Honored as Health Hero by United Way
- Tell a Friend
- Leave a Legacy
CORRECTION: It was incorrectly stated in the last issue of Breath Matters that Trisha Murakawa is the American Lung Association of California’s first Japanese-American board chair. In fact, Carol Kawanami was the first.
TEAM UP WITH THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION AND WALK
You can make a difference in the fight against air pollution by participating in the American Lung Association of California’s Healthy Air Walks, held in communities across California.
Register for the Healthy Air Walk and enlist the support of everyone you know. You can walk on your own and get friends, family and coworkers to pledge their support or you can form a team. We all know it’s more fun to walk with others, and they can help you make a bigger impact.
Recruit friends and family to join your team. You can train together, create a fun name for your team, and find other ways to share in the experience.
Talk to your employer and coworkers about creating a company team. Corporate teams send a powerful message that your company cares about the community.
To read more about the Healthy Air Walk, including team highlights and upcoming events, go to http://www.californialung.org/
Find a walk near you and register at www.healthyairwalk.org
ASSOCIATION INVESTS $816,000 IN LUNG DISEASE RESEARCH
The American Lung Association of California recently granted $816,000 for lung disease research, funding 13 California scientists who are conducting basic research to find better treatments – and possibly even cures – for diseases like lung cancer, asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and tuberculosis.
The association awarded $451,000 through its peer-reviewed scientific research program and invested $365,000 in the American Lung Association’s nationwide network of 20 Asthma Clinical Research Centers, including one at the University of California, San Diego.
To read a related news release, go to http://www.californialung.org/
MONTHLY HEALTH TIP: Respiratory Rallies for People With COPD If you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or emphysema, you should consider attending one of these daylong seminars focused on living better with your chronic disease. The following Respiratory Rally events are scheduled:
- September 17, Carson, contact Jennifer Paul at 213.384.5864 or jpaul [at] alac [dot] org
- October 15, Santa Ana, contact Adriana Batista at 714.835.5864 or abatista [at] alac [dot] org
- November 11, San Diego, contact Sascy Sukcharoun at 619.683.3465 or ssukcharoun [at] alac [dot] org
- November 14, Sacramento, contact Marcella Sciarrotta at 916.554.5864 or msciarrotta [at] alac [dot] org
- November 15, Santa Barbara, contact Donna Beal at 805.963.1426 or dbeal [at] alac [dot] org
- November 15, Murietta, contact Terry Roberts at 909.884.5864 or troberts [at] alac [dot] org
- November 17, Stockton, contact Marcella Sciarrotta at 916.554.5864 or msciarrotta [at] alac [dot] org
For more details about the rallies, go to www.RespiratoryRally.org
To read a related news release, go to http://www.californialung.org/
ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS PLAN TO REDUCE GLOBAL WARMING EMISSIONS
The American Lung Association of California submitted a six-page letter to the California Air Resources Board providing significant comments regarding the proposed scoping plan to implement Assembly Bill 32, which the association supported, calling for significant strengthening changes. The scoping plan is the key tool for achieving the greenhouse gas reduction targets set in the bill that will lead us to cleaner, healthier air.
Association President and CEO Jim Wilgus issued a public statement supporting the plan and urging strong action by the air board to strengthen the plan, including increased focus on public health, increased measures to reduce driving and promote smart growth, and stronger measures to reduce industry greenhouse gas emissions. The statement said: “The American Lung Association of California believes that the draft Scoping Plan is a key step forward in implementing the Global Warming Solutions Act and toward creating a more sustainable energy economy in our state. Without dramatic changes in our society and economy to reduce global warming, California’s already severe air pollution problems will only get worse. While the draft plan represents an important first step, we urge the Air Resources Board to incorporate changes that would strengthen the plan’s air quality, greenhouse gas reduction and public health benefits.”
To read the entire statement, go to http://www.californialung.org/
For more information, contact Bonnie Holmes-Gen at 916.554.5864 or bhgen [at] alac [dot] org or Linda Weiner at 415.282.8871 or linwiner [at] earthlink [dot] net
NEW ISSUE OF LUNG HEALTH NEWS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE
The Fall 2008/Winter 2009 edition of the American Lung Association of California's statewide Lung Health News magazine is currently available online. The issue focuses on timely health issues and key public policies.
