The Florida Lung, Asthma and Sleep Specialists know that it can be difficult to begin a week with a holiday Monday.
However, since Monday is Memorial Day, we feel it is important that we, the FLASS staff and doctors acknowledge and honor the men and women of the U.S. Military at this time.
At FLASS, we have always been unabashedly patriotic and we support our military men and women all year round.
Today, we especially revere the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice of their lives to preserve our freedom and the American Way of Life.
We know it is the military of our country that allows us to be the Land of the Free and the Home of the brave.
We bow our heads.
We place flowers on soldier’s graves.
We take the time to feel the memories of our fallen heroes.
Our soldiers deserve more than just a day or just a week-end of remembrance.
That is why we of the Florida Lung, Asthma and Sleep Specialists hereby declare the entire week a time of honor and reverence for our Military forces.
Some Secrets In The Air You Breathe
Recently, a special message from Harold P. Wimmer, National President and CEO of the American Lung Association revealed some information about the air you breathe.
He stated, “We strongly believe that everyone has the right to breathe healthy air, and that begins with knowing the quality of your air. So for the past 16 years, the American Lung Association has undertaken the “State of the Air” report, which examines air pollution levels across the U.S. This year’s report shows encouraging progress, evidence of the success of our long fight for cleaner, healthier air for all Americans.”
We thought some of the material in this report was so important, that you–and your lungs–should know about it!
FLASS Presents: The Best Kept Secrets In Your Lungs
1. Tiny Particulates Hurt: The report indicates that 4 in 10 people in the United States live in areas of unhealthy levels of either ozone or particle pollution. In the time it takes to read this fact, you might have inhaled 3-5 times.
It is such an automatic act that we sometimes take it completely for granted. You would not deliberately swallow 3-5 gulps of BAD water, but your lungs have no choice when it comes to the quality of the air you breathe.
What you do not see, or even really “feel” can hurt you.
2. Check Out the Air Report In Your Town: Find out what quality of air you are breathing by reading State of the Air Report.
This account examines air pollution levels across the U.S. You can find out what your lungs already know about your air quality in your area, even in your city. “This year’s report shows encouraging progress, evidence of the success of our long fight for cleaner, healthier air for all Americans. Paired with that progress, however, is evidence of troubling challenges. Both underscore the urgent need to continue to defend the Clean Air Act, which protects the air we all breathe.”
3. Air Quality Matters: The American Lung Association’s report reviews monitoring data on:
A. ozone
B. particle pollution
Both of these can harm your health and put people with asthma, COPD or lung cancer at grave risk. Likewise, if you work out or exercise in the great outdoors, you need to know the condition of the air out there!
Experts are telling us “both ozone and particle pollution can harm your health – even shorten lives. Medical science warns us that air pollution does more harm to our health than we previously thought, and at lower levels.”
4. Go Here For Advocacy: Check out this companion resource to find out what you might be able to do to help such associations as the American Lung Society in their fight for your clean air. It’s historic. It might be political. It’s your lungs! It’s your air! Discover what the government is doing to protect the air you breathe.
We know of 33 million Americans who suffer from diseases like lung cancer, COPD and asthma. FLASS hope you will help them and yourselves become more aware of the condition of American air.
We highly recommend you read the report, and look up the secrets of the air in your city or area. You might be surprised.
Likewise, health care professionals and our “deep readers” in the topic of asthma will appreciate this recent article. (Note that you might have to sign up as a member of Medscape in order to read this asthma revelation, but it is well worth the time, and it’s free.)