Top News
Exciting News for Patient & Caregiver Network Members—Introducing the Patient & Caregiver Network Wellness Hub, a new benefit that provides members with resources to improve mental and physical health, including breathing exercises, meditation videos, recipes and more. The goal of the Wellness Hub is to improve the everyday lives of people living with lung disease. Not a member yet? It’s free, join today at Lung.org/pcn. Wellness coach Jenna highlights the Wellness Hub’s six libraries—each addressing a pivotal health topic—in the new blog post: “The Secrets of Overall Wellness for Lung Disease Patients.”
Sanofi and the Sanofi and Regeneron Alliance Honored for Supporting Lung Health— We recently presented Sanofi and the Sanofi Regeneron Alliance with the Outstanding Corporate Partner Award at our annual awards celebration in Chicago. Over the past 10 years, Sanofi and the Sanofi and Regeneron Alliance have invested more than $5 million to support our programs, initiatives and events aimed at improving lung health. Said Harold Wimmer, Lung Association President & CEO: “As the Lung Association celebrates 120 Years of Impact this year, we are proud to recognize Sanofi and the Sanofi and Regeneron Alliance for their outstanding commitment to supporting lung health. Our partnership has impacted public health and healthy equity by raising awareness of the importance of vaccination and by supporting people living with chronic lung disease, such as asthma and COPD.”
SUPPORT THE LUNG ASSOCIATION
Sign Up Now for Fall Events! —It’s not too early to sign up for LUNG FORCE Walks and Run/Walks, Treks and other Autumn events! Each offers you a great way to get out and show your love for healthy lungs. Get involved!
Utah Jazz’s Jason Preston and Fiancée Support Lung Association—Lung Association Ambassador and Utah Jazz player Jason Preston and his fiancée, Micaylah Nash, are requesting donations to the Lung Association instead of traditional wedding gifts. This gesture honors Preston’s mother, Judith Sewell, who died from lung cancer when he was 16. Their upcoming wedding in Jamaica, Sewell’s birthplace, also adds special significance. Donations in his mother’s honor will support the Lung Association’s mission to improve lung health and prevent lung disease through research, education, and advocacy. Support their efforts here and learn how to start your own DIY campaign here.
RESEARCH
New Study Highlights Microbiome Imbalances in Critically Ill Ventilation Patients—A recent study, published in Nature Communications, found that critically ill patients on mechanical ventilation develop imbalances in the microbiomes of the mouth, lungs and gut over time. This means that they have fewer helpful bacteria and more harmful pathogens. This is important because changes in the microbiome can help predict patient survival, which creates new possibilities for personalized treatments that target specific microbial imbalances and improve outcomes. First author Dr. Georgios Kitsios received a Lung Association COVID-19 Respiratory Virus Research Award.
ADVOCACY
Supreme Court Decision on Loper Bright Threatens Nation’s Regulatory System—We recently led a statement from 16 prominent health and medical associations expressing our dismay with regards to the U.S. Supreme Court decision to eliminate the long-standing principle of “Chevron deference” —the latitude that has ensured courts generally deferred to federal agencies to interpret and execute the specifics of complex laws. This ruling will affect all federal regulatory agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency and agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services.
Calling on House Appropriations Committee to Reject NIH Reorganization Efforts—We’re calling on members of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations to reject efforts to use the appropriations process to reorganize the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Harold Wimmer, Lung Association President & CEO, said in a statement: “A partisan bill is not the appropriate way for Congress to consider significant changes to our nation’s premier biomedical research agency. The results of the research funded by and conducted by NIH is literally a lifeline for tens of millions of people in the United States, including more than 34 million with lung disease.”
New Multi-agency Task Force to Address Illegal E-Cigarettes—Harold Wimmer, Lung Association President & CEO, recently applauded the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for announcing a new multi-agency task force to address the illegal distribution and sale of e-cigarettes. “For too long, manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers have acted without regard for the law or public health,” Wimmer said in a statement. “The Lung Association has urged enhanced law enforcement actions be taken to hold manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors accountable for selling illegal tobacco products and to protect the public health, especially children’s health.”
Supporting No Cost Preventative Care for All—The Lung Association recently led a 10-organization statement responding to a U.S. Court of Appeals ruling in the Braidwood vs. Becerra case that limited a lower court’s decision to halt the Affordable Care Act requirement mandating cost-free coverage of preventive services. According to the joint response, the ruling “protects access to lifesaving care for the 151.6 million people enrolled in health insurance plans that covered cost-free preventive services as of 2020. However, the Court’s decision could result in additional legal challenges that threaten the accessibility of preventive care, including access to preventive services like vaccinations recommended by other bodies. Everyone must have access to essential lifesaving care.”
HEALTH PROMOTIONS
Asthma Program Cuts Asthma Hospitalizations in Half for Patients in Participating Clinics—This year, the Lung Association’s Enhancing Asthma Care program is celebrating 20 years of helping healthcare providers to improve care for their patients with asthma. This program has been shown to reduce hospitalizations by 47% and reduce emergency room visits by 37% for people with asthma. The Enhancing Asthma Care program has reached more than 530 clinics across 21 states thanks to funding from partners Amgen and AstraZeneca. Learn more and sign up at Lung.org/EnhancingAsthmaCare.
Protecting Lungs on the Job—Nearly 15% of people diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) were exposed to COPD risk factors from their jobs. Occupations like manufacturing, mining and agriculture are the leading job types that put employees at risk of developing work‑related COPD.
- Watch a one-minute video (English/Spanish).
- Take a five-question work-related exposure assessment
- Watch a one-hour recorded webinar for a more in-depth learning experience.
Learn more at Lung.org/workplace-COPD.
EACH BREATH BLOG
“Improving Access to Affordable Inhalers” — Many patients with lung diseases, like asthma or COPD, rely on daily medications to help prevent or respond to their symptoms and to live a healthier life. Unfortunately, cost can be a barrier to accessing these medications. Over the past few years, a number of federal and state policies, as well as voluntary commitments from pharmaceutical manufacturers, have helped to reduce the cost of insulin for people with diabetes, and many stakeholders are now hoping to lower the cost of inhalers for people living with asthma, COPD and other lung diseases. Our recent blog highlights these changes and how they may impact the cost of your inhaler.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Because of your support, we have made 120 years of impact by saving lives. Our work directly touches more than 25 million people living in the U.S. each year and supports millions more with our pioneering model of education, advocacy and research. Thank you for all you do to help us all breathe easier!
Blog last updated: July 12, 2024
