How healthy is the air you are breathing?

How healthy is the air you are breathing? You may be surprised to find out that the answer depends, in part, on which side of the Mississippi River you live.
The American Lung Association’s State of the Air: 2007 finds that America’s air quality picture is clearly split East-West. This is actually the first time we’ve seen a geographic split in the eight years that we have been sending out an annual air quality report card. Particle pollution (soot)—the most dangerous pollutant—increased in the East but decreased in the West. Ozone (smog) levels, on the other hand, dropped across the country from peaks reported in 2002. You can learn more about your own area’s air quality grades by checking out the report.
Why the split? Like most topics related to air quality, the complex answer revolves around sound science and federal policies intended to control pollution.
This year’s State of the Air reinforces our life-and-death need for more protective federal standards so that every community in the United States—East or West—can have truly healthy air to breathe. The report finds that 136 million Americans are breathing air that’s not safe. That’s unacceptable.
Every day, air pollution is affecting people’s health all over the United States. The air you’re breathing is cleaner than it was 30 years ago, but it’s still not healthy air!
Breathing ozone (smog) and particle pollution (soot) can literally shorten life, create life-and-death emergencies, and send our most vulnerable Americans to emergency rooms. We must protect them.
With all the research showing how harmful these pollutants are to the health of so many Americans, you’d think it would be simple to decide to clean up the air. But it’s not. Unfortunately, clear scientific evidence can get tangled up in politics.
Right now, we’re in the midst of a critical debate over how much pollution it too much. We at the the American Lung Association and our colleagues at most other health organizations are at odds with the federal government’s definition of what safe levels of smog and soot truly are.
And it’s that definition of “safe levels” of smog and soot that sets official limits on how much air pollution your community can have.
Understanding outdoor air pollution and how it affects human health is complex and can be overwhelming. The most basic piece of the puzzle to understand is that our lungs simply weren’t made to breathe the levels of air pollution Americans continue to have to inhale.
Here are some specifics about how our bodies can react to smog and soot:
First and foremost, breathing particle pollution can kill. Someone can die on the very day that particle levels are high, or within one to two months afterward. Breathing particle pollution year-round can shorten life by one to three years. It causes many other health effects, premature births to serious respiratory disorders, even when the particle levels are very low. It makes asthma worse and causes wheezing, coughing and respiratory irritation in anyone with sensitive airways. It also triggers heart attacks, strokes, irregular heartbeat, and premature death.
Ozone reacts chemically (“oxidizes”) with internal body tissues that it comes in contact with, such as those in the lung. When that irritates the respiratory tract, like getting a sunburn or rubbing sandpaper on a wound.
Smog can cause health problems the day you breathe in high levels of smog, or after long-term exposure. It’s particularly dangerous for people with asthma and other chronic lung diseases, senior citizens, and children and teens.
Smog can cause asthma attacks, coughing and wheezing, shortness of breath, chest pain when inhaling deeply, and even premature death. Breathing high levels of smog repeatedly over the long term may also lead to reduced lung function, inflamed lung lining, and increased breathing problems.
Particle pollution is too small to really see—you can see the haze it creates when the sunlight hits it. Particles can be so microscopic that they’re one-seventh to one-thirtieth the diameter of a single human hair—or smaller.
The body’s natural defenses help to cough or sneeze larger particles out of our bodies. But those defenses don’t keep out smaller particles, and they get lodged deep in the lungs, where they stay and can cause major damage. Some of the particles are so tiny that they can pass through the lungs into the blood stream and travel throughout your body like oxygen.
When it comes to air pollution, children and teens are more vulnerable than you might realize. Their lungs are still developing, so they can be easily damaged. Because kids are so active and outdoors more often, they can end up breathing more air pollution per pound than adults.
Many others are vulnerable as well, including probably someone in your family. Not only children and teens, but adults over 65, adults who work or exercise outdoors, anyone with a chronic lung disease like asthma or COPD, anyone with cardiovascular diseases or diabetes—all these people face much higher risk of harm from air pollution.
The bottom line is that too many people are breathing dirty air. America deserves air pollution standards that protect the health of the public—that’s what the law requires.
Why do air pollution standards matter? States and the U.S. EPA must enforce the Clean Air Act to reduce air pollution to protect health. To do that, EPA sets standards that every community is required to meet. Local communities and states are legally required to control pollution in their areas so that air is as clean as federal standard says it must be.
Standards drive nearly everything the American Lung Association does to clean up air pollution. The tighter the standards are set, the less people will suffer. Right now, we have the rare chance to get EPA to make them tighter—and we have the evidence we need. The last time EPA looked at ozone standards was 1997. It turns out that what EPA thought was safe then, isn’t. We’re calling on EPA to set new standards for ozone at levels that would protect public health as the Clean Air Act requires.
You can let policymakers know you want them to protect the air you breathe. Sign up to join our e-advocacy team.

