TOP NEWS
Thank You! As the year comes to an end, we want to say thank you for all you do to make our lifesaving mission possible. We are eternally thankful for supporters like you! Because of your donations, our diverse and lifesaving work continues to bring us closer to our vision of a world free of lung disease.
New Support for those with COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a life-long chronic lung disease that makes it difficult to breathe. During November’s COPD Awareness Month, we launched our new “COPD for Life” campaign, with support from Sanofi and Regeneron, to help people who have been living with the disease for ten or more years live better, more active and enjoyable lives. Through the campaign, we will:
- Educate people on the latest COPD guidelines, empower them to have conversations with their healthcare provider about their symptoms, and learn about new treatment and management options available.
- Provide resources that are more accessible to those carrying the highest burden of COPD.
- Add a new Lung Health Navigator to the staff of our Lung HelpLine, accessible online or by calling 1-800-LungUSA.
Learn more at Lung.org/COPD.
LUNG FORCE Hero Advocates for Lung Cancer Screening & Menthol Rule: On November 16, the Lung Association worked with Rep. Wasserman Schultz (FL) and several other lung cancer organizations to hold a press conference on Capitol Hill highlighting the importance of increasing access to and awareness of lung cancer screening. This press conference discussed two pieces of legislation in Congress that focus on lung cancer – The Increasing Access to Lung Cancer Screening Act and the Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act. LUNG FORCE Hero, Martha H (pictured), from Illinois joined the event, shared her personal connection to lung cancer and advocated for these two bills to be passed. She also asked the Biden administration to finalize the rules to prohibit the sale of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars by the end of the year.
Enroll Now for Healthcare Coverage! Quality and affordable healthcare is important for everyone, but especially for those with lung diseases like asthma, COPD or lung cancer. Enrollment for healthcare on Healthcare.gov is open through January 15 in most states. The American Lung Association has tools and information to help patients, including updated FAQs about the enrollment process and infographics to help patients with asthma and COPD choose a healthcare plan. Please share the resources at www.Lung.org/openenrollment with your family and friends!
SUPPORT THE LUNG ASSOCIATION
Take the Stairs for Lung Health: January 10 is National Take the Stairs Day. Did you know you can support lung health by participating in one of our Fight For Air Climb events? These are fun and rewarding events, held across the country, where participants climb the stairs of local landmarks, to raise funds for the Lung Association. Now is the perfect time to sign up and even build a climb team! Find a Climb near you.
Help Your Way with a DIY Fundraiser! This holiday season or any time of the year, celebrate or honor a loved one whose life has been impacted by lung disease. With our DIY resources, starting a fundraiser has never been easier. Get involved today.
RESEARCH
Lung Association Funding Leads to $1.5M NIH Grant: Dr. Roy Morello, a recipient of the Lung Association Innovation Award, recently secured a $1.54 million grant from the National Institutes of Health. Funding from the Lung Association allowed Dr. Morello to expand on his work on osteogenesis imperfecta, a brittle bone disease that affects breathing. This success story shows how Lung Association grants propel careers and have an exponential impact on strategic funding for future research.
PATIENT SUPPORT
Breaking News - Asthma For Life program Launches a new Asthma Education Series with the Lung Helpline
On December 1, the Asthma For Life program was launched as a NEW opportunity to provide FREE One-to-One Asthma Self-Management Education direct to patients and caregivers. Using the evidence based Breathe Well, Live Well curriculum, this telephonic with optional video calls series is comprised of customizable education sessions provided by the American Lung Association Lung Health Navigators at the Lung Helpline. These dedicated healthcare professionals are ready to help. To learn more visit Lung HelpLine Education Series. Grant funding for this program was generously provided through Sanofi and Regeneron.
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Asthma Basics: Newly Updated Interactive Course
Asthma Basics is a free, interactive course offered in English and Spanish that teaches participants to recognize and manage triggers, understand the value of an asthma action plan, and recognize and respond to a breathing emergency. This course has been redesigned to include three topic-specific modules with “choose your own adventure” style activities, updated content, more videos and additional interactive features. Learn more and register at Lung.org/asthma-basics.
HEALTHY AIR
Strong New Standards that will Limit Oil and Gas Industry Pollution: We’re celebrating a big victory that will help clean up air pollution and address climate change. In early December, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized strong new standards to clean up emissions from the oil and gas industry. The new rule will cut down on leaks of methane gas, which drive climate change, as well as reduce dangerous air pollutants that harm the lungs of people living near oil and gas drilling operations. This victory comes after more than a decade of advocacy from the Lung Association and other organizations. See our press statement and news coverage.
Healthcare Professional Survey on Indoor Air Pollution
Healthcare professionals, we need your help! Do you know how indoor air pollution impacts your patients' health? The American Lung Association is asking healthcare professionals to share their understanding and clinical experiences with indoor air pollution in a brief online survey. Your responses will help us develop resources and programs to support you in providing the best possible care to your patients. Plus, complete the survey for a chance to win a scholarship for an American Lung Association CME/CEU educational course.
TOBACCO
Urge President Biden to finalize menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars rules by the end of this year - Now’s your chance to fight back against Big Tobacco and tell President Biden he can save hundreds of thousands of lives by ending the sale of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. Would you join us in telling the White House to finalize these lifesaving rules prohibiting menthol cigarettes and all flavored cigars?
25th Anniversary of Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement: Twenty-five years ago, four major tobacco companies settled a court case with 46 states and the District of Columbia that resulted in a major change for tobacco companies. The American Lung Association knows the value of the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) funds firsthand, as it has funded and implemented programs and services that benefit millions of Americans. Learn more.
EACH BREATH BLOG
Volatile Organic Compounds – also known as “VOCs” – are chemicals that vaporize at room temperature. Most VOCs are released into the air when we use products and materials containing VOCs. Breathing in VOCs can be harmful to health. Learn more on how to protect your health in our latest blog.
Have a Happy, Healthy Holiday Season!
We wish you and those you love a happy and healthy holiday season! We look forward to working together in the New Year to help all Americans breathe easier.
Blog last updated: December 8, 2023
