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FCH offers free lung health screenings

Are your lungs healthy?

In recognition of National Respiratory Care Week (Oct. 24-30) and Lung Health Day (Oct. 27), Fayette Community Hospital is offering free lung screenings Tuesday, Oct. 26, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in Community Rooms A and B. In addition to screenings, respiratory therapists will be available to provide information on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, smoking cessation and sleep disorders.

The lung screening is called spirometry, a breathing test that determines if the lungs are functioning properly by measuring the amount of air that you blow out of your lungs and how fast you exhale. Current or former smokers aged 45 and over are strongly encouraged to undergo screening as smoking has been shown to cause significant lung health problems. Anyone with respiratory problems should also be screened.

COPD, also called emphysema or chronic bronchitis, has been linked to tobacco smoke, exposure to occupational dusts and chemicals, and genetic disorders. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 10 million Americans suffer from COPD. Avoiding tobacco smoke, home and workplace air pollutants, and respiratory infections are key to preventing the initial development of COPD. Early detection and diagnosis also can help those with lung and pulmonary problems live healthier.

“In the past several years, we have seen an increase in the number of people who suffer from COPD,” said George Leslie, director of cardiopulmonary services at Fayette Community Hospital. “As a result of the rise in lung disease patients, Fayette Community Hospital’s respiratory therapists have made educating the community about lung disease a top priority.”

To register for your free lung screening, please call 770-719-6918. Walk-ins also are welcome.