More than 600 events are taking place worldwide on the 14th of October to measure residents’ lung health, employing a fast, accurate 5-minute test to mark World Spirometry Day
Together our efforts will help educate people about lung health and improve both
the diagnosis of and monitoring of respiratory diseases
The main objectives of the 2010 Year of the Lung campaign are to:
1. Increase awareness for lung health and to initiate action in communities worldwide, and advocate for policy action to combat lung disease
2. Reinforce the need to provide increased resources for basic and clinical research to improve patient care and quality of life
3. Convey the message that most respiratory diseases are treatable, but that prevention is highly cost effective
4. Spread the message that clean indoor and outdoor air is a fundamental human right and should be recognised as such
Seven per cent of all deaths worldwide each year are caused by preventable lung diseases. Millions more people face a long and painful old age due to conditions that are treatable if caught early through proper tests, like spirometry.
The first ever World Spirometry Day aims to encourage more people to get their lungs tested for an early indication of diseases such as asthma, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – an umbrella term for chronic bronchitis and emphysema, in which the airways to the lungs become narrowed
Manse Medical is hosting this free event at The Hub in Hamilton, Victoria. Members of the public are encouraged to take a free test to help diagnose various lung conditions. Staff at the event will give participants free spirometry tests measuring their lung capacity, and if the results raise concern, participants will be sent a letter to take to their doctor.
In the 5 minutes it takes to complete a spirometry test, 150 people will have died from a preventable lung disease. Spirometry is the most accurate measure of lung health – giving patients valuable knowledge about the permanent damage they may be inflicting on their lungs
With lung diseases set to become the third biggest global killer in the next decade, we hope Thursday’s free spirometry tests will breathe new life into Hamilton residents and resolve to monitor and manage their lung health.
By choosing to ignore your lung health, smokers and those at risk of lung disease drastically increase their chances of a debilitating later life. On World Spirometry Day, we want to show the public how they can easily regain control of their lung health by taking a few minutes out of their daily routine for a simple and painless spirometry test
Spirometry – the gold standard in lung testing
In the same way that blood pressure measurements provide a simple yet effective screening method for cardiovascular disease, spirometry tests can help to unmask the early symptoms of a variety of lung diseases before any more obvious signs appear and can be invaluable in raising early warning signs for potentially fatal problems
Having a spirometry test performed to screen for lung disease is recommended for those over 40 or current or former smokers. In a recent study, smokers with abnormalities on their lung function tests were at a higher risk of developing lung cancer
For information about World Spirometry Day events taking place in your area or across Europe, please visit:
Vanessa
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