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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 (800.586.4872).
September 6 , 2007 Number 151
Content:
MONTHLY HEALTH TIP
Make the Most of Your Next Doctor’s Visit Do you ever leave the doctor’s office with unanswered questions? Are you able to accurately describe your health issues? Make the most of your next visit by following some simple steps. Learn more at http://www.thoracic.org/sections/chapters/ca/publications/resources/resp...
LUNG HEALTH LEADERS HONORED AT ANNUAL AWARDS DINNER
The American Lung Association of California recently honored leaders in the fight against lung disease at its annual awards ceremony, which was held in San Francisco. The award recipients were: San Diego County Supervisor Ron Roberts, who has pushed for strong clean air measures and tobacco control policies; Andrew Ries, MD, MPH, medical director for the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program at the University of California, San Diego, who helped to establish pulmonary rehabilitation as an accepted therapy; scientists from the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California who are conducting the groundbreaking Children’s Health Study; and Anne Kennedy, RRT, who has been helping lung disease patients live more quality lives for more than 30 years.
The Awards Banquet and Dance to honor these winners was held during the American Lung Association of California’s Annual Conference, which drew nearly 150 attendees from around the state.
LUNG DISEASE IN DIVERSE COMMUNITIES REPORT RELEASED
Culturally diverse communities throughout the United States continue to be disproportionately affected by specific lung diseases such as asthma, tuberculosis, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and/or have more risk factors such as genetic predisposition, poor living conditions, and unequal access to healthcare and medications, according to the American Lung Association State of Lung Disease in Diverse Communities 2007 report released recently.
Asthma statistics present a striking example of disparity. While it is prevalent among all populations, Puerto Ricans living in the U.S. and inner-city African Americans have the highest prevalence of asthma. Occupational asthma is the most prevalent occupational lung disease in the U.S., and Hispanics are more likely to be employed in high-risk occupations than any other racial or ethnic group, setting the stage for those individuals to be overexposed to respiratory hazards.
For the full report, visit http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=308853
BACK-TO-SCHOOL CAMPAIGN RAISES RED FLAG FOR KIDS WITH ASTHMA
Students with asthma returning to classrooms across the U.S. may face dangerous situations when needing access to lifesaving inhalers, according to an American Lung Association survey released as part of the association’s back-to-school campaign. The online survey of parents of children with asthma revealed that 58.7 percent of respondents were unsure if their state has a law allowing students to carry and self-administer fast-acting “quick relief” inhalers. In fact, 46 states – including California – and the District of Columbia require that self-administration of asthma medication be allowed in public and private schools. An overwhelming 74.4 percent of parents whose children do have inhalers at school responded that their child’s school does not allow students to keep rescue inhalers with them (in their desks, pockets, etc.). Forty percent have never heard of an Asthma Action Plan, the recommended asthma management and communication tool for parents, physicians and schools.
Tips for parents of children with asthma, as well as resources for schools and healthcare providers, are available at 800.LUNG.USA or http://www.lungusa.org/site/apps/nl/content3.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=34851&ct=...
To view a related Los Angeles Daily News article, visit http://www.dailynews.com/search/ci_6802752?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.co...
EPA SHOULD STRENGTHEN OZONE STANDARD TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH
Volunteer and staff representatives from the American Lung Association of California participated in a news conference and testified before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Los Angeles on August 30, urging the EPA to strengthen ozone air pollution standards. Ozone, often called smog, reduces lung function and may even cause asthma in otherwise healthy children. Expert scientists report that the best evidence shows we need a much tighter standard.
The EPA is taking public comment until October 9. You can send a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson urging the adoption of a stronger standard by logging onto www.lungusa.org and clicking “Get Involved.”
For more information, contact Linda Weiner at 415.282.8871 or linwiner [at] earthlink [dot] net or Colleen Callahan at 213.384.5864 or ccallahan [at] alac [dot] org
‘KICKIN’ ASTHMA’ SHINES AS BEST PRACTICE PROGRAM
The American Lung Association of California’s “Kickin’ Asthma” – an asthma education curriculum for middle and high school students – was recently deemed a “best practice” program by the American Lung Association. The curriculum will be shared and promoted nationwide.
