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Lung Health Awareness Day 2008
Ian Gibson MP exercises for lung health
Norwich North MP, Ian Gibson, helped the British Lung Foundation to raise awareness of the importance of healthy lungs at the House of Commons on Wednesday 7th May.
The British Lung Foundation is urging members of the public of all ages to protect their lungs and to keep them healthy by taking regular exercise. Ian Gibson MP helped to demonstrate how exercise like cycling or brisk walking allows the lungs to deliver oxygen-rich blood to the working muscles, helping to keep us fitter and healthier. The BLF also wants people to protect their lungs from smoke and other substances because any resulting damage cannot be repaired and reduces the amount of oxygen absorbed into the blood from the lungs.
Ian Gibson MP said: “I’m delighted to support the British Lung Foundation’s campaign to encourage us to look after our lungs. We don’t realise how fragile our lungs are and what an important job they do in keeping us mobile and active.”
Dame Helena Shovelton, Chief Executive of the British Lung Foundation said: “We are pleased that Ian Gibson MP is supporting our campaign. Lung disease is the UK’s second biggest killer so it’s vital that people understand how important it is to take more care of their lungs.”
Anyone who wants more information about the British Lung Foundation or about COPD should visit www.lunguk.org or call the BLF Helpline on 08458 50 50 20.
More About the British Lung Foundation
1. The British Lung Foundation is the only UK charity working for everyone affected by lung disease. The charity focuses its resources on providing support for people affected by lung disease today; and works in a variety of ways (including funding world-class research) to bring about positive change, to improve treatment, care and support for people affected by lung disease in the future.
It provides information via the website www.lunguk.org and telephone helpline 08458 50 50 20.
2. In 2006 the charity launched a membership scheme with the aim of recruiting the 8 million people with lung disease in the UK and anyone with an interest in lung disease.
3. One person in every seven in the UK is affected by lung disease – this equates to approximately 8 million people
4. Respiratory disease is the second biggest killer in the UK (117,456 deaths in 20042) after all non-respiratory cancers combined which only account for slightly more deaths (122,500 deaths in UK in 2004)
5. Respiratory disease now kills one in five people in the UK
6. The UK’s death rate from respiratory disease is almost double the European average and the 6th highest in Europe
7. Respiratory disease is the most commonly reported long term illness in children andthe third most commonly reported in adults. One in 7 boys and 1 in 8 girls aged 2 – 15 report having long term respiratory illness in England