News Release
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Sault Ste. Marie-- November, marks the beginning of Lung Month. It is the signal for the Ontario Lung Association to launch a program of lung health-related activities and outreach designed to inform Ontarians about the need to protect their lungs so that they can breathe easily and freely.
In those 30 days, the average resident of this province will breathe in and out about 600,000 times – 20,000 times a day – and hardly give it a second thought. For people living with lung disease, however, many of those breaths will be difficult and often painful.
During Lung Month, the Ontario Lung Association is urging all Ontarians to think about breathing and why lung health is so important to them and their loved ones – at home, at work and at play. It is also an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to support and speak up for the 2.4 million people in our province – one in five – who live with a chronic lung disease and to reach out to ALL Ontarians with important information about lung health and better breathing.
Dozens of cities and towns across the province are issuing proclamations to officially record that November is Lung Month in their municipalities. On Monday, November 10, the City of Sault Ste. Marie will declare it “Lung Month” in a ceremony at City Hall.
During Lung Month 2014, the spotlight will shine on respiratory research, which is critically underfunded even though the number of people living with lung disease continues to rise. To support life-saving lung research, a new campaign – Breathing as One – is being launched to rally Canadians under the banner of better breathing. The aim is to change the way we think about breathing – what we do to enable it, the therapies we need to treat it and what we can do to safeguard it. To learn more, go to www.breathingasone.ca
November is also national Radon Action Month and The Lung Association is urging all Canadians to test their homes for radon. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in Canada. Testing for radon is easy and costs about $30. You can order a test kit at www.on.lung.ca. If your home has high radon levels, it can be fixed by a certified radon professional. For more information, visit: www.TakeActionOnRadon.ca/.
The Ontario Lung Association is urging everyone – from children to seniors – to take the Lung Health Check, available at www.lungcheck.ca and to contact their health-care provider if they have concerns.
Anyone needing information about a lung health issue, including asthma, COPD, smoking cessation, radon or air pollution, can phone The Lung Association Lung Health Information Line – 1-888-344-LUNG (5864) – to speak to a Certified Respiratory Educator.
About the Ontario Lung Association
The Lung Association is a registered charity that assists, educates and empowers individuals living with or caring for others with lung disease. The Lung Association provides programs and services to patients and health-care providers, invests in lung research and campaigns for improved policies on lung health. Information about lung health issues is available through the Lung Health Information Line 1-888-344-LUNG (5864) or at [email protected].
