Take our online test to learn if you need to get that cough checked out!

Cough is one of the top reasons why people visit their family doctors.

Many coughs are not life-threatening, but they make people worry something may be wrong with their health. We encourage people experiencing a cough that lasts for three weeks or longer without improving, to get it checked out.

In fact, to raise awareness about coughs that won’t go away, we’ve just launched 3+ Week Cough campaign that uses humour to get the message out. The 4-week TV ad campaign targets adults, especially those who smoke or used to smoke, and who may think that a nagging cough is normal. It features a “3 week cough” character that is singing inside of a giant mouth.

The goal is to drive people to our new website www.3weekcough.ca which includes an interactive quiz and prompts those suffering from a consistent cough to call our toll-free number – 1-866-717-2673 – so they can talk to a certified respiratory educator.

There are many causes of a persistent cough. It could be caused by post-nasal drip, acid reflux, allergies, or an undiagnosed lung disease. Or it could be a flare-up of asthma or COPD that needs to be checked out. Whatever the reason for your cough, the best course of action is to get a proper diagnosis sooner than later.

Learn more about cough on the Lung Association website.

Did you know that lack of sleep impacts not just your mental state, but your physical health as well? In today’s world, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with activities and thoughts that can keep you up well past a sensible bed time. Here are five easy tips to help get your sleep back on track!

1. Go to bed and wake up at a similar time every day.

Creating a regular sleeping pattern helps your body regulate when to get tired.  This is particularly useful if you have trouble with insomnia. The catch? It means not sleeping in on weekends!

2. Create a sleepy environment.

This doesn’t mean finding a bunch of people nodding off in an airport lounge. It means dimming the lights, removing distractions like phones and computers and setting the thermostat to a comfortable temperature. This will help your body and mind wind down for sleep.

3. No more midnight snacks.

It’s important not to go to bed on an empty stomach or an over-stuffed one. Try to eat your dinner a few hours before bedtime, but if you’re starving, have a light snack so your grumbly belly won’t keep you up. You might also want to limit your fluid intake near bedtime to avoid waking up in the night for trips to the bathroom!

4. Dial down the stress.

In today’s mile-a-second world, this can be much easier said than done. But it’s important to find ways to manage unavoidable stress so that it doesn’t keep you up at night. Organize your time during the day, keep a pen and paper next to the bed to jot down any tasks that pop into your head, and try relaxation strategies like meditation or a warm bath if you still feel stressed.

5. Exercise – but not too late.

Exercising regularly is a great way to help your body relax and to work off some of the stress that can interfere with sleep patterns. Don’t exercise too late in the day, however, because it tends to make you more alert.

These are a few easy changes that can make a huge difference, not only to how you feel at night, but to how you feel the rest of the time as well. Give them a try!

The BC Lung Association, together with the Heart and Stroke Foundation, is asking the BC government to ban tobacco from pharmacy shelves, and from stores which contain pharmacies.

We think cigarettes and pharmacies don’t mix. People go to their neighborhood pharmacies to buy products to stay healthy and to get better when they’re sick; not to buy toxic, disease-causing products that kill.

If you agree it is wrong for a healthcare business to profit from the sale of cigarettes, PLEASE REGISTER YOUR SUPPORT HERE.

Want to know more first? Read the news release and backgrounder . 

We know most smokers want to quit. That’s why during National Non-Smoking Week the BC Lung Association is hosting an online contest at www.quitnow.ca to motivate BC smokers to commit to quit!

When is the contest running? Now until the end of National Non-Smoking Week, January 21st, 2012.

What are the prizes? The grand prize is an iPad2. In addition, five runners-up will each receive a $100 gift certificate from Save-On-Food’s Pharmacy.

How can I participate?

• You must be a BC resident, 19 years of age or older on January 23rd, 2012;
• You need to register for our free online service at quitnow.ca by January 21st, 2012 at 11:59pm PST; and
• You must commit to a quit date no later than February 21st, 2012.

When will the winners be announced?

• Winners will be drawn on January 23rd, 2012 and will need to answer a skill-testing question.
• Winners will be announced shortly thereafter on the QuitNow website, facebook and twitter pages.

COMMIT TO QUIT AND REGISTER TO WIN at www.quitnow.ca !

Every year at this time we make the same promises to ourselves: to lose weight, exercise more, cook proper meals, keep the house clean… and on and on. By about a month from now, most of these are long since forgotten, and we’re back to our old habits because the goals were too hard, didn’t mean enough to us or just weren’t very realistic in the first place.

