Looking after your lungs

In 2012, more than 5,500 people died from lung disease in Ireland. It is estimated that this is the cause of one in five deaths across the country, giving Ireland the third-highest death rate for lung disease in western Europe.

This week is the first National Lung Health Awareness week and Prof Anthony O’Regan, a consultant respiratory physician, says it is important for Irish people to become more aware of their lung health and the need to seek advice if they have any worrying symptoms.

“There is a poor awareness among the public about the importance of having their doctor check for lung disease and, if necessary, organise lung tests such as spirometry,” he says.

“This simple test can identify some common lung diseases even before symptoms appear, and can lead to effective treatment.

“It’s important to remember that if people have symptoms such as shortness of breath or wheeze, persistent cough or phlegm, or if they cough up blood, they should visit their doctor straight away.

“The sooner a problem is treated, the better the results, and further irreversible lung damage can be averted.

“Early action is vital,” O’Regan adds. “We hope that this campaign and our lung health awareness roadshow will get people thinking about lung health and ultimately help to reduce the burden of lung disease on society.”

Throughout this week, a national roadshow will be offering free lung health testing because, in most cases, lung disease is preventable by not smoking, avoiding toxins in the air, eating healthily and being active.

However, if lung disease is caught early, treatment can significantly improve people’s chances of living a healthy life.

The most common lung conditions in Ireland are asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), lung cancer, cystic fibrosis, TB and sleep apnoea. See lunghealth.ie.