My IPF Diagnosis: From Denial to Double Lung Transplant
September 3, 2019 | Robert Wollenberg
Dr. Mike, one of my best friends, solemnly said, "Rob, you have IPF (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis). There isn't a cure." My mind silently shouted, "No I don't because I'll get out of this." … A barrier was built. This encounter took place in November 2014. Life moved on, my IPF plateaued and denial continued. But in September 2015, I almost drowned retrieving a dropped canopy stay in 10 feet of water. Half way down my lungs ran out of air. After my wife, Jackie, miraculously saved me, holding each other close in the back of the boat we knew I was in deep trouble.
American Lung Association Offers Hope and Help to the Youth Vaping Epidemic
August 29, 2019 | Michelle Mercure
Summer is winding down and families are excitedly preparing for the upcoming school year. Stores are brimming with school supplies. Students are anticipating reuniting with friends. Teachers are drafting lesson plans. And the tobacco industry is lying in wait, ready to recruit the next generation of tobacco users, with fancy teen-friendly flavors, tech-savvy products, and enticing online messages that show teens demonstrating fancy vape tricks.
The number one thing you can do to improve your asthma symptoms
August 29, 2019 | Editorial Staff
It may not surprise you to learn that smoking and secondhand smoke are two of the leading causes of asthma symptoms. But that doesn’t mean that adults with asthma don’t smoke. In fact, about 17 percent of adults with asthma use tobacco products even though it may cause them to experience severe wheezing and shortness of breath. Unfortunately, smoking is highly addictive so even though it is the single best thing someone can do to help their asthma symptoms, it can still be very hard to quit.
Top 10 Tips for Lung Association Trekkers and Cyclists
August 13, 2019 | Editorial Staff
Everyone loves healthy air and healthy lungs—but few people truly appreciate it the way cyclists do. For people who love to bike, either competitively or just for fun, there is something almost sacred about cruising down a bike path enjoying the wind on your face and a deep inhale of crisp clean air in your lungs.
Keeping Your Child Safe in the Water
August 6, 2019 | Editorial Staff
Swimming is a quintessential part of the summer experience for many adults and children. It can provide great exercise and is a wonderful way to beat the summer heat. Unfortunately, there are risks to swimming - mainly drowning. By staying vigilant and taking safety precautions, you can help keep your whole family safe this summer. Here is what you need to know.
HUD Celebrates One Year of Smokefree Apartment Living
July 30, 2019 | Editorial Staff
For more than a decade, the American Lung Association has been working hard to protect everyone in public housing from secondhand smoke exposure. This multi-faceted effort included years of advocating for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to make all federally subsidized housing, including public housing, smokefree.
Can you detox your lungs?
July 29, 2019 | Editorial Staff
In recent years, natural remedies and "detoxification" diets have gained popularity as a quick and trendy way to eliminate toxins from your body. While some products are marketed to aid in overnight weight loss, improved digestion or enhanced energy levels, others claim to reverse years of damage to organs such as your lungs.
Antioxidants: Lung Cancer’s Friend or Foe?
July 24, 2019 | Editorial Staff
Dietary supplements have long been believed by some to provide your body needed vitamins and guard against disease. There was a time when it was thought that antioxidant supplementation could be a major breakthrough for disease treatment and prevention. But recently, two studies have found evidence that antioxidants may cause lung cancer cells to spread.
Innovative Study Looks to Personalize Lung Cancer Treatment
July 23, 2019 | Editorial Staff
In recent years, the low-dose CT scan has helped doctors better detect, understand and monitor lung cancer in patients. Using a series of images taken from different angles, this diagnostic test helps doctors create a more detailed internal view into a patient’s body.
Can Dogs Sniff Out Lung Cancer?
July 2, 2019 | Editorial Staff
Researchers from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine may have taken an important step in improving the ability to detect lung cancer. Their study, recently released in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, successfully trained three dogs to use their superior smelling skills to identify cancerous blood samples. Though similar studies have been performed in the past, researchers are hopeful that these new findings will lead to a simpler lung cancer test for patients.