So this year, we’ve put some thought into goals that aren’t quite so lofty, don’t take a huge overhaul of your lifestyle to accomplish, but that you can feel really, really good about.

1. Walk on your lunch break.

This is a great way to get a bit of exercise into your schedule a couple of days a week without losing much free time or getting bored at the gym. If you’re lucky enough to live in an area that has a park or some nature trails nearby – even better!

2. Test your house for radon.

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking, and you could be breathing it in without even knowing it. You can’t see it, smell it or taste it. The only way to know the radon level in your home is with a simple and inexpensive test. For more information on how to protect your family from the risks of radon exposure, visit the BC Lung Association website here.

3. Take reusable bags to the grocery store.

These days most grocery stores sell reusable bags for a couple of dollars, and some even charge extra if you want a disposable bag. With a little bit of effort you can get into the habit of taking bags with you – they even have small mesh ones that you can use for produce! This helps reduce the clutter of bags accumulating in your kitchen cupboards and the waste associated with producing and discarding of them.

4. Start a work team for the Stairclimb for Clean Air.

The BC Lung Association’s Stairclimb for Clean Air events takes place on Sunday morning, February 26th, 2012. Why not think about participating with your work colleagues? Not only is it a great way to promote workplace camaraderie, but it’ll give you and your colleagues a fitness goal to help you get off the couch and back into shape! Registration is now open, so head on over and check it out!

5. Get an extra half hour of sleep.

Getting less than the recommended amount of sleep (8-9 hours per night) might not seem like a big deal at the time, but it can actually have negative effects on your overall health. Not only does it reduce productivity and make you irritable, but it can also lead to even more trouble getting a good night’s sleep the next night. Resolve to go to bed half an hour earlier (and keep taking it back a half hour every couple of weeks if necessary until you’re getting the recommended amount) and you’ll be amazed at how much better you’ll feel! If you have trouble going to sleep or staying asleep, you may be suffering from a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea. Click here to take our sleepiness test and find out more.

Happy New Year, everyone!

At this time of year it’s becoming more and more difficult to find the perfect gift. Not only do you need to find presents they’ll like – and use – but you also need to find something the environment will thank you for! There are some great lists of green gift ideas out there, and a couple of us sat down and picked our favourites to share with you! (In case you’re looking for present ideas for us….*wink wink*)

1.Donation to IT Schools in Africa (TreeHugger)

Can you even imagine life without a computer? Didn’t think so. They are so important in today’s world – yet many do not have access to one. If you’ve got an old computer lying around, consider donating it to this organization in the name of someone on your Christmas list – talk about a feel-good present!

2. Reclaimed Slate Cheese Board From Uncommon Goods (TreeHugger)

Got a foodie on your list? Check out this funky alternative to your traditional cheese plate!

3. EcoSphere Pod (The Daily Green)

A tiny, self-contained biosphere – it even has Hawaiian shrimp that just need heat and light to survive! Aw!

4. Wonderworld Wooden Doll House (TreeHugger)

Got any kids on your list? Well, this might be just right. It’s a doll house, sure, but it’s all about green. It’s made with sustainable, kid-safe wood and paint – and it has enviro-friendly accessories like a solar panel and recycling bins. Get ‘em started early!

5. Elephant Poo Paper (The Daily Green)

Not only is this made from recycling – we kid you not – elephant poo, a portion of the proceeds are donated to elephant welfare and conservation.

6. Laptop Lunches (The Daily Green)

These bento-box type lunch boxes are reusable, conveniently compartmentalized, and easy to use on the go! Yum…

7. Book: Sneakiest Uses for Everyday Things (The Daily Green)

Want to take recycling to the max? This book shows you how to turn everyday household items into something else entirely!

8. Solar-Powered Sunglasses (The Daily Green)

Not only do the ideas of sunglasses and solar power share an element (the sun), but now you can actually use your sunglasses to power your electronics! Not only does this allow you to charge on the go, but saves the electricity you’d normally use charging at home.

9. SkillShare Classes (TreeHugger)

Looking for a new hobby? Check out the idea of a SkillShare class – amateur experts who share their knowledge of acting, photography, woodworking etc. for free, just because they can.

10. Wood Cuff from Contexture (TreeHugger)

An awesome idea for the fashinista – and/or coffee lover – on your list!

Check out the full lists at the following links:

• TreeHugger’s Holiday Gift Guide 2011
• The Daily Green – Gift Ideas for the Hard-to-Impress Green Guru

And if that wasn’t enough for you, here are a few more lists to give you even MORE ideas:

• Discovery’s Manly Science Man Gift Guide
• Animal Planet’s Holiday Gift Guide
• Parentables’ Gift Guides
  

What are your inspired green gift ideas this year?

