Having trouble sleeping? You may be one of 18 million Americans who suffer from sleep apnea, a disorder that stops your breathing repeatedly during sleep due to a blocked airway.
The public is encouraged to participate in Lung Health Day, Wednesday, Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the lounge in the Health Science Center’s Allied Health Building. Organized by the department of respiratory care and the local district of the Texas Society for Respiratory Care, the event will offer free pulmonary lung screenings, spirometry (measurements of the volume of air entering and leaving the lungs), oxygen saturation level measurements and various educational material related to pulmonary disease and its management. It’s designed to bring lung health issues to the attention of the public.
The day is part of Respiratory Care Week – a week sponsored by the American Association for Respiratory Care – and it points out the many ways in which respiratory care professionals work to ensure the lung health of all Americans through advocacy, public education and research.
In addition to sleep apnea, other pulmonary disorders include: asthma, cystic fibrosis, tuberculosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
