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

info@bc.lung.ca

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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6 Your Health — Fall & Winter 2014

Chronic quitter Adriana found the resolve to quit for good

For more about QuitNow, visit quitnow.ca, email quitnow@bc.lung.ca 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 (ablog@bc.lung.ca) 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