Well we’ve got just the thing – our 11th Annual Stairclimb for Clean Air! It’s not until February, which gives you nearly two months to climb your way back into shape post-holidays, and is an excellent way to motivate yourself to stick with those New Year’s resolutions! Even better – recruit friends, family and co-workers and make it a team effort – all in support of lung health! What could be better?

Here are the details:

WHAT: Annual Fundraising Event for the BC Lung Association

WHEN: Sunday AM, February 26, 2012

WHERE: Sheraton Van. Wall Centre Hotel

REGISTER: http://www.stairclimb.ca/ or call 604.731.5864

Once you’re registered, check out our Stairclimb blog, 739 Steps, for info, updates and tips – and don’t forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

See you all there!

Quitting smoking can be extremely difficult. If you know someone who’s trying to quit and want to be supportive,  we’ve got a few  tips from the BC Lung Association’s QuitNow team.

1. Ask how you can help. 

Quitting smoking is a personal decision. Don’t assume that you know the right things to do.

2. Be supportive.

Let them know that they can call you whenever necessary – especially in a crisis.

3. Help change their routines.

Spend time with them doing things to keep their minds off smoking, or suggest starting an exercise routine together.

4. Avoid nagging at all costs.

Don’t judge, preach or scold either. This could make them feel worse or increase their stress level – a major trigger for smoking. Do say: “How’s your day going?” Don’t say: “Did you smoke today?”

5. Offer practical support.

Help with daily chores, like cooking dinner, cleaning or babysitting will help lighten the stress of quitting.

6. Cut them some slack and allow for bad moods.

Quitting smoking is a difficult thing to do, and feelings of anger and irritability can be normal withdrawal symptoms – but temporary. So don’t take their behaviours personally and allow them some extra slack, especially during the first few weeks of their quit.

7. Respect their wishes.

If they want to be left alone, so be it. If they want your encouragement and support, be there.

8. Be understanding if they have a slip.

Understand that smoking is a powerful addiction and it may take several attempts before they quit for good. Quitting is a process, and each quit attempt a learning experience.

9. Celebrate their successes!

Quitting smoking is a BIG DEAL! Plan something special to mark their significant tobacco-free milestones, such as the first tobacco-free week, the first month, and the third month.

10.  Remind them why they wanted to quit in the first place.

Reinforce the benefits of their being tobacco-free, and encourage them to reward themselves with savings from not smoking.

And a bonus tip from us: suggest that they spend some time exploring the tools QuitNow has available to those attempting to quit smoking, including peer-to-peer networking on their Facebook wall. This service can provide 24/7 support via online, phone and texting methods to make sure they never feel alone – even when you’re not around! Even better, it will put them in touch with people who are (or have been) right where they are.

For more information, visit www.quitnow.ca or call 8-1-1.

When the BC Lung Association’s iconic Christmas Seals Campaign first began, its main goal was to raise money to build hospitals for tuberculosis patients. Countless parcels, packages, and letters have since been adorned with this traditional symbol.

View Seals from years past in our online Christmas Seal Gallery.

Christmas Seals continue to be the BC Lung Association’s most important source of donations. Today, funds raised from Christmas Seals are used to support world-class research, programs and services that help British Columbians breathe easier every day.

Last year the Campaign raised nearly $1 million for the cause, and this year we’re hoping to surpass that number. Those wishing to make a donation can do so by calling 604.731.5864 or toll free 1.800.665.5864 outside the Lower Mainland.  Supporters can also visit www.bc.lung.ca for more information or to donate online.

A huge thank you from all of us at the BC Lung Association and the 1 in 5 British Columbians living with lung disease!

If you’ve heard “radioactive” and thought “cancer,” you’re right. Radon exposure is responsible for an estimated 3-14% of all lung cancers. The good news is that testing the concentration of radon in your home is easy and inexpensive – and even if the levels of radon in your home are not safe, there are things you can do to fix the problem. (Watch our short video about Radon Mitigation to learn more).

If you live in Vernon, Barriere or Nelson, you can also attend one of our FREE public health forums coming up next week (bonus – attendees receive a free radon testing kit while supplies last, so get there early!):

FREE PUBLIC HEALTH FORUMS – RADON: IS IT IN YOUR HOME?

For more information on our forums or how to test and what to do if you discover that your home has radon, click here.