American Lung Association of Colorado

Today is World COPD Day
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a growing global public health problem. According to new projections, COPD is predicted to become the third leading cause of death worldwide by 2030. In 2005, COPD was the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. To increase global awareness of COPD, the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease is sponsoring World COPD Day on November 19, 2008.

Full story on CDC Web site

Governor Ritter Declares November COPD Awareness Month
Governor Bill Ritter Jr. has issued a proclamation declaring November COPD Awareness Month. On Thursday, November 13 a group representing the American Lung Association of Colorado, the University of Colorado Health COPD Program, COPD patients, Colorado Society for Respiratory Care, Colorado COPD Coalition and Colorado COPD Connection presented Senator Ken Salazar with a certificate of appreciation for all that he has done for lung health both in the state of Colorado and in the U.S. Senate.

The fourth leading cause of death in the United States, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is a serious lung disease affecting an estimated 24 million Americans. More than 12 million people are currently diagnosed with COPD and another 12 million may have COPD but remain undiagnosed despite recognizable symptoms. There are 400,000 people with COPD in the state of Colorado. One in twenty deaths are caused by COPD in the U.S.

Recycle Thanksgiving Fryer Oil

The American Lung Association of Colorado, through administration of the Denver Metro Clean Cities Coalition, supports sustainable transportation initiatives that result in cleaner air. Compared with using petroleum diesel, using biodiesel in a conventional diesel engine substantially reduces emissions of greenhouse gases and particulate matter. When absorbed into the lungs through respiration, particulate matter can have a negative, adverse effect on lung health. Please support the creation and utilization of renewable fuels such as biodiesel by participating in the Holiday recycOil Event.

In partnership with several Colorado municipalities and counties, Rocky Mountain Sustainable Enterprises is hosting its second annual Holiday recycOil® event. Organized in order to help individuals and families recycle their waste fryer oil after Thanksgiving, this event will divert hundreds of gallons of used cooking oil from landfills and municipal sewer systems throughout our region.

Event info:
November 29, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Participating cities
Arvada, Aurora, Aspen/Pitkin County, Boulder, Denver, Fort Collins, Greeley, Lafayette, Littleton, Longmont, Louisville, Loveland and Thornton.

Find locations at www.rmse.biz

Helping Smokers Quit: State Cessation Coverage

Quitting smoking is not easy, but there are many tools that can help smokers succeed. However, where you live can help or hurt your ability to quit. A new American Lung Association report finds that most states fail to adequately protect residents and their bottom line by providing coverage for treatments and services to help smokers quit. The report also concludes that most smokers don’t know where they can get the help they need to quit.

Our new report, Helping Smokers Quit: State Cessation Coverage looks at tobacco cessation treatments and services covered by states for their residents. It shows that states are missing a big opportunity to help smokers quit and to save themselves money by covering comprehensive tobacco cessation treatments. Evidence shows that smokers are most successful in quitting when they’ve had help through cessation resources. But smokers don’t always know where to get the help they need. This new report and the accompanying state-specific information, will assist smokers to find cessation resources available to them. Click here to see the full report.

Great American Smoke-Out Nov. 20
The Great American Smokeout was inaugurated in 1976 to inspire and encourage smokers to quit. Today, 44.6 percent of the 45.3 million Americans who smoke have attempted to quit for at least one day in the past year and the Great American Smokeout remains a great opportunity to encourage people to commit to making a long-term plan to quit for good.

Studies have found that support can more than double a person’s chances of successfully quitting tobacco. Free support for Coloradans who want to quit is available at 1-800-QUIT-NOW. Visit the Great American Smokeout Web site for more information.

American Lung Association Calls on President-Elect Obama to Make All Federal Worksites Smokefree
Each day, the simple act of going to work puts the health of thousands of federal government workers at risk. Despite an Executive Order issued in 1993, not all federal worksites are smokefree. This poses a significant health threat according to the Surgeon General, who released a report in 2006 declaring that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke.

The American Lung Association is circulating a petition calling on President-Elect Obama to ensure that all federal workers around the country are not forced to breathe secondhand smoke while on the job. The petition can be found online here.