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Current Issue:
Breath Matters
The American Lung Association of California's Monthly e-Newsletter
December 20, 2008 Number 155
http://www.californialung.org
Content:
- Choosing Medical Insurance When You Have Chronic Lung Disease
- Annual Report/2008 Wall Calendar Highlights Accomplishments
- Court Upholds Landmark Greenhouse Gas Legislation
- Donated PSA Promotes Association’s Freedom From Smoking®
- Volunteer Honored by Asthma and Allergy Foundation
- San Diego Secures HUD Healthy Homes Grant to Improve Indoor Air
- CTS Presents Current Controversies in Pulmonary Medicine
- Association Commemorates 100 Years of Christmas Seals®
- Researcher Studies Protein That May Protect Lungs
- Celebrate the Holidays With a Donation
- Tell a Friend
MONTHLY HEALTH TIP
Choosing Medical Insurance When You Have Chronic Lung Disease Determining which health insurance plan is best can be complicated, especially if you have chronic lung disease. For practical tips on choosing medical insurance when you have lung disease, visit http://www.thoracic.org/sections/chapters/ca/publications/resources/respiratory-disease-adults/choosingmed.pdf
ANNUAL REPORT/2008 WALL CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS ACCOMPLISHMENTS
The American Lung Association of California recently released its 2006-2007 Annual Report/2008 wall calendar, which highlights accomplishments across the state with beautiful monthly photos featuring California landscapes donated by nature photographer Don Anthrop. Design services were also donated.
More than 23,000 copies were mailed to volunteers, donors, policymakers, and others interested in lung health. To view the report online, visit http://californialung.org/ALAC/financial.html
There are still a few copies available. If you are interested in a copy, contact Kerlyn Chatelain-Graham at 510.638.5864 or kcgraham [at] alac [dot] org
COURT UPHOLDS LANDMARK GREENHOUSE GAS LEGISLATION
The American Lung Association of California applauded the recent federal court decision in Fresno in favor of California's landmark law establishing greenhouse-gas-reduction standards for motor vehicles. The auto industry’s challenge to California’s Clean Cars Law has been rejected and now car companies should move ahead quickly to make cleaner vehicle technologies that improve air quality and reduce emissions that cause global warming.
Aggressive statewide measures to reduce these emissions are urgently needed to protect public health in California. Rising temperatures from global warming are expected to result in increased emissions of harmful pollutants and increased numbers of smoggy days in California, which will lead to more health emergencies.
For more information, contact Bonnie Holmes-Gen at 916.554.5864 or bhgen [at] alac [dot] org
DONATED PSA PROMOTES ASSOCIATION’S FREEDOM FROM SMOKING®
Filmmaker Wagner Portocarrero donated an anti-smoking television public service announcement (PSA) he created titled “Smoking Frustrations” to the American Lung Association of California recently. The PSA, which will be used nationwide, is available just in time for New Year’s resolutions to quit smoking. It ends with the tagline “Find your Freedom From Smoking” and encourages people to quit smoking through the association’s Freedom From Smoking® program.
The PSA features a middle-aged man who is driven by his smoking addiction. After discovering his lighter doesn’t work, he tries numerous combustible items around the house in an attempt to get it lit. He soon realizes he has gone too far and it’s time to quit smoking.
To view “Smoking Frustrations,” visit http://www.californialung.org/spotlight/video.html and scroll down below the Carol Burnett PSA.
For more information, contact Andy Weisser at 818.703.6444 or aweisser [at] alac [dot] org
VOLUNTEER HONORED BY ASTHMA AND ALLERGY FOUNDATION
The California Chapter of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America recently honored American Lung Association of California volunteer Joe Corless, MD, one of only two physicians recognized by the foundation as one of California’s most distinguished physicians for his outstanding work in the area of asthma.
Dr. Corless, who is pediatric section chief of the Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, helped start the San Bernardino County Asthma Coalition and continues to be an active member, shares his expertise as a facilitator for the Physician Asthma Care Education program, and serves on the American Lung Association of California’s Volunteer Leadership Council for the Inland Counties area.
For more details about the event held in his honor, visit www.aafa-ca.com/gala.php
For more information, contact Terry Roberts at 909.884.5864 or troberts [at] alac [dot] org
SAN DIEGO SECURES HEALTHY HOMES GRANT TO IMPROVE INDOOR AIR
The American Lung Association of California will work with the city of San Diego to educate the public on creating healthy homes that are free of lead and asthma triggers thanks to a grant the city received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The three-year grant will provide for at least 225 home visits in San Diego to identify and remedy possible sources of indoor air pollution.
Community clinics will help identify families in need of service, while in-home visitors will provide education and develop solutions for families enrolled in the program. Tools for analysis and harm reduction will be offered to the general public as well.
For more information, contact Ross Porter at 619.297.3901 or rporter [at] alac [dot] org
CTS PRESENTS CURRENT CONTROVERSIES IN PULMONARY MEDICINE
The California Thoracic Society, the American Lung Association of California’s medical section, will present its sixth annual Current Controversies in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine February 1-2 in Carmel. The conference offers continuing education credits and is intended for all specialties that provide care for lung disease.
The conference will feature a number of scientific sessions, including case presentations on Managing Severe Asthma, Pulmonary Complications of Rheumatic Diseases, Managing Sarcoidosis, and Childhood Antecedents of Adult Pulmonary Disease.
For more information, contact Colleen Richardson at 714.730.1944 or ctslung [at] aol [dot] com
ASSOCIATION COMMEMORATES 100 YEARS OF CHRISTMAS SEALS®
This year the American Lung Association is celebrating 100 years of Christmas Seals® by launching a new Christmas Seals® website at www.christmasseals.org
Visitors can send e-cards, download Seals images for children of all ages to color, view Christmas Seals® artwork from years past, and more.
Christmas Seals®, the decorative holiday stamps offered each year to millions of Americans, were created 100 years ago as a way to fight the then-incurable disease tuberculosis (TB). On this milestone anniversary, the campaign continues to honor the work started by volunteer Emily Bissell, bringing Christmas Seals® into the next century with the new online offerings.
For more information, visit www.christmasseals.org
RESEARCHER STUDIES PROTEIN THAT MAY PROTECT LUNGS
A researcher at the University of California, Davis, is a studying a protein that protects the lining of the airways after exposure to irritants like air pollution. Karen L. Oslund, DVM, Ph.D., is trying to determine whether lungs that produce excess amounts of the protein are more resistant to injury.
She is one of 10 researchers funded by the American Lung Association of California in 2007-2008. For more information about the research program and other funded projects, visit http://www.californialung.org/press/071024Research.html
CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS WITH A DONATION Honor loved ones this holiday season by making a donation in their name. It offers a simple way to add meaning to the gift-giving season. Visit http://californialung.org/donate/donate.html
TELL A FRIEND Forward this e-newsletter to friends, family and business contacts. Encourage them to subscribe for free at http://www.californialung.org. Signing up is easy. Just enter your e-mail address at the upper left corner of the Web site homepage below the logo.
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