Breath Matters
The American Lung Association of California’s Monthly e-Newsletter
Improving Life, One Breath at a Time
To automatically connect with your nearest American Lung Association, or to speak with a nurse or respiratory therapist at our free HelpLine, call 800.LUNG.USA (800.586.4872).
July 31, 2008 Number 162
Content:
- Join a Walk and Support Healthy Air and Lung Health
- Health Tip: Breathing Treatments: Equipment and Cleaning
- California Association, CTS Elect New Volunteer Leaders
- San Francisco Ends Tobacco Sales at Pharmacies
- COPD Summit First Step in Developing Statewide Strategic Plan
- Landmark Wood-Burning Regulation Will Protect Lung Health
- Volunteer Quoted in Los Angeles Times on Exercise and Air Pollution
- Shows Benefit Association and Comedian With Lung Cancer
- Breathe Easy Tour Inspires Those With Lung Disease to Get Active
- Researcher Focuses on Protein that May Block Tumor Growth
- Donate an Unwanted Vehicle
- Tell a Friend
JOIN A WALK AND SUPPORT HEALTHY AIR AND LUNG HEALTH
Californians breathe some of the unhealthiest air in the nation. Healthy Air Walks are planned in communities across the state to raise funds for the American Lung Association of California’s campaign to fight air pollution and improve lung health. The family-friendly events bring together corporations and individuals concerned about healthy air and all lung diseases, including asthma, lung cancer, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and emphysema.
Funds will support the American Lung Association of California’s campaign to reduce air pollution, a major contributor to lung disease. The association advocates for policies that cut emissions from cars, trucks, buses, heavy equipment and ports and for cleaner energy alternatives. The walks also support lung disease research as well as educational and support programs for people with lung disease.
Find a walk near you and register at www.healthyairwalk.org
MONTHLY HEALTH TIP: Breathing Treatments: Equipment and Cleaning
If you need breathing treatments, the American Lung Association of California’s medical section, the California Thoracic Society can help you understand how to buy equipment and properly clean it. For a detailed fact sheet, go to http://www.thoracic.org/
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION, CTS ELECT NEW VOLUNTEER LEADERS
Trisha Murakawa, a communications strategist and public affairs professional from Redondo Beach, was recently named chair of the Board of Directors for the American Lung Association of California. Murakawa has been a leader in the organization since 1997 and has served on the board since 1999.
David Claman, MD, with the University of California, San Francisco, Mount Zion Hospital, was elected to lead the California Thoracic Society, the American Lung Association of California's medical section, a 600-member organization that includes pulmonary care, critical care, and sleep disorder physicians, nurses, and other respiratory care professionals.
To read the related news release, go to http://californialung.org/
SAN FRANCISCO ENDS TOBACCO SALES AT PHARMACIES
San Francisco County Supervisors made history July 29 when they approved the first ordinance in the nation eliminating tobacco sales at all pharmacies in the city and county. The American Lung Association of California worked to secure the ordinance. Association staffer Ralph Morales testified before County Supervisors and volunteers wrote letters urging policymakers to protect public health by ending tobacco sales at pharmacies.
While many independently-owned pharmacies in California have stopped selling tobacco, the vast majority of chain pharmacies continue to peddle this deadly product. The corporations that own these chains have chosen to be in the pharmacy business, marketing their stores as places that promote health and well-being. Selling cigarettes alongside health products sends a mixed message to kids.
American Lung Association of California staffer Serena Chen was quoted in a San Francisco Chronicle story as saying: “It changes the conversation from something where people of conscience act to one where a city says, 'You know what, we support healthier lifestyles in our city.' "
To view the complete article, go to http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/
To read the related Action Alert, go to http://lungaction.org/
COPD SUMMIT FIRST STEP IN DEVELOPING STATEWIDE STRATEGIC PLAN
The American Lung Association of California recently held a COPD Summit to form a coalition and begin developing a statewide Strategic Plan for addressing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Held at the Center for Healthier Communities in Los Angeles, the Summit brought together key stakeholders, including health experts, healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies, researchers, and community and professional organizations. The final COPD Strategic Plan is scheduled for release in January 2009.
Summit participants developed an outline for the plan that included four goals:
- Improving the lives of those living with COPD
- Assessing the scope of COPD in California
- Increasing awareness and understanding for COPD patients
- Furthering the expert understanding of the disease
For more information, contact Lynn Devine at 619.269.8148 or ldevine [at] alac [dot] org
LANDMARK WOOD-BURNING REGULATION WILL PROTECT LUNG HEALTH
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District recently adopted a landmark regulation that will prohibit wood burning on nights when the air is unhealthy and limit visible emissions from chimneys year round. This is the most health-protective wood-smoke regulation in California and possibly the nation.
