Highlights from European Respiratory Society Congress 2012, Vienna

Next week the biggest respiratory meeting in the world will start! It is European Respiratory Society Congress which this year will take place in Vienna, Austria!

As usual ERS Congress will give possibility to learn about the latest innovations in clinical and basic science, practice and patient care from the leaders of opinion who set the standards in respiratory medicine at the global level.

For the first time will be organized evening dedicated to young scientists. On Tuesday, September 4, an informal networking session has been organised to provide young researchers with an opportunity to meet and discuss with senior members of the ERS.

Also we want to share with you invitation from ERS President Klaus Rabe on special event dedicated to World Spirometry Day 2012: 
I would like to extend a personal invitation to all Congress participants to join me, the ERS leadership and the Mayor of Vienna in a (Fun) Lung Run on Sunday, September 2 at 07:00, at the Prater. Do come and share 5 kilometers of lung-boosting exercise, running or walking for an extraordinary cause!

Liudmila CORLATEANU,
Respiratory Decade Official Media-Representative at ERS 2012 Vienna Congress 

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.

Sunday Respiratory Video: Florence and machine

We are lucky to present you our new Sunday Respiratory video:

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.