ONLY 2 WEEKS TO GO TO WORLD SPIROMETRY DAY

Manse Medical will be conducting free spirometry in the Hub in Hamilton on Thursday 14^th October from 9am

TEN SIGNS THAT YOU NEED TO GET YOUR LUNGS TESTED

1. You can’t walk up the stairs without experiencing a shortness of breath

2. You experience pain when breathing in or out

3. You feel as though you're not getting enough air

4. You are over the age of 40

5. You have smoked cigarettes during the past 12 months

6. You can’t exercise as well as you used to

7. You have a cough that won't go away

8. You are coughing up blood or mucus

9. You are already receiving treatment for a lung disease

10. You have any worries about your lung health

FIVE TOP TIPS FOR BREATHING EASIER

1. STOP SMOKING

Breathing in cigarette smoke irritates the airways causing coughing, shortness of breath and a range of lung diseases, such as asthma and COPD (chronic bronchitis and emphysema). Stopping can prevent conditions from happening or getting worse

2. EXERCISE

Exercise as often as you can to improve your overall fitness and well-being. For example, a brisk walk for 30 minutes a day can improve lung capacity and relieve the symptoms of early stage lung disease

3. DIET

Being either under or overweight makes breathing more difficult and, as such, healthy eating should be part of your daily routine. It is recommended that you eat three to four meals a day including lots of fruit and vegetables

4. VACCINATIONS

Those suffering breathing problems are more susceptible to infections such as flu or pneumonia. If you are experiencing breathing difficulties, it is advisable to have a flu vaccine every year and a pneumonia vaccine if you are over 65

5. TAKE A SPIROMETRY TEST

Spirometry tests are the most accurate way of telling how well you can breath and can catch symptoms of dangerous lung diseases early on, giving you time to make

necessary lifestyle changes

Looking forward to seeing you on the day

Vanessa