your health — fall & winter 2014
DESCRIPTION
IN THIS ISSUE: Have you checked your home for radon? • Providing the evidence for government to act • Wait, weren’t these the safer option? Vancouver takes cautionary position on e-cigarettes • Chronic quitter Adriana found the resolve to quit for good • The best way to prevent lung cancer? Never start smoking, and if you do smoke, quit now. • Researchers helping us breathe easier (Dr. Nico Marr, Dr. Bradley Quon, Dr. Jeremy Hirota, Dr. Santiago Ramon-Garcia, Dr. Vincent Duronio, Dr. Michael Brauer and Dr. Sarah Henderson) • Treatable. Manageable. Radically under-diagnosed. Why does a disease like COPD escape notice? • Taking charge of asthma • Trek Turns 30: Riding for a cause, not for applause • Registered Respiratory Therapists: Vital in keeping lungs healthyTRANSCRIPT
and the air you breathe
FA L L & W I N T E R 2 0 1 4
Second thoughts on e-cigarettes p.5
What a ride! Trek hits 30 years p.12
What’s under the house? It’s time to check your home for radon. p.3
2 Your Health — Fall & Winter 2014
Your HealthFall & Winter 2014
British Columbia Lung Association2675 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 2K2
Tel: 604 731 5864
Toll-free: 1 800 665 5864
Fax: 604 731 5810
www.bc.lung.ca
StaffPresident & CEO: Scott McDonald
Editor: Katrina van Bylandt
Contributing Writer/Editor: Emily Wall
Contributing Writer: Sondi Bruner
Layout & Design: Matthew Shettler
Medical Advisory CommitteeDr. Robert Schellenberg, UBC Pulmonary Research Lab,
St. Paul’s Hospital (Chair)
Dr. Victoria Cook, TB Clinic, BC Centre for Disease Control
Dr. Patricia Daly, Chief Medical Health Offi cer, Vancouver
Coastal Health
Dr. J. Mark FitzGerald, UBC Respiratory Medicine, VGH
Dr. John Fleetham, UBC Respiratory Medicine, VGH
Dr. Darlene Reid, Div. Of Physical Therapy, UBC
Dr. Jeremy Road, UBC Respiratory Division, VHSSC
Dr. David Speert, Child & Family Research Institute
Dr. Pat Camp, UBC School of Rehabilitation Medicine
Executive CommitteeDr. Peter Paré, Chair
Mr. Ash Dhanani, Vice-Chairperson
Dr. Kevin Elwood, Honourary Treasurer
Mr. Dan BoudreaultMr. Gary ChappleMr. Tom DeSorcyMr. Mike EllisMr. Richie GageMr. Doug HillMr. Walter HuebertMrs. Marilyn LawrenceMr. Scott MarshallMr. Keith MurrayDr. Robert Schellenberg
Please join the generations of British Columbians who celebrate their health and happiness year in and year out with an important donation to Lung Association Christmas Seals.®
Today, the Lung Association fi ghts a bigger battle than ever before. From important research on lung cancer and asthma to the fi ght against the dangerous poisons in air pollution and secondhand smoke, the Lung Association’s crucial mission is still largely supported by Christmas Seals.
Each year, thousands observe the tradition of sealing holiday cards and packages with that year’s special seal. And each year, your Christmas Seals donation supports the important fi ght against lung disease being waged every day by the Lung Association.
HELP STAMP OUT LUNG DISEASE.1-800-665-LUNG • WWW.BC.LUNG.CA
bc.lung.ca 3
Important Dates
November Lung Month
November 19 World COPD Day
November 17-21 National Addictions Awareness Week
January 18-24 National Non-Smoking Week
February 26-28 Conference: The Union, North America
Region (International Union Against TB &
Lung Disease), Vancouver
March 2-8 National Sleep Awareness Week
March 24 World Tuberculosis Day
March 25 The BC Lung Association’s 12th annual Air
Quality & Health Workshop, Vancouver
Is radon something we should think about? Yes. Should we panic? No.
A radioactive gas that comes from the breakdown of
uranium in the ground, radon can seep into homes,
workplaces and other buildings through cracks in the walls
or foundation. Virtually every house in Canada contains
some radon. The question is: How much is too much?
Measured in becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m3), Health
Canada recommends home radon levels not exceed
200 Bq/m3. However, there are no known “safe” levels and
we recommend reducing radon in homes to the lowest
achievable level.
The only way to know if you have a radon problem is to
test for it. One house can have radon levels next to zero
while the house next door can be off the charts.
And if your radon levels are high, it’s not hard to fi x. A
certifi ed radon mitigation professional can reduce radon
levels in most homes by more than 80 per cent for about
the same cost as other common home repairs.
To order a radon test kit or fi nd a certifi ed contractor in your
region, go to RadonAware.ca.
Climb the WallEvery year hundreds of
British Columbians climb to
the top of one of Vancouver’s
tallest buildings to raise
awareness and funds for
the BC Lung Association.