Tested and refined over a four-year period in Oakland schools with 1,300 students with asthma, the program demonstrated significant improvements in asthma symptoms and quality of life indicators. The highly interactive curriculum is designed to improve well-being by focusing on issues especially important to young people, such as learning self-management skills, understanding medications, communicating with adults and working closely with their doctor, and taking early action before symptoms get worse.
For more information, contact Adam Davis at 510.893.5474 or adavis [at] alac [dot] org
AIR BOARD ADOPTS OFF-ROAD DIESEL EMISSION CONTROL RULE
Despite strong opposition from the construction industry, the American Lung Association of California successfully fought for off-road diesel equipment regulations, which will achieve a 75 percent reduction in health-damaging diesel soot from these engines by 2020. After a nine-hour hearing, which included testimony from the American Lung Association of California’s Linda Weiner and two representatives from the association’s Health Network for Clean Air, the California Air Resources Board adopted the new rule, which is desperately needed to protect public health because most construction equipment in use today has no pollution controls.
For more information, contact Linda Weiner at 415.282.8871 or linwiner [at] earthlink [dot] net or Bonnie Holmes-Gen at 916.442.4446 or bhgen [at] alac [dot] org
ASSOCIATION JOINS COALITION FOR CLEAN AND SAFE PORTS
The American Lung Association of California has joined a diverse group of environmental, public health, labor, faith-based, and community organizations advocating for a strong clean trucking program at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Colleen Callahan, manager of Air Quality Policy and Advocacy at the American Lung Association of California’s Los Angeles office, was recently appointed to the Coalition for Clean and Safe Ports Steering Committee.
The Coalition, which includes the Coalition for Clean Air and the Sierra Club, is working to reduce air pollution caused by trucks used to transport the goods. Trucks are responsible for 30 to 40 percent of port pollution.
The group released a report on August 30 titled: “The Road to Shared Prosperity: The Regional Economic Benefits of the San Pedro Bay Ports’ Clean Trucks Program.” For details and to review the report, visit: http://www.cleanandsafeports.org
For more information, contact Colleen Callahan at 213.384.5864 or ccallahan [at] alac [dot] org
CIGARETTE HOTLINE IN SAN DIEGO EXTENDED ANOTHER 10 MONTHS
Thanks to an outcry by tobacco control advocates, including the American Lung Association of California, San Diego County health officials have decided to continue the cigarette butt litter hotline for another 10 months. The hotline was started nearly three years ago as part of an awareness campaign.
Fed up with the fire danger caused by throwing cigarette butts out of moving vehicles, the Tobacco Control Coalition in San Diego, which includes the association’s San Diego office, joined law enforcement and firefighters to launch the campaign. Since then, the hotline has received an average of 1,100 calls per month.
To view a related article, visit http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20070803-9999-1m3smoke.html
For more information, contact Molly Bowman Styles at 619.297.3901 or mbowman [at] alac [dot] org
RESEARCHER STUDIES IMMUNE SYSTEM’S ROLE IN ASTHMA
The immune system plays an important role in asthma, but much of its function in asthma is still not well understood. Samir Makani, MD, a researcher at the University of California, San Diego, hopes to better understand how the immune response works in allergic inflammation.
His project at the University of California, San Francisco is one of 10 funded by the American Lung Association of California in 2007-2008. For information about projects funded in 2006-2007, visit http://californialung.org/research/research.html
ASTHMA WALK TEAMSCorporate, organizational and family/friend teams help people who are living with asthma; many Asthma Walks are happening in California on September 29 and 30. Visit www.asthmawalk.org
To make a donation in honor of someone with asthma, visit http://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 bottom right corner of the Web site homepage where it says, “get your free monthly lung health news.”
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