Lung Champion Julie Bradshaw: asthma never let stop me from doing what I want to achieve

We are continuing preparation for World Spirometry Day 2012 campaign: 5-km Lung Run, which will take place during the European Respiratory Society Congress in Vienna.
As part of the World Spirometry Day 2012 campaign, various people with lung diseases have been recognised as 'Lung Champions' as a result of their personal achievements in sport and activity.
Today we are happy to present you another Lung Champion!

Julie Bradshaw is a world-record breaking English Channel and Marathon swimmer.
Julie developed asthma as a teenager but managed to play hockey, run two London Marathons in under four hours and a variety of other sports, as well as swimming.
Julie first swam the English Channel solo aged 15 in a British Junior Record and in 2002 conquered it again using the most strenuous swimming stroke, the Butterfly; a feat she completed in 14 hours 18 minutes. This smashed the previous one and only record by over nine hours.
Julie said:
I developed asthma as a teenager, but I’ve never let it stop me from doing what I want to achieve. I just focus on a goal and what I can do well, rather than on the asthma. I learnt to swim at a very young age and swimming has been a great sport for keeping me active despite my condition. I use a ventolin when I need it and I make sure I recognise my body and when it needs less pushing.


More about Lung Champions, World Spirometry Day 2012 and World Spirometry Day 2012 5-km Lung Run you can find HERE.

Lung Champion Dmitrijs Jurkevics: Asthma can’t stop me doing what I enjoy

We are continuing preparation for  World Spirometry Day 2012 campaign:  5-km Lung Run, which will take place during the European Respiratory Society Congress in Vienna.

As part of the World Spirometry Day 2012 campaign, various people with lung diseases have been recognised as 'Lung Champions' as a result of their personal achievements in sport and activity.

Today we are happy present you another Lung Champion!

Dmitrijs Jurkevics is a Latvian track and field athlete who specialises in middle- distance running. He has had asthma since childhood but has not let that stop him represent his country on the international stage.
He competed in the 1500 metres at the 2011 World Universade in Shenzhen, China and came sixth in the final. He also holds the Latvian record in 1500 metres. Dmitrijs achieved this result in Prague in June 2011 and bettered that mark by over a second and a half to 3: 37,35 minutes in Sollentuna Grand Prix a few weeks later. He will be representing Latvia at Olympic Games in London.

Dmitrijs Jurkevics said:

“Asthma can’t stop me doing what I enjoy. I know how important it is for anyone to keep active and even walking can be beneficial. It’s no secret that exercise can help you stay healthy and it’s important to make time in a day to do some form of activity – your body will thank you in the future!”

More about Lung Champions, World Spirometry Day 2012 and  World Spirometry Day 2012 5-km Lung Run you can find HERE.

Olympic Games 2012 is a Really Respiratory Event

In only two days will be started Olympic Games 2012 at London! Traditionally Olympic Games is a celebration of sport and health. This year for the second time is having place World Spirometry Day, which was organized at 27 June 2012!

WSD this year was dedicated to Olympic Games, because this a wonderful chance to make visible for general population lung conditions. 

The concept behind this year’s activities is to use the Olympics as an inspiration to get people interested in spirometry testing and to educate them about their lung health and its importance for a healthy and active life. It also aims to ensure that people with lung disease feel that they can keep moving and keep active to ensure that they have fulfilled lives with optimal lung health. 
Another link between Olympics and Lung health: the very well known fact that many athlets are having asthma. It was described and defined 100 years A.D. by Araeteus the Cappodican: ‘‘If from running, gymnastic exercises or any other work, the breathing become difficult, it is called asthma’’. 
Exercise-induced asthma is caused by heat loss and water loss through respiration during exercise, leading to mediator release in the airways and to increased parasympathetic nervous activity in the airways, thereby causing constriction of bronchial smooth muscle and increased bronchial secretions as well as vasodilation in the bronchial vessels. Development of asthma and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in the competing elite athlete is presently considered to be caused by the frequently repeated increased ventilation occurring during training and competitions.