Taking place on March 1st,
this year marks 14 years of
thigh-burning dedication from
our community of lung health
supporters! stairclimb.ca
To order a radon test kit or fi nd a certifi ed contractor in your
region, go to RadonAware.ca
Have you checked your home for radon?
The 2nd leading cause of lung cancer after smoking, radon is a serious public health issue.
Taking action on radon is a priority for the BC Lung Association.
Too few British Columbians know what radon is, where it comes from, whether they have a problem and/or how to fi x it.
The star of the HGTV series Holmes Makes It Right, Mike Holmes, is helping us hammer home the message on radon. He teamed up with the Lung Association to produce television and radio public service announcements broadcasting nationwide in November during national Lung Month.
A Comparison of Three Radon Systems in British Columbia Homes:
ConCluSionS And ReCommendATionS
foR THe BRiTiSH ColumBiA Building Code
As pArt of its
ppublished byublished byublished by
progrAm4 Your Health — Fall & Winter 2014
Advocacy The BC Lung Association works with government, health care professionals, other non-profi t organizations and businesses to bring about public policy changes that improve the lung health of British Columbians.
BC Lung Association radon mitigation research a deciding factor for forthcoming changes to the BC Building Code
Providing the evidence for government to act
New homeowners to be protected from radon risk
Too big a problem for us to solve alone,
the BC Lung Association is working with
government and other stakeholders across
BC to encourage action on radon, the second
leading cause of lung cancer.
Together we’re making progress; most
recently in the form of positive radon
protection related changes to the BC Building
Code.
“We provided the research; the evidence
that substantiated the need for BC Building
Code changes,” says Britt Swoveland,
Provincial Coordinator for the Association’s
RadonAware program. “In the winter of 2014,
we partnered with local agencies to study
the effectiveness of home radon mitigation
systems in 16 homes. An equal number of
homes were tested in the Castlegar/Nelson
area and Prince George. The study’s main
focus was determining what radon reduction
measures worked best.
“The study proved current BC Building
Code requirements did not provide enough
protection from radon exposure. It also
established that the minimum requirement
for new homes should be the installation of
a radon vent pipe that extends from beneath
the basement � oor of the house and safely
exhausts to the outdoors through the attic
and out the roof.”
What are the code changes and when do they take eff ect?
As of December 19, 2014, all new housing
in high-risk areas of BC must have a radon
vent-pipe (also known as a Passive Radon
Reduction System). In parallel with the Code
changes is an expansion of Area 1, the region
of BC believed to be at higher risk for radon.
In Area 1, all new homes will require a radon
pipe in order to pass inspection and obtain
occupancy permits. (See map, above.)
“This is a huge step towards protecting public health from radon exposure. New Code requirements off er more radon protection and apply to a larger region of the province. A simple map now shows whether or not you need to install a radon vent pipe.”
Britt Swoveland, Provincial Coordinator RadonAware, BC Lung Association
To read the full report,
visit RadonAware.ca
E-CIGARETTES INCLUDED
bc.lung.ca 5
City Council’s recent decision to regulate where e-cigarettes are used and who they’re sold to is raising a lot of questions — chief among them, “Why?” Hear what the BC Lung Association’s Veda Peters has to say.
Current popular claims suggest e-cigarettes
are a “safe” alternative to smoking, that the
vapour they produce is just water, that they’re
a great way to quit smoking. These claims
leave out important details and even more
important gaps in e-cigarette information.
The fact is, e-cigarettes are not approved by
anyone as a quit smoking aid even though
for many former smokers, they worked when
nothing else did. And they are unregulated
and have no labeling requirements. More
importantly, while e-cigarettes sold legally
in Canada do not contain nicotine, they
do contain a host of potentially harmful
chemicals, including carcinogens and
chemicals proven to cause respiratory
distress; and it’s not hard to obtain nicotine-
based e-cigarettes via the Internet.
The ‘e-juice’ used in e-cigarettes contains
unknown, unregulated and potentially
harmful substances that users are inhaling
deep into their lungs. Until more is known,
we need to proceed with caution by applying
the same standards and restrictions to
e-cigarettes that we do to traditional
cigarettes.
Furthermore, a recent report released by the
World Health Organization revealed that
the aerosol exhaled by users isn’t simply
“water vapour,” as marketing claims state,
but exposes bystanders to a number of
toxicants that may put adolescents and the
fetuses of pregnant women at risk.
On October 1, 2014 — Vancouver City
Council passed a bylaw amendment in a
unanimous vote taken to extend current no
smoking bylaws to include e-cigarettes.
In addition to banning e-cigarette use in
public areas, this cautionary measure will
prohibit the display or sale of e-cigarettes
to minors — which is a regulation currently
being put forth by the BC government as a
proposed amendment to existing legislation.
The BC Lung Association applauds the City of Vancouver for their insight in
amending smoking bylaws as an important
step towards maintaining progress made
in tobacco control and continuing to work
towards a smoke-free BC. We hope many
more will follow.
