July 2012 Health Tip: Respiratory Health| 04:17PM / Tuesday, July 10, 2012 | |
 This month's health tip from the Massachusetts Medical Society, the statewide association of physicians, is about respiratory health.
Respiratory illnesses such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (bronchitis and emphysema), asthma, pneumonia, tuberculosis, and influenza affect millions of people every year. These conditions damage the lungs and airways, impair the ability to breathe, lead to disability, and claim thousands of lives every year. Both children and adults are susceptible. Some conditions, like the flu and tuberculosis, are spread from person to person.
To protect and maintain your respiratory health, take these steps:
- Get immunized for conditions like the flu and pneumonia
- Recognize the six hallmark signs of respiratory illness: cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing up blood, mucus/phlegm production, and chest pain, and see a physician if you experience any of these.
- Most importantly, avoid smoking (and secondhand smoke) — the single, biggest preventable cause of death, disability and disease and the primary cause of many respiratory illnesses
For more information, visit the American Lung Association at www.lungusa.org.
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