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Why Should You Show Us Your Lungs?

Australians are not taking their lung health seriously

One in three Australians rates their lung health as ‘very unimportant’1.

Yet in Australia

  • 50 people die each day of lung disease
  • There were 2.6 million cases of lung disease reported in 2007/082 and
  • 14% of all deaths are a result of lung disease3
  • Each year, lung disease causes nearly 350,000 hospitalisations4
  • Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death5
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the second leading cause of avoidable hospitalisation6

Symptoms of lung disease

A total of 43% of Australians aged 35 and over say they experience at least one of the following symptoms of lung disease;1

  • get breathless from walking up a small flight of stairs with between 8-12 steps
  • a chest infection at least twice a year
  • a new cough, a persistent cough, or their cough has recently changed, regularly cough up phlegm (not due to a cold or flu)
  • an unexplained ache in their chest or back area, or sometimes feel tightness in their chest or wheeze

Early Diagnosis = Better Outcomes

Many lung diseases are treatable if properly diagnosed.

Those with lung disease who are diagnosed early experience better treatment options than those who aren’t.

If you are aged over 35 years and experiencing any of the above symptoms it’s important to discuss them with your GP as soon as possible.

Your GP may conduct some simple tests such as spirometry, Xrays and CT scans to check for any lung diseases. Please click the links below for information on the most common lung diseases:

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Lung Cancer

Interstitial and orphan lung diseases (including Interstitial Lung Disease, Pulmonary Fibrosis and Sarcoidosis)

Asthma

Chronic Cough

Lung Foundation Australia is taking lung health very seriously

On October 10th we launched a national Show Us Your Lungs! Campaign which aims to get people thinking seriously about their lungs.

Are you going to show us yours?

References

  1. Pfizer & The Australian Lung Foundation commissioned, StollzNow Research, Perceptions of Smoking and Lung Health, October 2010
  2. Australian Bureau of Statistics. National Health Survey Summary of Results: Long term conditions. 2007-2008
  3. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Underlying causes of deaths in Australia. 2009
  4. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Principal diagnosis data cubes: Separation statistics by principal diagnosis in ICD-10-AM, Australia 2006-2007.
  5. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Cancer in Australia: an overview 2010
  6. Page A, Abrose S, Glover J et al. Atlas of Avoidable Hospitalisations in Australia: ambulatory care-sensitive conditions. Adelaide PHIDU. University of Adelaide.2007

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