Did you know? → E-cigarettes contain chemicals that may cause eye and respiratory irritation.
→ Many e-cigarette brands on the market are owned by major tobacco companies.
→ 30% of users believe that the device is asbsolutely safe.
→ 40% of users see e-cigarettes as an acceptable alternative to conventional cigarettes.
→ Nicotine is a poison.
Wait, weren’t these the safer option?Vancouver takes cautionary position on e-cigarettes
“The fact is e-cigarettes are not approved by anyone as a quit smoking aid even though for many former smokers, they worked when nothing else did. And they are unregulated and have no labeling requirements.”
Veda PetersTobacco Education Coordinator
BC Lung Association
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quitnow.ca/conte
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6 Your Health — Fall & Winter 2014
Chronic quitter Adriana found the resolve to quit for good
For more about QuitNow, visit quitnow.ca, email [email protected] or call
The Lung Association at 1-800-665-5864.
quitnow news A province-wide quit smoking resource, QuitNow provides and promotes tools and services scientifi cally-proven to increase quit-ready British Columbians’ chances of quit success.
“To help someone quit, it’s important to recognize how hard it can be. Smoking is a complex and powerful addiction. Slips and relapses happen, and smokers rarely quit on their fi rst try. Support can make all the diff erence.”
Skylar PepinQuitNow Community Outreach ManagerBC Lung Association
A heavy smoker from ages 13 to 30, Adriana
was a chronic quitter for years before
� nding the resolve to quit for good four
years ago. “If I didn’t have my smoke that’s
all I was thinking about. By the end I was
smoking a pack and half a day at least.
“I’d go to bed hating the fact I was a smoker
so I would throw all my smokes out,” said
Adriana. “Then by lunch the next day I’d go
out and buy more. Only a handful of times
did I make it past 24 hours.”
She tried to quit when she got pregnant, but
willpower alone wasn’t enough. Adriana
relied on cigarettes.
“I thought it was helping to relieve stress that
I had in my life,” she said. “Now, I don’t think
it helped at all.”
It was the death of an aunt, by lung cancer,
that � nally gave her the impetus to quit. “I
saw her on her death bed,” Adriana recalls.
She thought about the children and
grandchildren her aunt was leaving behind,
having not yet seen her 50th birthday, and
how sad it was for them. She thought about
her own son, and knew she had to quit for
him.
To quit, Adriana tried everything from
nicotine patches to going cold turkey
and in the end found a prescription quit
medication called Champix helped her best.
QuitNow helped too.
“Now my life is all about healthy living. I’ve
become a yoga enthusiast and I don’t miss
smoking anymore,” said Adriana. “At � rst it
was like losing my best friend in the world.
I would carry a list in my back pocket of
all the reasons I quit to pull out when I felt
weak. That helped me a lot — maybe it can
help others too.”
Ready to quit smoking? We’re here to help, /.
“I called the QuitNow helpline for advice and I like their Facebook community. It’s reassuring to know you’re not the only one struggling. And it’s helpful to see others succeed, because I thought if they can do it, I can too!”
Every fi rst Tuesday of the month, QuitNow hosts the Tobacco Free Tuesday Challenge — a 24hr quit and win contest providing British Columbians who smoke with the opportunity to turn over a new leaf, start fresh, give quitting a try and maybe even win some prizes!
Adriana Anderson-Viskovich, Maple Ridge, BC
bc.lung.ca 7
Susan’s storySusan grew up in the ‘60s and ‘70s, a time
when one in two Canadians over the age
of 15 smoked, and smoked everywhere:
in workplaces; universities; restaurants;
airplanes; even in doctors’ of� ces.
Like many of her generation, Susan started
smoking in her teens. By the time she was
in her twenties, she was a single mom with
a serious addiction to nicotine.
When Susan met Art in the ‘80s, the
harms of tobacco smoke were becoming
better known. Susan knew she had to quit
smoking, and once she and Art decided
to have more children, she � nally had the
motivation she needed to quit for good.
Fast-forward to September 2013 — now
proud parents of four healthy daughters,
Susan and Art were on their way to San
Francisco for a week’s holiday when out of
nowhere Susan was stricken with severe
back pain. With no explanation, and little
more than an aspirin for the discomfort, she
and Art managed to soldier on.
Once home from vacation, Susan did
everything she could to alleviate the pain.
She spoke with her doctors and underwent
tests, but neither she nor Art foresaw what
was coming. By November, the Van Pelt family
got their answer. Susan was suffering from
aggressive, untreatable stage IV lung cancer.
Needless to say, Susan was devastated.
Everybody was. But she held out against the
pain for seven weeks, rallying during visits
with family, friends and co-workers, only to
decline soon after.
Susan passed away on January 16, 2014 at
the age of 58.
“My wife loved working with kids and
teenagers, and it concerned her that they
still take up smoking,” says Art. “Our family
is determined to save others from Susan’s
fate by supporting tobacco use prevention
and control initiatives.”
