Breathe Better September is back for 2017, raising awareness around respiratory conditions – New Zealand’s third leading cause of death.
Did you know, one in six New Zealanders live with a respiratory condition?
September marks New Zealand’s Asthma and Respiratory Foundation’s annual respiratory awareness month – Breathe Better September. The month is all about raising awareness and showing support for better breathing and healthy lungs.
More than 700,000 Kiwis have a respiratory condition, and it’s the third leading cause of death, and costs the country $6 billion each year, says Letitia O’Dwyer, Chief Executive of the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ.
During September, the Foundation is calling for people to participate in the “healthy lungs challenge”, which involves taking up a challenge during September that works towards keeping lungs active and healthy. This could include setting a goal for exercise, meditation, eating healthy or quitting smoking.
Challenge participants can sign up on the website everydayhero.com/nz, choose the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ as their chosen charity, and once their challenge has been set encourage their friends and family to support them.
Common respiratory diseases in New Zealand include asthma, bronchiectasis, bronchiolitis, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer and obstructive sleep apnoea.
Find out more at breathebetterseptember.co.nz