A Lack of Political Will

On Tuesday January 9, the American Lung Association released its 2006 State of Tobacco Control report. In its fifth year, the report grades the states in four key areas of tobacco control policy, tobacco prevention and cessation program funding, smokefree air laws, cigarette taxes and laws restricting youth access to tobacco products. To read the report click here.
Implementing these policies is a proven way to reduce the estimated 438,000 deaths each year from tobacco use:
A study published in the American Journal of Public Health concluded that if all the states spent just the minimum amount recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), youth smoking nationally would be 3 to 14 percent lower.
The 2006 Surgeon General’s report on secondhand smoke concluded that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke, and that eliminating smoking in indoor areas is the only way to fully protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke.
Studies have shown that a 10 percent increase in the price of cigarettes reduces consumption by 7 percent for youth and 4 percent for adults.
The report’s grades this year show improvement especially in the area of smokefree air, but the political will is still lacking to implement these policies in many states. States that have done so have seen dramatic results. For the 2nd year in a row, the state of Maine has earned four A’s in the report, and youth smoking in that state has declined by almost 60 percent between 1997 and 2005.
The state of California has sustained its tobacco prevention and cessation program since 1990, and as a result it has some of the lowest adult and youth smoking rates in the country. But the California program is under funded. The Golden State spends about half of what the CDC recommends for a comprehensive program. In fact, only nine states fund these programs at or near the levels recommended by the CDC, 34 others including California fund them at less than 60 percent. Imagine the additional lives that would be saved if California and the other states increased their investments.
Only the strongest tobacco control laws will reduce the death and disease caused by tobacco use. The science behind these policies is proven, and the public overwhelmingly supports them. Yet, like the states, the U.S. Congress has not mustered the political will to make changes at the national level either. Despite tobacco products being one of the only unregulated consumer products, Congress has failed to enact critical legislation giving the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to do so. Send a letter today to your Member of Congress and Senators. Tell them to protect kids from tobacco and promote public health by supporting legislation to grant the FDA the authority to regulate tobacco products and advertising claims.
For more information about the American Lung Association or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or log on to www.lungusa.org.

What’s the State of Your Air?

As we announce the results of this year’s American Lung Association State of the Air report, I thought it would be a good opportunity to talk about the report, and things you can do to help protect our nation’s lungs.
The State of the Air report assigns grades to counties throughout the United States with respect to two of the most pervasive air pollutants, ozone (smog) and particles (soot). Take a couple of moments to see how your community fares, by clicking here and typing in your zip code.
How’d you do? If your county scored an F, unfortunately you’re not alone. According to this year’s report, more than 150 million Americans still live in counties where they are exposed to unhealthful levels of soot and/or smog air pollution. The good news is that, believe it or not, we are seeing real improvements in the air quality in much of the nation, but we’re still a long way from winning the battle against dirty air.
This year we are focusing our attention on the millions of people who live in U.S. port and industrial cities because two big contributors to dirty air are marine and locomotive sources. The EPA has promised to issue guidelines for limiting air pollution from these sources, but has not yet acted. You can help right away by sending an online letter to EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson urging him to issue tough regulations that will clean up dirty diesel locomotives and boats.
Does clean air really make a difference to our health? The answer is yes. Mounting scientific evidence shows that cleaning up the source of air pollution results in cleaner air and less illness and death. A recent study out of Harvard’s School of Public Health and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston showed that when particle air pollution declines in a city, the death rate also declines in the city. While air pollution affects everyone, in particular, people with conditions such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, cardiovascular disease and diabetes are affected. As if that’s not enough, the nearly 40 million children under 18 and the 17 million adults who are 65 and over are also at risk in areas with unhealthful levels of ozone or particle pollution. I can’t stress enough the fact that cleaner air saves lives.
How can you help? The following are steps you can take to help in our continued quest for cleaner air:
Drive less, not only will you be saving money due to the soaring gas prices, but you’ll be helping the environment. Vehicle emissions are a major source of air pollution. Combine trips, carpool, use mass transit whenever possible and walk more.
Care for your car. Regular maintenance and tune-ups, changing the oil and checking tire inflation can improve gas mileage, extend your car's life and increase its resale value. It can also reduce traffic congestion due to preventable breakdowns and it could reduce your car's emissions by more than half.
Get fuel when it's cool. Refueling during cooler periods of the day or in the evening can prevent gas fumes from heating up and creating ozone. And that can help reduce ozone alert days.
Don't top off the tank. It releases gas fumes into the air and cancels the benefits of the pump's anti-pollution devices. So stopping short of a full tank is safer and reduces pollution.
Don’t burn wood or trash. These practices are among the largest sources of air-borne particles in many parts of the country. Convert woodstoves to natural gas, which emits far fewer pollutants. Compost and recycle as much as possible and dispose of other waste properly; don’t burn it. Support local efforts to ban outdoor burning of construction and yard wastes.
Participate in community reviews of local air pollution plans and support state and local efforts to clean up air pollution.
Use less electricity. Turn out lights and use energy-efficient appliances.
Also remember to take measures to protect yourself. During the summer months, ozone levels are at their highest, but particle pollution can be a threat year round.
If you exercise outdoors, here are some tips to keep in mind:
Exercise early in the day or in the evening, avoid midday or afternoon training.
Avoid strenuous outdoor work,if possible, when ozone smog or other pollution levels are high.
Avoid congested streets and rush hour traffic; pollution levels can be high up to 50 feet from the roadway.
Make sure teachers, coaches and recreation officials know about air pollution and act accordingly.
Be aware of the Air Quality Index (AQI) levels on a daily basis and act accordingly. The AQI is the standard system that state and local air pollution control programs use to notify the public about levels of air pollution. The AQI levels are generally reported in the local newspapers, television and radio news reports and online at www.epa.gov/airnow. For more information on AQI, click here.