We are grateful to Art Van Pelt for sharing his
wife’s story and for his support of our work here
at the BC Lung Association. To learn more about
Susan, and Art’s tobacco-related advocacy work,
visit susansbattle.com.
Art Van Pelt (centre) with Jack Boomer, QuitNow Director (left) and Scott McDonald, CEO of the BC Lung Association (right), talk about the free quit smoking services off ered through the association’s QuitNow program.
Twenty thousand Canadians and their families face lung cancer battles like Susan’s every year.
Lung cancer can take 20 years or more to reach a stage where symptoms start appearing.
Early indications might include a
chronic cough, wheezing, chest
pains or coughing up blood — but
these symptoms can accompany
any number of other medical
problems and make lung cancer
hard to pinpoint.
In anticipation of better screening
techniques for early detection
and treatment, the best way to
prevent lung cancer is to never start
smoking, and if you do, quit now.
Susan had no recognizable
symptoms prior to her diagnosis.
If you are a smoker or ever were a
smoker and are concerned about
lung cancer, speak to your doctor.
Art and Susan Van Pelt in November 2013 at a family dinner, eleven days prior to Susan’s lung cancer diagnosis.
The best way to prevent lung cancer?
Never start smoking, and if you do smoke, quit now.
Art Van Pelt recently lost his wife Susan to lung cancer. Today he supports
the BC Lung Association; in particular, initiatives aimed at helping British
Columbians become and remain smoke-free.
Dr. Jeremy Hirota’swork on the relationship between air pollution and airway diseases could help create new drug treatments and infl uence policies.
Our bodies naturally produce uric acid, but
when levels are too high, our immune system
is activated, which can lead to infl ammation,
asthma or allergies. Dr. Hirota is testing lung
tissue cells to see if normal amounts of uric
acid can aff ect the infl ammatory response.
His studies are designed to understand
how pollution, viruses and allergens
can contribute to the development and
worsening of airway diseases.
Dr. Jeremy Hirota is a Senior Canadian Banting
Postdoctoral Fellow at the Chan-Yeung Centre
for Occupational and Environmental Respiratory
Disease.
Dr. Bradley Quonis investigating fl are-ups in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients to minimize debilitating symptoms.
By the time cystic fi brosis (CF) patients
notice the symptoms of an exacerbation,
irreparable lung damage may have already
occurred. Dr. Bradley Quon is working on a
simple blood test to predict exacerbations
before they happen. He’s identifi ed
six proteins that can forecast fl are-ups
with 90% accuracy and is working with
colleagues in the US and in Europe to
validate his fi ndings.
Dr. Bradley Quon is a Respirologist and
Clinician-Scientist with a primary clinical
and research interest in CF. He is also actively
involved in several initiatives within St. Paul’s
Hospital Adult CF clinic and clinical trials
investigating new CF therapies.
Dr. Nico Marris focussing on a vaccine to protect the lungs of babies.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common
cause of infection of the human airways that
can be extremely dangerous for infants. Dr.
Marr is exploring the newborn immune system
for clues as to why it is so vulnerable to RSV
by comparing the immune cells of babies to
those of adults. His research centers on human
infectious diseases caused by viruses and
bacteria and he hopes to develop a vaccine
to prevent the disease from manifesting in
the fi rst place.
Dr. Nico Marr is a Research Associate at the
Canadian Center for Vaccinology.
Dr. Michael Brauer and Dr. Sarah Hendersonare looking into clean-air programs like AirCare and their impact on preventing mortality due to traffi c-related pollution.
AirCare programs are widespread in many areas of the
world, but no one had illuminated their impact on preventing
mortality due to traffi c-related pollution until Dr. Michael Brauer
and Dr. Sarah Henderson’s statistical analysis surfaced. The
analysis, which explores the relationship between AirCare and
prevention of death in the Lower Mainland, is expected to
show that AirCare has reduced deaths due to traffi c-related
pollution, and results may infl uence policy.
Dr. Michael Brauer is a Professor in the School of Population
and Public Health at the University of British Columbia. He has
served on advisory committees on the World Health Organization,
the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, the US National Academy
of Sciences, the Royal Society of Canada, the International Joint
Commission and governments in North America and Asia.
Dr. Sarah Henderson is at the BC Centre for Disease Control
conducting applied research to support environmental
health policy related to air pollution, food safety, extreme
temperatures, radon gas and more.
Dr. Vincent Duroniois examining the cell death that causes lung scarring in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) patients.
IPF is a progressive (and fatal) lung
disease characterized by progressive
scarring of the lungs that makes it
harder and harder to breathe, stopping
blood and oxygen from getting where
they need to go. Dr. Duronio is
investigating P53, a protein that reacts
to gene mutation, and how its pathway
can be altered to infl uence cell death
and survival. He aims to determine
how we can destroy the bad cells
that cause IPF, while sparing healthy,
benefi cial cells.