The American Lung Association of California has worked for nearly two decades to advance protections against harmful wood-smoke pollution, testifying at hearings, writing letters, and educating policymakers and the public about the dangerous health effects.
Wood smoke consists of tiny toxic particles that pose a serious public health threat when inhaled, contributing to asthma, emphysema and even premature death. Children and the elderly are most vulnerable.
To view a related news release, go to http://www.californialung.org/
For more information, contact Jenny Bard at 707.527.5864 or jbard [at] alac [dot] org
VOLUNTEER QUOTED IN LOS ANGELES TIMES ON EXERCISE AND AIR POLLUTION
American Lung Association of California volunteer John Balmes, MD, an air quality and health expert, was quoted in a July 7 Los Angeles Times article on exercise and air pollution. The article focuses on the dangers of exercising when air quality is poor.
"I think the public needs a little better education about the seriousness of the potential effects," Dr. Balmes told the paper. He was described in the article as a “professor of environmental health sciences at UC Berkeley's School of Public Health and a spokesman for the American Lung Assn. of California.”
To read the entire article, go to http://www.latimes.com/
SHOWS BENEFIT ASSOCIATION AND COMEDIAN WITH LUNG CANCER
Grace White, comedian and founder of "Women Who Kick Comedy Butt," was diagnosed with lung cancer in November 2007 and was told she had three months to live. Its nine months later and Grace is still fighting strong and working with the American Lung Association of California to advocate for better lung cancer screening and treatments. Recently she urged California legislators to adopt SB 458, which would create a Lung Cancer Early Detection and Research program, and filmed a public service announcement for the association to raise awareness about the need for more lung cancer research funding.
Grace’s “Women Who Kick Comedy Butt” will hold a performance to benefit the American Lung Association of California at Rooster T. Feathers Comedy Club in Sunnyvale. The show is scheduled for August 13 at 8 p.m. and costs $25. For location details, go to www.roostertfeathers.com
There will be a benefit show for Grace at the Colfax Theater in Colfax on September 20 at 8:30 p.m. She has been a resident of the picturesque small town for 33 years. For more details about the Colfax show, call 530.913.6300.
For more information about “Women Who Kick Comedy Butt” and Grace White, go to www.womenwhokickcomedybutt.com
BREATHE EASY TOUR INSPIRES THOSE WITH LUNG DISEASE TO GET ACTIVE
SeQual Technologies Inc. (SeQual) recently announced the launch of “Mark’s Breathe Easy Tour,” a SeQual-sponsored initiative in partnership with the American Lung Association of California and Seton Medical Center intended to raise awareness about chronic lung diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
“Mark’s Breathe Easy Tour” will spotlight COPD survivor and cyclist Mark Junge as he bikes from San Francisco to Tijuana, Mexico, demonstrating that lung disease does not have to keep those with it from enjoying life and staying active. Over the course of his 12-day ride, covering more than 500 miles of California Coast, Mark hopes to inspire oxygen-dependent people to continue living their lives using perseverance and today’s medical technology.
Mark left from San Francisco on July 24 and plans to be in San Diego on August 6, where an outdoor bagel-and-coffee breakfast at Embarcadero Marina Park will launch Mark for his victory lap to Tijuana. To attend the San Diego event, contact Ross Porter at 619.683.8655 or rporter [at] alac [dot] org
To view a related news release, go to http://www.californialung.org/
To learn more about Mark and his journey, go to http://www.sequal.com/corp_
RESEARCHER FOCUSES ON PROTEIN THAT MAY BLOCK TUMOR GROWTH
Lung cancer is the deadliest form of cancer. Ming Liu, MD, Ph.D., hopes to change that by discovering a way to block lung tumor growth. The researcher, who conducted her study at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), is investigating the role of a specific protein (COX-2) found in increased amounts in many lung tumor cells. Specifically, she is looking at two growth factors and the mechanism by which they stimulate the production of this protein.
Her project was one of 12 funded by the American Lung Association of California in fiscal year 2006-2007. To read a related article, go to http://www.californialung.org/
DONATE AN UNWANTED VEHICLE Support lung health and get a tax deduction by donating your car, truck, boat or RV to the American Lung Association of California. For more information or to donate your vehicle, call 800.586.4872, option 3, or go to www.donateyourcar.org
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 bottom right corner of the Web site homepage where it says “Get free monthly lung health news.”
