The month of May is Lung Health Awareness Month.
Lung disease affects almost 1 in 3 Australians and is responsible for 1 in 7 deaths, however many people tend to ignore the signs and symptoms, often not doing anything about it for far too long. We are all are used to thinking about our heart and skin health, but our lungs are equally important. It’s time we made our lung health a priority as well.
This Lung Health Awareness Month, Lung Foundation Australia is urging Australians to stop guessing what may be causing symptoms like breathlessness or fatigue, and to learn how to recognise and act upon the symptoms of lung disease.
Most of us never stop to think about our breathing, it’s just something we do. Research shows that almost half (46%) of all Australians rarely or never think about their lung health. Despite this, almost two-thirds of Australians (68%) reported that they have experienced at least one lung related health issue.
There are a few simple things you can do to help look after your lung health:
- Make your life a smoke-free zone by quitting smoking and/or reducing your exposure to second hand smoke.
- Wear appropriate protective equipment if you work in environments that expose you to the inhalation of dust, gas, fumes or chemicals.
- Protect yourself from influenza and pneumonia by having the vaccinations.
- Exercise regularly and have a healthy diet.
- Practice good hand hygiene to minimise the spread of germs.
Visit https://knowplanact.lungfoundation.com.au/ or find support for Rare Lung Diseases on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/203287517211000/