Dr. Vince Duronio is a Professor in the
Division of Respiratory Medicine, as
well as the Director of the Experimental
Medicine Graduate Program at the
University of British Columbia.
Dr. Santiago Ramon-Garciais working on life saving treatment for TB suff erers.
Tuberculosis (TB) is becoming resistant
to existing therapies, yet developing
new ones is a lengthy and expensive
process. Dr. Ramon-Garcia is looking
at repurposing drugs that are already
approved for other medical conditions
such as avermectins — anti-parasitics
typically used to treat dogs and cats.
Avermectins have a proven ability to
destroy TB bacteria in in vitro models.
Over the next two years, he will further
examine their potential in in vivo (living
tissue) models.
Dr. Ramon-Garcia has a BSc in
Chemistry and an MSc in Biochemistry
from the University of Zaragoza in
his home country of Spain. He is an
Associate Scientist at the University of
British Columbia.
Researchershelping us breathe easier
The BC Lung Association grants more than a million dollars annually to physicians and scientists doing cutting-edge research.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, researchers are making a diff erence in the lives of one
in fi ve British Columbians struggling with lung disease. Read about several projects the BC Lung
Association has supported this past year.
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE COPD?
If you are concerned about your lung health, take
the following quick test:
YES NO
Are you a smoker or former smoker
1. 40 years of age or older?
Do you cough regularly?
2.
Do you cough up phlegm regularly?
3.
Do even simple chores make you
4. short of breath?
Do you wheeze when you exert
5. yourself, or at night?
Do you get frequent colds that
6. persist longer than those of other people you know?If you answered yes to being a smoker or
ex-smoker and one of any other question, you
may be at risk for COPD. Ask your doctor about
a simple breathing test called spirometry.
Have you been diagnosed with COPD?
The Lung Association’s BreathWorks™
Program can help.
Supported by unrestricted educational grants from the following partners:
You can reach our health professionals Monday
to Friday during regular business hours. If you
call outside these hours, you can leave a
message with us, and we’ll call you back the
next business day.
The BreathWorks Web SiteAt www.lung.ca/breathworks, you can find the
information you need about COPD and how you
and your loved ones can manage this disease. You
can also read or order our publications, ask and
answer questions you may have about COPD, and
find local programs.
The BreathWorks handbook and fact sheets
The BreathWorks Plan handbook and
BreathWorks fact sheets are easy-to-understand
guides filled with information on how to slow
the progression of your disease, relieve your
symptoms, and improve your quality of life. To
order free copies of any BreathWorks publication,
call 1-866-717-COPD (2673) in English,
1-866-717-MPOC (6762) in French, or visit the
BreathWorks Web Site www.lung.ca/breathworks.
EMPHYSEMA AND CHRONIC BRONCHITIS MEAN COPD
www.lung.ca
Fact SheetFact SheetFact Sheet
Fact SheetFact SheetFact Sheet10 Your Health — Fall & Winter 2014
COPD Facts. COPD is the most
underdiagnosed chronic
disease in Canada.
. COPD is the fourth-leading
cause of death in Canadian
men and women.
. A recent Vancouver study
estimated the prevalence
of mild to severe COPD
among Vancouver residents
aged 40 or older to be 19
percent.
. COPD accounts for the
highest rate of hospital
admissions among major
chronic illnesses in Canada.
. The average hospital
admission for an acute
COPD fl are-up lasts 10 days
and costs $10,000.
. Overwhelming data shows
decreased hospitalizations
from good, comprehensive
COPD care, including
smoking cessation,
pulmonary rehabilitation,
and appropriate medications.
. The challenges are:
diagnosing accurately
and early on in the
disease, lack of funding
for comprehensive COPD
rehabilitation clinics, and
lack of recognition of the
cost to eff ectively manage
this disease.
BreathWorks™ is The Lung Association’s national COPD program off ering practical information and support for people with COPD and their families. Learn more at lung.ca or call the Breathworks Hotline toll-free: 1-866-717-COPD (2673).
Treatable. Manageable. Radically under-diagnosed.
Why does a disease like COPD escape notice?
In the early stages, COPD symptoms are
often attributed to the effects of a cough, a
respiratory tract infection, or aging rather
than signs of serious underlying illness. In
addition to this, other problems include
access to early screening, and a scarcity of
dollars for pulmonary rehabilitation and
treatment. Further sti� ing the � ght is the
‘smoker’s disease’ stigma.
To help address these issues, the BC Lung
Association facilitates and funds COPD
education and community outreach as well
as a provincial network of Better Breathers’
support groups aimed at helping patients
and their families optimize quality of life.
What is COPD?COPD stands for chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease. This name describes a
number of conditions including emphysema
and chronic bronchitis. If you have COPD,
you might have just one of these conditions,
or, more likely, both.
Is there a cure for COPD?Unfortunately, there is no cure, but there are
lots of treatments available to help manage
the symptoms of COPD so patients can live
an active life.