The American Lung Association Urges Stronger Air Pollution Health Standards and We Need Your Help

Each week I like to pick a lung-health topic that’s been covered in the news with the hope that I can answer some of your questions. This week, I’m asking for your help.
On December 20, 2005, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced new limits on how much particle pollution can be in outdoor air. Unfortunately, despite a strong scientific consensus that both the annual and daily limits on particle pollution need to be tighter to protect public health, EPA failed to propose adequate standards. EPA’s independent outside scientific review panel and the EPA's own staff scientists have proposed tightening both standards. EPA Administrator Johnson overrode these recommendations and proposed a standard weaker than those recommended. The Clean Air Act requires EPA to set these air pollution standards at levels that protect public health. The health science clearly shows that the current federal limits on particle pollution are set too high, allowing air pollution that leads to the premature deaths of thousands of Americans each year. The EPA proposal will leave millions of Americans unprotected and will lead to thousands of premature deaths. EPA will announce its final decision on those standards by September 27, 2006.
If EPA's proposals are adopted, tens of thousands of people who could have been protected will die prematurely. Polluters are blaming these deaths on anything but their pollution, even denying the evidence of thousands of studies because they don't want to have to clean up.
Tens of thousands of Lung Association volunteers and advocates sent messages to Administrator Johnson telling him to set the standards where they really can protect public health. You, too, can join in our e-advocacy network and help clean up the air we all breathe – click here to sign up! Thank you for your help.

How healthy is the air you are breathing?