The recent edition includes articles on the association’s Healthy Air Walks, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), lung cancer, African Americans’ higher risk of lung disease, updates on important legislation, and a calendar of upcoming events.
To view the magazine online, visit http://www.californialung.org/
For more information, contact Andy Weisser at 818.703.6444 or aweisser [at] alac [dot] org
ASSOCIATION JOINS NEIGHBORHOOD ACTIVISTS FOR CLEAN AIR CAMPAIGN
The American Lung Association of California joined with neighborhood activists, including People Organizing to Demand Environmental and Economic Rights, in some of San Francisco’s most polluted residential areas to raise awareness about the dangerous health consequences. Located along highly traveled traffic corridors, these neighborhoods have high levels of soot and other pollutants from trucks, buses and cars.
Association staffer Linda Weiner attended a recent rally at San Francisco City Hall and was quoted in New America Media as saying: “When you have that many vehicles in one neighborhood, with so much density of population, you’re going to have health problems.”
To read the complete story, go to http://news.newamericamedia.
For more information, contact Linda Weiner at 415.282.8871 or linwiner [at] earthlink [dot] net
BACK-TO-SCHOOL WITH ASTHMA TIPS AND NEW INHALER RULES
Nearly 11 percent of children heading back to school this fall have asthma. The American Lung Association offers parents a seven-step checklist to ensure a safe and healthy school year for children who suffer from this sometimes debilitating disease, including:
- Schedule an asthma check-up with your child’s healthcare provider
- Confirm medicines are up to date and fill prescriptions
- Know about prescription assistance services (www.rxoutreach.com)
- Have an asthma action plan
- Visit your child’s school nurse and teachers
- Advocate for your child
- Know your school’s asthma emergency plan
In addition, parents must first be aware that per government regulation, manufacturers are phasing out production of a common type of albuterol inhaler, often called a CFC inhaler. By December 31, 2008, CFC inhalers will not be available and will be replaced by an HFA inhaler. Talk to your doctor about this change.
To learn more, go to http://www.lungusa.org/site/
CALIFORNIA THORACIC SOCIETY HONORS TIMOTHY MORRIS, MD
The California Thoracic Society – the American Lung Association of California’s medical section – recently honored Timothy Morris, MD, with its 2008 Outstanding Clinician Award for his dedication to lung health and his excellence in clinical care. The San Diego pulmonologist is an active member and past president of CTS and a committed volunteer for the American Lung Association of California.
Dr. Morris is clinical service chief for Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at UC San Diego Medical Center. During his tenure at the medical center, he has received seven awards from the Department of Medicine for outstanding teaching. He maintains an active outpatient/inpatient/ICU practice and also serves as the medical director of the Respiratory Care and the Pulmonary Function Laboratories.
For more information, contact Colleen Richardson at 714.730.1944 or cts [at] aol [dot] com
To read a related news release, go to http://health.ucsd.edu:80/
VOLUNTEER HONORED AS HEALTH HERO BY UNITED WAY
American Lung Association of California volunteer Bob Goggin was honored at United Way’s Health Heroes event in San Diego for his dedication to lung health. He was presented with the Health Hero "apple" by Drew Hamilton, chair of the Combined Health Agencies.
As a retired media professional, Goggin has offered his expertise in communications and marketing to best position the association as the premiere resource for lung health education and research. After working in TV news, he also served as a spokesperson for the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District.
For more information, contact Ross Porter at 619.683.8655 or rporter [at] alac [dot] org
TELL A FRIEND Forward this e-newsletter to friends, family and business contacts. Encourage them to subscribe for free at www.californialung.org Signing up is easy. Just enter your e-mail address in the green box on the lower right corner of the homepage under the words “Get free monthly lung health news.”
LEAVE A LEGACY There are a variety of ways you can leave a legacy by donating to the American Lung Association of California. Gifts of appreciated assets can eliminate or postpone the payment of capital gains while gift annuities can earn income and reduce taxes. Find a plan that’s right for you. For more information, contact Linda Chew at 510.638.5864, x422, or lchew [at] alac [dot] org