What causes COPD?The main cause is smoking. The condition
usually affects people over the age of 35
who are, or have been, smokers. It can
also be caused by long-term exposure to
second-hand smoke, air pollution, fumes
and dust from the environment.
What are COPD symptoms?They can include breathlessness (or
shortness of breath) and productive cough.
You might experience these symptoms all
the time, or they may worsen if you have an
infection, or breathe in smoke or fumes.
How is COPD diagnosed?To con� rm that you have COPD, you will
need to take a breathing test to measure
the amount of air � owing in and out of your
lungs. This is called a spirometry test.
Who is most at risk of COPD?Smokers and ex-smokers over the age of
40, those with a family history of COPD and
people who are exposed to second-hand
smoke are most at risk of developing COPD.
The BC Lung Association recommends
getting a lung function screening test right
away if you are in one of these categories,
because the sooner a diagnosis is made, the
earlier treatment can be initiated.
COPD A serious progressive lung condition that makes breathing diffi cult, COPD is an umbrella term for a condition that includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Experts believe as many as 20 percent of adults over 40 live with COPD.
bc.lung.ca 11
TAKING CHARGE OF ASTHMA
1 Do you use your rescue inhaler (also
known as a reliever bronchodilator)
four or more times a week?
2 Do you wake up because of asthma
symptoms (e.g. coughing, wheezing,
chest tightness, etc.) one or more
nights a week?
3 Does your asthma prevent you
from exercising or performing other
physical activities?
4 Have you ever had to miss work or
school because of asthma?
5 Do you experience asthma
symptoms (e.g. coughing,
wheezing, chest tightness, etc.)
four or more days a week?
6 In the last year, have you gone to
the emergency room or made an
unscheduled visit to your doctor
because of an asthma episode?
7 Does your asthma get worse when
you have a respiratory tract infection
(e.g. a cold or the fl u)?
8 Does your asthma get worse at
certain times of the year (i.e. spring,
summer, fall or winter)?
Asthma is a serious but manageable lung condition for which there is no cure.
One in 16 British Columbians (300,000) and almost three million
Canadians (10 – 14 per cent of Canadian children and 6 – 10 per cent of
Canadian adults) suff er from asthma. Air pollution, second-hand smoke
and our sanitary modern lifestyle; and of course family history, are all
factors that can contribute to high rates.
While we don’t yet have all the answers, we do have excellent treatment.
Advances in asthma management enable most patients — should
they implement a personalized action plan — to keep their asthma
well-controlled and lead full, active lives.
The problem is more than half of suff erers don’t have their asthma well-managed.
Poor asthma management is not only hard on those living with the
condition; it’s a burden on the healthcare system. In BC it has been
estimated that asthma has direct healthcare-related costs of at least $41
million annually.
We’re part of an ongoing campaign to help asthmatics and their
caregivers use asthma medicine as prescribed to control symptoms
better and ensure an asthma action plan is in place.
To fi nd out more about asthma or to learn about an asthma action
plan, contact Kelly Ablog-Morrant ([email protected]) or call our asthma
hotline at ---.
If you answered “YES” to any of questions 1-6Your asthma is not well controlled.
If this is the case, you should
make sure to discuss these results
with your doctor.
If you answered “NO” to questions 1-6, but “YES” to any of questions 7-9Your asthma is reasonably
controlled but can vary from time
to time, depending on outside
factors. The next time you visit
your doctor, discuss these results
and see if you can develop (or
amend) your asthma action plan
to help gain even better control.
Are you at risk of an asthma attack?
12 Your Health — Fall & Winter 2014
Thank you sponsors
Dunbar Cycles
Budget
YYoung Water
Star Rentals
FXN Fitness
Island Farms
VitaminWater
Streetwise Traffi c Controllers
Star 98.3
Save-On Foods
Coastal Climbing Centre
Elevate Me
Mary’s Gone Crackers
Park Inn by Radisson
Rosedale On Robson Suite Hotel
The Vancouver Trolley Company
The Old Spaghetti Factory
BC Sports Hall of Fame
Vancouver Aquarium
IMAX Victoria
Scandinave Spa Whistler
Paradise Fun Park
Capilano Suspension Bridge
TREK TURNSRiding for a cause, not for applause 30
Wayne Chorneychuk (20 year veteran)
“I always ride to commemorate someone in
my life who suff ers from lung problems — my
father-in-law who passed away from lung
cancer, my parents who smoked, my mother-
in-law who has ongoing COPD… there’s
always someone I’m thinking of while I’m
pedalling. Every year I look forward to Trek —
it’s a great retreat as well as a good cause.
There’s no such thing as a bad Trek. Even the
wet rides that shrink your shoes are worth it!”
Johnny Van Tol (20 year veteran)
“I fi rst heard about Trek in 1989, and it quickly
became the highlight of every summer. My
dad is a smoker, and my wife has a lung
condition. Our reward for participating is
simple. We have a great sense of satisfaction
from cycling as well as fundraising for
such an important cause and organization.
