Free lung screenings are to be made available in Athlone this weekend, on Saturday November 17 in Athlone Towncentre.
Legendary radio talk show host Joe Duffy is encouraging Irish people living with a potentially fatal lung condition that it’s not too late to seek help.The broadcaster made the plea to coincide with the launch of new research to mark an awareness campaign on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD ), supported by Novartis and the Irish Thoracic Society.
COPD is a life-threatening and devastating disease that affects more than 440,000 people across Ireland. Smoking is the leading cause of COPD, which is a term for a number of chronic lung disorders including bronchitis and emphysema. It is a progressive and disabling disease that makes it hard for sufferers to breathe due to tightening or obstruction of the airways in the lungs. For people living with COPD, less air flows in and out of their airways, causing shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.
Broadcaster Joe Duffy is advising those with COPD that it’s not too late to do something about their condition and to speak to their healthcare professional.
“If you are struggling for breath when climbing the stairs and have been a smoker you could have a lung condition called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD. Early diagnosis and treatment will give you the best chance of limiting the damage to your lungs. If you are a smoker it’s not too late to quit and you can drastically reduce your chances of getting COPD.”
Free spirometry screening is available from 12-4pm this Saturday in Athlone Towncentre.
To learn more about COPD see www.livingwithcopd.ie
