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2010: The Year of the Lung

2010: The Year of the Lung

Hundreds of millions of people suffer every day from chronic respiratory diseases. According to the latest WHO estimates (2007), currently 300 million people have asthma; 210 million people have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) while countless millions have allergic rhinitis and other often under diagnosed chronic respiratory diseases such as the pulmonary fibrosis that is assosciated with some types of Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome. Lung diseases are very common in all populations and all age groups worldwide they account for 19% of total deaths and 15% of disability adjusted life years. Despite this evidence, public and political awareness of respiratory and lung diseases is very limited. Therefore, the HPS Network, together with other leading respiratory societies have joined together to celebrate 2010 the Year of the Lung in an effort to increase awareness of the importance of lung health.

What is the Year of the Lung about?

  • Increasing awareness for lung health and to initiate action in communities worldwide, and advocate for policy action to combat lung disease.
  • Reinforcing the need to provide increased resources for basic and clinical research to improve patient care and quality of life.
  • Conveying the message that most respiratory diseases are treatable, but that prevention is highly cost effective.
  • Spreading the message that clean indoor and outdoor air is a fundamental human right and should be recognised as such.

Challenge Yourself

Make the promise to yourself today to protect one of your body's most important assets.

  • I promise to stop smoking or never start smoking.
  • I promise to protect my lungs by:
    1. Exercising regularly – cardiopulmonary as well as breathing exercises like singing, playing a wind instrument, or deep breathing
    2. Eating a balanced diet, especially fruits and vegetables that are high in antioxidants
    3. Maintaining healthy lifestyle
    4. Avoiding dusty and smoky environments – avoiding secondhand smoke
    5. Reducing the toxins and dust in the environment
    6. Wearing a respirator/mask if required
  • I promise to defend myself against respiratory infections by:
    1. Washing my hands often
    2. Getting a flu vaccine annually and a pneumonia vaccine
  • I promise to not spread my infections to others by:
    1. Coughing into a tissue
    2. Coughing away from others
    3. Staying home when sick

How can I learn more?

Visit the 2010 Year of the Lung website for more information.