Our reward is the TREK weekend itself.”
Charlotte Snowsell (19 year veteran)
“As a nurse, I witnessed patients suff ering from
lung diseases every day. That’s one reason I
trek, but I also just love cycling. I’ve collected
so many memories in twenty years of Trekking,
but my all-time favourite happened last year:
Trek fell on my birthday, and my four children
secretly planned months in advance to ride
(which they’d never done before). They came
all the way from England, California, Toronto
and Victoria to surprise me!”
Every year cyclists of all fi tness
levels join us to ride 200
kilometres from White Rock
to Cultus Lake and back in
support of lung health. This
year was a little bit diff erent:
We celebrated the 30th
anniversary of the event. That’s
right, three decades and the
wheels are still spinning!
In 1985 a group of just 44
riders hit the road to pioneer
a new way of fundraising. In
those days Trek was a cycling
and camping event that took
riders over 140 km in three
days — through the San Juan
and Gulf Islands as well as the
Saanich Peninsula.
This small group of original
Trekkers had no idea that 30
years later the wheels they set in
motion would still be turning —
or that the event would draw
hundreds of participants
and raise thousands of
dollars every year. Many
of our Trekkers have been
participating for more than a
decade — and some nearly as
long as the event has existed.
Those who can, do. Those who can do more, volunteer.Meet some of the riders who have been doing more for decades.
bc.lung.ca 13Photo credits: Jorge Posada, Katrina van Bylandt, Scott McDonald, Katherine Harris
This year our amazing Trekkers fundraised $250,000 that will go
towards supporting the BC Lung
Association’s vital lung health research,
programs and education. We’re grateful
to each and every one of them (and
their generous donors)! Special shout
out to the individuals and teams
who went above and beyond to help
support the work we do.
Top individual fundraisersRita Wittmann $7,520.00
Sonya Sangster $7,265.00
Scott Marshall $6,417.00
Top teamsVickie’s Victors (29 members) $30,272.30
Ruthless Riders (29 members) $29,638.70
Fresh Air Riders (5 members) $11,587.00
Sonya Sangster Scott MarshallRita Wittmann
14 Your Health — Fall & Winter 2014
“The RRT’s role is important because we
bridge the gap between emergency care
and ongoing management of lung health.
You don’t send a heart patient home from
the hospital to wait for the next heart
attack. You teach them to take care of their
health so they won’t have another one.”
— RRT Catherine Sanders, St. Paul’s Hospital
Vital in keeping lungs healthyRegistered Respiratory Therapists (RRTs) provide critical support to patients
suffering from chronic lung disease, and the BC Lung Association does what
it can to support them in return; be it helping fund community outreach
initiatives or facilitating professional development opportunities, such as the
BC Lung Association’s Respiratory Education Training (RespTrec). Hear what
three RRTs have to say about the work they do to help others breathe easier!
What does a Registered Respiratory Therapist do? Most Registered Respiratory
Therapists (RRTs) work in hospital
settings, particularly high-risk areas
such as the Intensive Care Unit (ICU),
emergency rooms, neo-natal nurseries
and general wards. However, they
also work in outpatient clinics and
specialist medical centres where they
perform tests that can assist doctors
in properly diagnosing patients.
What else do you do? RRTs work with everything from ALS
to sleep apnea to asthma and COPD.
At the moment, COPD (or chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease) is a
hot topic. It’s more common among
patients who are over 40 and who
smoke or used to smoke, and gets
progressively worse over time. Given
our aging population, we’re seeing a
steady rise in the number of people
suffering from COPD every year,
and it’s currently the leading cause
of hospital emergency admission
among adults.
How many RRTs are there in BC?There are currently 950 RRTs working
in BC. Some travel all over the
province, going where patient care
is needed. In terms of educational
training, there is only one program
offered. It’s located at Thompson
Rivers University in Kamloops and
they certify about 50 new RRTs every
year.
What’s the most important thing an RRT can teach a patient?If you smoke, stop smoking. And if
you have any breathing problems,
deal with them right away. Don’t wait
for them to go away on their own. It’s
not normal to wheeze or become out
of breath from walking up a � ight
of stairs. And it’s not normal for a
cough to last more than three weeks.
If you are experiencing any of these
symptoms, see your doctor. Every
lung condition can be better treated
with early diagnosis — in some cases
it could save your life.
“I take care of premature babies who often
have under-developed lungs. We have to
help them breathe until they’re strong
enough. It’s amazing to watch how
quickly they grow. Within 16 weeks
they’re ready to go home and start a
healthy life!”
— RRT Kaley Cheng, Royal Columbian Hospital
“I just moved from working in a hospital
with over 100 RRTs to working in
community outreach with a small group
of � ve. Working in a hospital setting,
you only see patients when they’re very
sick. Now I get to visit their homes, help
patients cope with a lung condition and
talk over tea about their lives rather than
only about their illness.”