How healthy is the air you are breathing? You may be surprised to find out that the answer depends, in part, on which side of the Mississippi River you live.
The American Lung Association’s State of the Air: 2007 finds that America’s air quality picture is clearly split East-West. This is actually the first time we’ve seen a geographic split in the eight years that we have been sending out an annual air quality report card. Particle pollution (soot)—the most dangerous pollutant—increased in the East but decreased in the West. Ozone (smog) levels, on the other hand, dropped across the country from peaks reported in 2002. You can learn more about your own area’s air quality grades by checking out the report.
Why the split? Like most topics related to air quality, the complex answer revolves around sound science and federal policies intended to control pollution.
This year’s State of the Air reinforces our life-and-death need for more protective federal standards so that every community in the United States—East or West—can have truly healthy air to breathe. The report finds that 136 million Americans are breathing air that’s not safe. That’s unacceptable.
Every day, air pollution is affecting people’s health all over the United States. The air you’re breathing is cleaner than it was 30 years ago, but it’s still not healthy air!
Breathing ozone (smog) and particle pollution (soot) can literally shorten life, create life-and-death emergencies, and send our most vulnerable Americans to emergency rooms. We must protect them.
With all the research showing how harmful these pollutants are to the health of so many Americans, you’d think it would be simple to decide to clean up the air. But it’s not. Unfortunately, clear scientific evidence can get tangled up in politics.
Right now, we’re in the midst of a critical debate over how much pollution it too much. We at the the American Lung Association and our colleagues at most other health organizations are at odds with the federal government’s definition of what safe levels of smog and soot truly are.
And it’s that definition of “safe levels” of smog and soot that sets official limits on how much air pollution your community can have.
Understanding outdoor air pollution and how it affects human health is complex and can be overwhelming. The most basic piece of the puzzle to understand is that our lungs simply weren’t made to breathe the levels of air pollution Americans continue to have to inhale.
Here are some specifics about how our bodies can react to smog and soot:
First and foremost, breathing particle pollution can kill. Someone can die on the very day that particle levels are high, or within one to two months afterward. Breathing particle pollution year-round can shorten life by one to three years. It causes many other health effects, premature births to serious respiratory disorders, even when the particle levels are very low. It makes asthma worse and causes wheezing, coughing and respiratory irritation in anyone with sensitive airways. It also triggers heart attacks, strokes, irregular heartbeat, and premature death.
Ozone reacts chemically (“oxidizes”) with internal body tissues that it comes in contact with, such as those in the lung. When that irritates the respiratory tract, like getting a sunburn or rubbing sandpaper on a wound.
Smog can cause health problems the day you breathe in high levels of smog, or after long-term exposure. It’s particularly dangerous for people with asthma and other chronic lung diseases, senior citizens, and children and teens.
Smog can cause asthma attacks, coughing and wheezing, shortness of breath, chest pain when inhaling deeply, and even premature death. Breathing high levels of smog repeatedly over the long term may also lead to reduced lung function, inflamed lung lining, and increased breathing problems.
Particle pollution is too small to really see—you can see the haze it creates when the sunlight hits it. Particles can be so microscopic that they’re one-seventh to one-thirtieth the diameter of a single human hair—or smaller.
The body’s natural defenses help to cough or sneeze larger particles out of our bodies. But those defenses don’t keep out smaller particles, and they get lodged deep in the lungs, where they stay and can cause major damage. Some of the particles are so tiny that they can pass through the lungs into the blood stream and travel throughout your body like oxygen.
When it comes to air pollution, children and teens are more vulnerable than you might realize. Their lungs are still developing, so they can be easily damaged. Because kids are so active and outdoors more often, they can end up breathing more air pollution per pound than adults.
Many others are vulnerable as well, including probably someone in your family. Not only children and teens, but adults over 65, adults who work or exercise outdoors, anyone with a chronic lung disease like asthma or COPD, anyone with cardiovascular diseases or diabetes—all these people face much higher risk of harm from air pollution.
The bottom line is that too many people are breathing dirty air. America deserves air pollution standards that protect the health of the public—that’s what the law requires.
Why do air pollution standards matter? States and the U.S. EPA must enforce the Clean Air Act to reduce air pollution to protect health. To do that, EPA sets standards that every community is required to meet. Local communities and states are legally required to control pollution in their areas so that air is as clean as federal standard says it must be.
Standards drive nearly everything the American Lung Association does to clean up air pollution. The tighter the standards are set, the less people will suffer. Right now, we have the rare chance to get EPA to make them tighter—and we have the evidence we need. The last time EPA looked at ozone standards was 1997. It turns out that what EPA thought was safe then, isn’t. We’re calling on EPA to set new standards for ozone at levels that would protect public health as the Clean Air Act requires.

Give to the breath of life today and save a life tomorrow

Lung disease is the number three killer in America, responsible for one in seven deaths. Americans are living with chronic lung disease such as Lung Cancer, Asthma and COPD.
Every year, close to 342,000 Americans die of lung disease. Lung cancer for instance, causes more deaths than the next three most common cancers combined (colon, breast and prostate). An estimated 162,460 deaths from lung cancer will occur in the United States during 2006. As you can see, the numbers are outstanding.
To help address these issues the American Lung Association has launched many campaigns to help Americans fight the battle against Lung Disease:
We have programs geared towards Smoking, COPD, Asthma and Influenza, just to name a few. Such programs as Freedom From Smoking (FFS) is an online smoking cessation program available for anyone who is interested in quitting smoking. The Lung Association understands the challenges faced with cigarette smoking and are here to help you take that next step to improving your health. Remember, millions of people have quit smoking and so can you!
COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a term referring to two lung diseases, chronic bronchitis and emphysema, that are characterized by obstruction to airflow that interferes with normal breathing. It is the fourth leading cause of death in America, claiming the lives of 122,283 Americans in 2003 and the number of women dying from the disease has surpassed the number seen in men.
To better understand this disease, the Lung Association has created the COPD Center, which provides extensive resources for patients and caregivers.
Another major lung disease that affects an estimated 20.5 million Americans is Asthma. This illness is a chronic disease that affects your airways.
The American Lung Association can give you close to 20 million reasons why we need to "Blow the Whistle on Asthma" and how you can help fight the asthma epidemic. One way of addressing this problem is through our Annual Asthma Walk which is a nation wide effort to bring attention to this devastating chronic illness. We know a lot about asthma, but there is so much we don't know.
And finally, as we end our year and approach the winter season, it’s important that we pay close attention to Influenza and how important it is to receive an annual vaccination. Influenza immunization rates fall short every year, even though health experts recommend more that 200 million people in the U. S. receive an annual influenza vaccination.
The Lung Association recently launched the Faces of Influenza, a multi-year national public awareness initiative to help Americans put a “face” on this serious disease and recognize annual influenza immunization as an important preventative measure to protect themselves and their families each year.
As you know, breathing is important and is the only means to supply our bodies and its various organs with the supply of oxygen which is vital for our survival. Inhale. Exhale. It’s simple and it’s instinctive, but most importantly, it is our life source. We can replace the liver, kidney, even the heart and still live but the act of breathing is our human connection and without that connection we, as humans, cannot survive.
Great things are always happening at the Lung Association and we’re here to show you how to Improve Life One Breath at a Time.
So as we approach the end of the year, wouldn’t it be great to be part of a life saving task force by providing support to the many programs offered by the American Lung Association. You would be part of an ongoing campaign to eliminate lung disease and promote lung health.
To continue these life-saving efforts in the year to come, the American Lung Association is counting on your ongoing commitment to help promote good lung health. Give to the breath of life today and save a life tomorrow.
For more information about the American Lung Association or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or log on to www.lungusa.org.

