LIMA, OH (WLIO) - Local health experts are asking the public not to ignore their lung health.
The last week in October is Respiratory Care Week, and Lima Memorial Health System celebrated Lung Health Day with an awareness event. There are 16 million people in the United States who have been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD and the CDC says cancer deaths for men and women are the highest for people diagnosed with lung cancer. So, if your doctor refers you to a respiratory therapist for testing, they can help you breathe easier for years to come.
"Just to, kind of, get a baseline idea of what their pulmonary function is, and that can lead to getting a treatment plan started for them," says Tiffany Thomas, LMHS Respiratory Therapist. "Educating people and having them get pulmonary testing done and smoking cessation is important to get out to the community."
A bake sale was also held in the hospital welcome center, and the money raised will help Lima Memorials' oncology services.