— RRT Lily Cheung, Provincial Respiratory Outreach Program
Registered Respiratory Therapists
Photo credits: Jorge Posada
What we know and what you can do.
Radon is leading cause of lung cancer after smoking.
Radon gas is produced naturally by the breakdown of uranium in the ground and can get into your home
undetected. You can’t see it, smell it or taste it. The only way to know if you have a radon problem is to take
a simple, inexpensive test. Should you have a radon problem, there are easy solutions to reduce your risk.
FREE PUBLIC HEALTH FORUM7 to 9pm, Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Kordyban Lodge • 1100 Alward Street • Prince George
Topics to be addressedWhat we’re learning about radon in Prince George.
Scott McDonald, CEO of the BC Lung AssociationWhy radon is a serious public health issue. The facts.
Kerensa Medhurst, Canadian Cancer Society, B.C. & YukonHow to fix a home radon problem. Get helpful tips.
Hardy Nickel, Certified Mitigation Professional, Central Interior Radon Services
FREE radon test kits for the first 75 forum guests. Light refreshments will be provided.
RadoN in Prince George
GET SUPPORT
1.877.455.2233Want to talk to a Quit Coach? Our free, friendly, and professional help line is open 24/7.
quitnow.caFree, self-directed program and supportive community, packed full of helpful tools and resources.
Text SupportText QUITNOW to 654321 and get supportive messages any time, anywhere.
GET SOCIALfacebook.com/quitnowbcJoin an ever growing and dynamic community of people choosing health over addiction.
Funded by
GET SUPPORT
1.877.455.2233Want to talk to a Quit Coach? Our free, friendly, and professional help line is open 24/7.
quitnow.caFree, self-directed program and supportive community, packed full of helpful tools and resources.
Text SupportText QUITNOW to 654321 and get supportive messages any time, anywhere.
GET SOCIALfacebook.com/quitnowbcJoin an ever growing and dynamic community of people choosing health over addiction.
Helping British Columbians QUIT SMOKING AND STAY QUIT
Helping British ColumbiansQUIT SMOKING AND STAY QUIT
Funded by
The BC Lung Association has been dedicated to its mission of promoting and improving lung health
for all British Columbians for over 100 years. Here are some of the things we’ve been up to lately.� eld notes
bc.lung.ca 15
Fraser Basin Council’s Laurel Brown (left) and Tiff any Bonnett (right) with Britt Swoveland (centre) of the BC Lung Association.
1 Getting our QuitNow health promoters ready to hit the road! The BC Lung Association’s
team of QuitNow health promoters
work in communities across BC
spreading the word about our free
quit smoking support services. This
year’s recruits met in Vancouver to
kick off their 2014/2015 plans.
BC Lung Association’s CEO, Scott McDonald, is chairing development of a new provincial tobacco strategy.
Inset: Project Kilimanjaro Team leader, Ash Dhanini
4Leading the development of a new provincial tobacco strategy. Physicians, researchers as well
as health authority, non-profi t and First Nations
representatives met in Vancouver in October to share views
on tobacco control priorities. Led by BC Lung Association
CEO Scott McDonald, 2015-2020 strategy report writers are
currently fi nalizing their recommendations for submission to
the province by year-end.
2Recognizing our fundraisers’ extraordinary efforts.Dedicated BC Lung Association
supporters Ash Dhanani and wife
Pauline said no to our 200km annual
Bike Trek fundraiser this year and scaled
the world’s tallest freestanding mountain
instead! Accompanied by friends and
fellow Lung supporters, the stalwart team
succeeded in making their way to the
top of Mt. Kilimanjaro and raising $27,000
in support of lung health. Enormous
thanks to Ash, Pauline, the entire Project
Kilimanjaro Team and their sponsors!
3Advising those at greatest risk to get a fl u shot. A fl u
shot off ers the best defense
available to protect against fl u. Anyone
can get the fl u, but some people are
at greater risk for serious fl u-related
complications, like pneumonia. This
includes adults 65 years and older, who
we also suggest get a pneumonia shot.
Over a normal fl u season, one in 10
adults and one in 3 children will come
down with the fl u. See your doctor
or visit immunizebc.ca for fl u shot
clinic info.
5Heading north to educate BC families about radon. The BC Lung Association just completed the
largest ever community-wide Canadian
home testing study in Prince George, BC —
watch for the summary of our community
home testing results in December at
RadonAware.ca. We also recently co-hosted
a local public health forum, supported by
our Prince George study partners: the
Fraser Basin Council; Canadian Cancer
Society; Northern Health; and the
Metis Housing Society.
(Left to right) Kelly Ablog-Morrant, Health Education Director for the BC Lung Association gives Volunteer Director Marilyn Lawrence of Princeton, BC, her annual fl u shot.
quitnow.ca/contest
Make
PROUD
Take your � rst step towards a smoke-free life. On the � rst Tuesday of the month quit smoking for 24 hours for a chance to win great prizes!
BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
Publications Mail Agreement Number 40063885. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: BC Lung Association, 2675 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 2K2