American Lung Association Launches “Faces of Influenza”

Influenza immunization rates fall far short every year, even though health experts recommend more than 200 million people in the US receive an annual influenza vaccination. To help address this issue, the American Lung Association has launched the Faces of Influenza, a multi-year national public awareness initiative to help Americans put a “face” on this serious disease and recognize annual influenza immunization as an important preventative measure to protect themselves and their families every year.
We all know someone who needs to be vaccinated against the influenza virus this year. In fact, it is likely that you or a family member fall into one of the groups that health officials recommend receive an influenza vaccination. Influenza results in an average of 36,000 deaths and approximately 226,000 hospitalizations in the US each year.1
Celebrities like Jean Smart, Dean Cain and Kristi Yamaguchi; public health officials and everyday people have joined the Faces of Influenza initiative, sharing their personal stories about their experiences with the disease and encouraging influenza vaccination among target groups. These groups include people 50 years of age and older, young children, everyone in close contact with people who have high-risk conditions, health care providers and anyone else who wants to prevent this serious respiratory illness.
Faces of Influenza Awareness ActivitiesThe initiative also includes educational materials and the Lung Association has developed a new Web site, www.facesofinfluenza.org, where consumers and health care providers can find more information about influenza and the importance of immunization. Visitors to the Web site can also view the photographs and stories featured in the Faces of Influenza Portrait Gallery, view the public service campaign and utilize the Lung Association’s Flu Clinic Locator (the largest online directory of public influenza clinics).
Six local Lung Association chapters are planning regional Faces of Influenza awareness activities in Detroit, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Seattle, Houston and Minneapolis/St. Paul to raise awareness about this serious disease and the importance of annual influenza immunization.
1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevention and Control of Influenza: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR. 2006; 55(RR-10):1-42.

