Most people can’t imagine not being able to breathe properly, but for the one in six Kiwis living with a respiratory condition, this is a reality.
This month is Breathe Better September, the first ever respiratory awareness month in New Zealand and Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ invites all Kiwis to show their support for better breathing and healthy lungs.
Friday September 2 is also Balloon Day which highlights the fact that one in seven children struggles to blow up a balloon because of a respiratory condition.
Erin Simpson, Asthma and Respiratory Foundation’s ambassador, encourages everyone to get involved and show their support by signing the campaign’s photo petition. “It’s so easy, grab a piece of paper and a pen, write Breathe Better September and send in a photo holding it up!”
Help increase awareness amongst family and friends by sharing the photo on social media along with #breathebetterseptember as the hashtag.
New Zealand has one of the highest rates of respiratory disease in the world. However, it is not highly profiled and many people don’t realise the extent of the problem.
There are lots of small things everyone can do to improve their breathing.
Better breathing starts with healthy eating, regular exercise, warm and dry housing, healthcare and being smokefree. Respiratory disease includes asthma, bronchiectasis, bronchiolitis, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer and obstructive sleep apnoea.
For more information see www.breathebetterseptember.co.nz.
