Laura Trott is a Double Olympic track cycling champion

British cyclist, Laura Trott has battled back from a collapsed lung at birth to win two gold medals at the London 2012 Games.
After being born prematurely, Laura’s lung collapsed and she was left fighting for her life. The lungs are one of the last organs babies develop and premature birth can increase the risk of respiratory problems.
After overcoming this, Laura developed asthma during childhood, which is also thought to be a consequence of premature birth. Her parents were advised that as an asthmatic, it would be even more important for Laura to engage in regular exercise, so she took up cycling to help manage her symptoms.
Now, 13 years later Laura has competed on the international stage, securing two gold medals for her country in track cycling.
Laura said: "It's hard to believe I've gone from fighting for my life to being a world champion and competing in the Games."

Nothing can prepare you for winning one Olympic gold medal, let alone two, as I found out on Tuesday night when I won the omnium at the velodrome. Suddenly you are on another planet as you get whisked from one media engagement to another. Not that I am complaining, I am well known for being able to talk the hind legs off a donkey, and I missed all the fun when we won the team pursuit on Saturday night, when I stayed in to prepare for the omnium.
It can take your breath away after you leave the podium. I did the TV and radio, and then the mixed zone, which was a real scrum and it was difficult to hear anything that was said. Then I went to the main press conference which was a bit different with the journalists applauding you, which was nice. Apparently it is a tradition for gold medal winners.

Real Lung Champion from Australia: Esther Overton

Today we are posting one more inspirational story of the Lung Champion: Esther Overton!
22 year old, Esther Overton, is an Australian Paralympic swimmer.

Esther was born with a condition called arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, which affects her from the neck down. All of her joints are fixed, meaning her bones break easily. She refuses to let her disability prevent her from achieving her goals and has risen to the top of her sport.
In 2008 just 9 weeks before Esther was due to compete at the Beijing Paralympics, she suffered a collapsed lung during a physiotherapy treatment. She was determined to compete despite still struggling with breathing issues when she swam. She finished fifth in the 50m backstroke and sixth in the 50m freestyle.
She has also held Australian records in the S3 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle,100m backstroke and 50m butterfly.

Esther said:

When I suffered a collapsed lung, I was determined to get in the pool and do my very best because I had trained all my life for that moment. Back then I was disappointed with my results but now I realise that I was very lucky that I was still able to compete and final in both of my events.

Anything is possible if you are willing to try and work hard.

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.

World Spirometry Day 2012: The Lung Champions campaign

Today we are starting 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.

Norwegian rower, Olaf Tufte will compete in his 5th Olympic Games at London 2012. Few rowers have competed in 5 Olympics, and even fewer have competed four times in the single sculls race during the Olympics.
He has won two gold medals and one silver medal in Olympic competition so far, and is on target to contend for a fourth medal.
Olaf’s achievements put him at the pinnacle of the sport and place him in the small group of the sport’s most-admired athletes. He has reached the top of his game, despite having asthma.
When Olaf is not competing on the world stage, he works on his family’s grain and forestry farm, which involves daily, strenuous work out in the weather, crops, dirt and dust. These conditions could cause problems for a person with asthma, but Olaf is disciplined with managing his condition to carry out his work.
Olaf was the only Norwegian rower to compete at the 2008 Olympics. Not content with keeping national glory to himself, Olaf resolved to inspire the next generation of rowers in his country and bring them up to international standard, ready for London 2012. 

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. 

World Spirometry Day 5-km Lung Run: Do you run with us at Vienna?

As the final fitting activity in the World Spirometry Day campaign, the World Spirometry Day 5-km Lung Run will take place during the European Respiratory Society Congress in Vienna.
Show your support for World Spirometry Day and for lung health by beating European Respiratory Society President Klaus Rabe and European Lung Foundation Chair Monica Fletcher, along with their Forum of International Society (FIRS) colleagues, across the finish line.

When?
07:00 Sunday, September 2, 2012
Where?
Wiener Prater public park – 5 minutes from the Reed Messe Wien

For more info and Registration CLICK HERE:

This is your chance to be a lung champion and to bring the baton home for your country, university, institution or company.

Cycling group tour in Firenze: making noize for World Spirometry Day 2012

Tomorrow, on 5th July 2012 Professor Lorenzo Corbetta will organize Great Cycling group tour in Firenze, Italy. This special event will be dedicated to World Spirometry Day 2012. We are happy to invite you to join this Respiratory event!

Event will take place in the historic center of the city Firenze! Free spirometries will be provided by specialists in respiratory medicine, also will be shared information about respiratory diseases and the most frequent risk factors!

12 Reasons for Taking a Spirometry Test on World Spirometry Day 2012

If you identify with any of the reasons below, take a spirometry test to check out your lung health.

1. You are, or have been a smoker
2. You have been more breathless in recent years
3. You can’t walk up the stairs without experiencing shortness of breath
4. You can’t exercise as well as you used to
5. You are worried about your performance during sports and exercise
6. You have had a cough for many months or years (e.g a smoker’s cough)
7. You tend to wheeze in recent years
8. You cough up mucus (phlegm) even when you haven’t got a cold
9. You have previously been given treatment (e.g. an inhaler) for a lung disease
10. You have worries about your lung health
11. You feel as though you're not getting enough air
12. You experience pain when breathing in or out

Please note: Some lung symptoms may have causes which will not be detected by spirometry. If you have symptoms such as coughing up blood, weight loss, or develop a new symptom which seems to be getting worse, it is important that you consult your doctor.

27 June is World Spirometry Day 2012

World Spirometry Day (WSD) 2012 will take place during the Olympic year. The campaign focuses on sport and the lungs, and resources are provided for all those organising testing events related to the Olympic theme. WSD 2012 will launch on June 27 but testing will not be limited to this day alone. Participants are encouraged to capitalise on the Olympics and hold events in the run up to the games on July 27 and beyond.

I share with you my presentation, which was dedicated to the Launch of World Spirometry Day 2012 in Moldova.

Join World Spirometry Day 2012 Globally! 

Respiratory Decade: World Spirometry Day 2012 by A. Corlateanu

View more presentations from Alexandru Corlateanu.

Launch of World Spirometry Day 2012 in Moldova

On 18 May 2012 we organized conference dedicated to World Spirometry Day 2012 in Moldova.
It was official launch of World Spirometry Day 2012 in Moldova with workshop on spirometry for prepare team for World Spirometry Day 2012 on 27 June 2012.

The 2012 campaign coincides with the Olympic Games and aims to encourage people to exercise and look after their lungs regardless of their age or physical ability. We discussed our plans and details of organization of   World Spirometry Day 2012 in Moldova. 

Furthermore I made a presentation of European Respiratory Society with new membership structure; especially we paid attention to the Silver membership which is absolutely free of charge for persons under 35 years. Such kind of membership can be of great interest for Moldavian students and young doctors, as they can have access to various materials and useful sources.

Also I presented new guidelines in COPD. It is beyond all doubt that the conference had an impact on the audience; it encouraged the active participation in such kind of events and appealed to the main aim - to promote public awareness and to draw particular attention to the respiratory diseases detection and treatment.