Keeping Your Indoor Air Lung-Friendly is Important All Year Round

While you’re enjoying the outdoors this summer, you’re most likely thinking about the air quality index, using sun block, not exercising during the heat of the day, along with other health related cautions associated with spending time outside. Are you also thinking about your indoor environment? According to the Centers for Disease Control and the Environmental Protection Agency, the air we breathe indoors may be up to five times more polluted than the air outdoors. If you are one of the millions of Americans living with allergies or lung diseases such as asthma or COPD, then it’s particularly important to make sure your indoor air quality is lung-friendly.
Here are a few indoor air menaces:
Dust mites - If you are allergic to dust I don’t have to tell you how irritating it can be and how it can affect your daily routine. If you have asthma and dust is one of your triggers, then that irritable disruption can set off an asthma episode that could potentially land you in the emergency room. Those microscopic critters known as dust mites need to be dealt with, especially if you are susceptible to the aggravation they can cause to your respiratory system.
Dust mites are invisible to the naked eye, but rest assured, they are almost everywhere. Dust mites especially enjoy living in stuffed animals, curtains, carpeting, sofas, old clothing, pillows and bedding. Up to 2 million dust mites can call a double mattress home. The most important step in controlling dust mites is to keep your home’s humidity level below 50 percent. Drier air keeps dust mites and other allergens from growing. Use air conditioning or open the window to exhaust cooking and bathroom moisture. Be sure to wash your bed linens every week in water that is at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Many health care professionals recommend pillows made of fabric impermeable to dust mites and pillow and mattress covers that have dust mite barrier protection. Use a damp cloth when dusting and when vacuuming use a vacuum cleaner with a high-efficiency, purifying air-filtration system.
Take our Sweeter Dreams quiz and test your dust mite knowledge by CLICKING HERE.
Pets – Be pet-smart. If anyone in the household is allergic to a pet, the best action is to find a nice new home for it. The next best thing is to keep the pet outside. If you must keep them inside, do not share your sleeping spaces with them. Bathing them weekly may help along with cleaning their bedding each week.
Mold and Mildew – Once again, keeping the indoor level of humidity at no more than 50 percent is one of the best ways to eliminate mold and mildew growth. Also, keep your house well insulated, properly caulked and sealed to prevent leaky basements, windows, roofs and vents. Angle downspouts at a five percent slope away from your house. Properly ventilate and clean bathrooms, kitchen and laundry rooms. Check to be sure your dryer is vented outdoors and not into the garage.
No Smoking!! Don’t let anyone smoke cigarettes, pipes or cigars in your home – secondhand smoke is extremely harmful especially if you suffer from respiratory problems.
Heating and air conditioning systems – It’s very important to perform proper maintenance which includes making sure filters are changed according to manufacturer’s recommendations, in order to make sure the system is regulating the humidity and filtering out irritants. Have anything that burns fuel inspected annually and vented outdoors and make sure to install carbon monoxide detectors.
Paints, cleaning supplies, pesticides and other chemicals – Purchase only what you need to use immediately so you won’t have leftovers in your home. Store those you need regularly in a dry well-ventilated area and away from children. Never mix cleaning products that contain chlorine and those including ammonia…such mixtures produce potentially lethal fumes.
For more information on indoor air quality issues, visit our indoor air section by CLICKING HERE.

** UPDATE – Bird Flu **

It has now been widely reported that seven members of a family living in Indonesia contracted the H5N1 avian influenza virus, and six have died. The Ministry of Health in Indonesia and the World Health Organization (WHO) have intensified their investigation of the situation. At this point, according to WHO, “the investigation has found no evidence of spread within the general community and no evidence that efficient human-to-human transmission has occurred.”
How did this happen? While we still don’t know for sure, we do know that family members spent a prolonged period of time in the same room as the initial patient who was in a phase of severe illness and highly symptomatic. Keep in mind, this does not mean that the virus has mutated to an easily transmittable form. It is also very important to note that, according to WHO, lab testing of the viruses showed no evidence of mutations associated with a possible resistance to the anti viral medication Tamiflu.
For additional information on the bird flu, please read the following entry that we posted in response to a recent airing of a movie about a possible bird flu pandemic.

How Serious a Threat is the Bird Flu?

It seems that every week the news media reports on something related to a possible influenza (flu) pandemic. Hollywood officially added to the flurry of fear on May 9th when ABC aired a movie called “Fatal Contact: Bird Flu in America.” The movie follows an outbreak of the H5N1 avian (bird) flu virus from a Hong Kong market through its mutation into a pandemic virus that spreads rapidly around the world. Obviously this was a movie designed to entertain rather than a documentary based on a real world event.
Could this happen? Influenza pandemics have claimed millions of lives in the past, so this is something that is being taken very seriously by governments and health officials around the world. One thing to keep in mind is that the next influenza pandemic could be substantially less severe than what the movie depicts or than what occurred in 1918. Science has come a long way since the early 1900s. Both the influenza pandemics of 1957/58 and 1968/69 caused so much less illness and death than the earlier pandemic, many Americans at that time were unaware that a pandemic was underway.
This is not to say that we are taking the threat lightly. The government is currently stockpiling enough antivirals to treat 25% of the U.S. population should a pandemic occur in the U.S. This figure was based on historical data. While an exact vaccine can be developed only once a strain is identified, a pre-pandemic H5N1 vaccine has been produced that may offer some level of immune protection should the H5N1 virus mutate into a pandemic strain.
Although the federal government through the CDC and other agencies will take a leadership role, much of the responsibility for planning and action is at the state and local levels. Take an interest in whether your state and local health departments have developed plans for a pandemic flu outbreak. Click here to see what’s going on in your local area. What do you need to know right now?
There is no avian flu pandemic in humans anywhere in the world at this time.
The H5N1 avian influenza has not yet appeared in the U.S., and in countries in which it has appeared it is almost exclusively a disease of birds.
Should the H5N1 virus appear in the U.S., it does not mean the start of a pandemic.
Congress has approved funding for the Department of Health and Human Services to make significant financial investments to improve the technology for vaccine development and to ensure rapid availability of the vaccine for the population in the event of a pandemic.
Visit www.pandemicflu.gov for more information on the avian flu and to find out what you can do to protect yourself and what local communities and businesses can do to in the event of a pandemic.
Remember....don’t panic. Be informed and prepared.

All Lung Cancer Sufferers are Victims

Last week we lost one of the country’s top patient advocates to lung cancer. Dana Reeve was only 44 years old, and according to the media reports, she wasn’t a smoker.
While we haven’t seen clear data on the subject, there are anecdotal reports of a rise in lung cancer in nonsmoking women. We’re beginning to see evidence of genetic susceptibility to lung cancer in this group. According to a study conducted in France, as reported in Pubmed, “the epidemiology of the disease in women is different, with tobacco smoking explaining only 70% of the incidence. Other risk factors such as higher expression of the gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) receptor, hormonal factors, radon and passive smoking may also play a role.”
While smoking is still, without a doubt, the number one cause of lung cancer, there clearly are other risk factors for lung cancer, including the following:
Radon - Radon is considered to be the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. today. Radon gas can come up through the soil under a home or building and enter through gaps and cracks in the foundation or insulation, as well as through pipes, drains, walls or other openings. Radon causes between 15,000 and 22,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States -- 12 percent of all lung cancer deaths are linked to radon.
Secondhand Smoke - Many of the chemicals in tobacco smoke also affect the nonsmoker inhaling the smoke, making "secondhand smoking" another important cause of lung cancer. It is responsible for approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths annually.
Industrial Exposures - Another leading cause of lung cancer is on-the-job exposure to cancer-causing substances or carcinogens. Asbestos is a well-known, work-related substance that can cause lung cancer, but there are many others, including uranium, arsenic, and certain petroleum products.
Particulate Pollution - A recent study published in the Journal of American Medical Association suggests that particulate matter pollution can cause lung cancer.
How can you prevent lung cancer?
First, if you smoke, quit. The more time and quantity you smoke, the greater your risk of developing lung cancer. But if you stop smoking, the risk of lung cancer decreases each year as normal cells replace abnormal cells. After ten years, the risk drops to a level that is one-third to one-half of the risk for people who continue to smoke. In addition, quitting smoking greatly reduces the risk of developing other smoking-related diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Visit our Freedom From Smoking Online program or call one of our lung health experts at the Lung HelpLine at 1-800-LUNGUSA to help you quit.
If you are a nonsmoker, know your rights to a smoke-free environment at work and in public places. Make your home smoke-free. Test your home for radon. If you are exposed to dusts and fumes at work, ask questions about how you are being protected.
How is lung cancer detected?
There have been reports in recent years of new approaches to detect and diagnose lung cancer. While they have attracted much attention, few of them have been fully studied for effectiveness and accuracy. The hottest technology in diagnosis has been low-dose CAT scans. Also known as spiral CT, there is no question that this technology detects early lung cancer. It also detects benign material more frequently, so it’s not clear whether, as a screening device, it does more good than harm. Right now the effectiveness of the spiral CT scan is being studied through a federal lung cancer research program, so we should know pretty soon if this is an effective tool.
Other areas of promise include blood tests for lung cancer indicators and tests to detect lung cancer in sputum cells, at the moment neither of these is recommended for clinical use. We’re also looking at new medicines that do seem to prolong life, and we’re seeing some promise in experimentation with immunotherapy.
What next?
We’ve barely scratched the surface when it comes to lung cancer research. Despite the fact that Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer in both men and women, lung cancer-specific research has not received funding equal to its effects on those diagnosed with it and on our society as a whole. Attitudes need to change. Smokers are the victims. The tobacco industry has addicted millions of people through their powerful, deceptive advertising. The federal government needs to allocate more money for the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.
The diagnosis -If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with lung cancer you need to get the facts. Our Lung Cancer Profiler is a tool that can help you learn about treatment options for your specific diagnosis. The Lung Cancer Profiler will not only help you in your quest for information, it should also serve as a tool for discussing an appropriate plan with your doctor.

February is Black History Month…

And while we will spend this month celebrating the contributions of so many African Americans who have made a difference in our lives, we at the American Lung Association also will take the time to reflect upon the health disparities affecting culturally and ethnically diverse communities.
Lung disease discriminates. AIDS is the leading cause of death in African American women aged 25 – 34. An African American baby is close to 3 times more likely to die of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome than a white infant. And just this week, a study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine that found that African Americans who smoke up to a pack of cigarettes per day are more likely to develop lung cancer than whites who smoke similar amounts. Click here for an article on this study.
If you or someone you know is living with lung disease, or if you suspect that you might have a lung disease, please visit your doctor today. During Black History Month let’s make the commitment to our friends, acquaintances and loved ones to protect our lungs and promote the importance of a lung-healthy lifestyle.
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Flu Season Update and New Guidelines

Recently two drugs, rimantadine and amantadine, that have been used to fight the most common strain of influenza were found by the Centers for Disease Control to be largely ineffective against the strain of flu which is currently prevalent in the US. The American Lung Association encourages everyone at high risk, especially those with asthma and other lung diseases, to get vaccinated against the flu. It’s not too late to get vaccinated as the flu season lasts through March.
If you display symptoms of the flu such as fever, chills, loss of appetite, and body aches we recommend that you see your physician as soon as possible as an effective medication is still available which, if taken at the onset of the flu, can shorten the course. Consult with your doctor before taking any medication.
In addition, to help prevent the spreading of the influenza virus, practice good flu health habits. Wash your hands often, keep your distance if you are sick, and stay home if you’re sick so as not to infect others.
How are you beating the flu this season? Please send us your good health habits.

Flu Season Has Begun

Fortunately, there is currently no widespread flu being reported in the U.S. We have seen some news reports about an outbreak in Phoenix, Arizona. It is still not too late to vaccinate yourself against the flu – especially if you have a lung disease such as asthma, emphysema or chronic bronchitis (COPD) or lung cancer. If you weren’t able to get a flu shot this year I recommend that you do all you can to keep your body strong – that means getting your rest, eating well and don’t smoke. Washing your hands is one of the first lines of defense against spreading germs. Also, stay home if you are sick. The flu is very contagious, and by going to work, you’re just going to spread it to your co-workers.
So, how do you know you have the flu or just a cold? The flu will come on suddenly, while a cold typically begins slowly. With the flu you usually have a fever; a cold may not. Basically, with the flu you feel like your whole body has been beaten up. Even your hair hurts.
Remember, you can still spread germs up to 7 days after getting sick.

Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis

Today we launched our 3rd edition of the Hungry For Air: Breathing Better Together series of booklets. In a national survey done by the American Lung Association in 2004, we found out that nearly 64% of smokers are not concerned about getting Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) – also known as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. The survey also told us that more than half of smokers (55 percent) experience at least one of the symptoms of COPD a minimum of once a week.
COPD is often mistaken for a sign of aging and is usually dismissed. I’d like to review some of the primary symptoms of COPD. If you have any of these symptoms and you have been a smoker for at least 10 years, I ask you to call you doctor and ask for a lung function test.
- shortness of breath during exercise- shortness of breath at rest- Chronic cough especially in the morning- Cough production of sputum
Here is one comment we recently heard from someone with COPD: “You have to change, but it can be done. Do not give up. There is something you can do!”
We hope you have been informed or inspired by the Breathing Better Together series. We welcome your comments. If you have specific questions, please click here or call 1-800-LUNG-USA

Breathing Better Together

Last week was “World COPD Day” in which healthcare workers, educators and members of the public organized events in more than 50 countries. This COPD awareness day began in 2002 and has helped raise awareness about the disease. With our Breathing Better Together campaign we hope we are making some strides here in America.
I’m thrilled to learn that more than 4,500 people have downloaded the COPD booklets from our Hungry For Air: Breathing Better Together campaign. Please keep checking back with us as there are two more issues to come.
If you have COPD, I want to remind you to please get a flu shot this season. We are told through a CDC briefing last week that there is supply, but there are some distribution delays. Please keep checking back with us through our flu clinic locator, your local public health department or doctor to find one. Even in December and January it isn’t too late to get a shot.
Please share with us your comments on your experience with COPD.
I wish you all a wonderful and healthful Thanksgiving holiday!

"Katrina" Cough and Flu

Two items in the news this week that I thought I’d comment on. The first is about “Katrina Cough.” Soon after Katrina hit, we predicted that we might see an increase in respiratory illnesses and we have been particularly concerned about people with asthma or COPD. It seems more widespread than I thought showing how many people have allergic reactions to mold if exposed to high enough levels. My great concern in seeing this is that our prediction about the increase in asthma attacks might well be true as well, but we have not seen the data perhaps because emergency rooms are not really functioning optimally yet. Based upon this report, I believe that there is an urgent need to assess whether many people are experiencing increased asthma severity and whether they are being cared for adequately.
The second story is about Maxim Health closing its public flu clinics for lack of flu vaccine supply. This is yet another indication that CDC should rethink its entire strategy behind yearly flu recommendations and focus on the major transmitters: school-age kids as being as important as or more important to get to first than the elderly. Some high risk group members [e.g. elderly] are far from fully protected by the vaccine.
I urge you to get your flu shot as soon as possible, especially if you have asthma, lung cancer or COPD. Tell us how you found your flu vaccine this year.