Volume 1, Issue 8

Did you know?

• Humans are the only mammals that can’t swallow and breathe at the same time.
• The air from a human sneeze can travel at speeds of 100 miles per hour or more -- another good reason to cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze -- or duck when you hear one coming your way.
• By 60 years of age, 60% of men and 40% of women will snore. But the sound of a snore can seem deaf­ening. While snores average around 60 decibels, the noise level of normal speech, they can reach more than 80 decibels. Eighty decibels is as loud as the sound of a pneumatic drill breaking up concrete.
• Your brain uses 20% of the oxygen that enters your bloodstream, but only makes up about 2% of our body mass. This makes it extremely susceptible to damage related to low oxygen levels.
• Your left lung is smaller than your right lung to make room for your heart.
• The surface area of a human lung is equal to a tennis court. In order to more efficiently oxygenate the blood, the lungs are filled with thousands of branching bronchi and tiny, grape-like alveoli.
• The medical short form for ‘short of breath’ is SOB.

Electronic Cigarettes and Oxygen

Snoring is one of the key symptoms of sleep apnea.  But what if you sleep alone?  Or, your bed partner doesn’t believe that they actually do snore?  A group of researchers in Japan have created an application (app) for smart phones that records the sound of snoring.  The possibilities are endless: it can be used to prove that the person snores, determine if snoring only happens when the person lies on their back, track improvements in snoring with weight loss, and determine if the sleep apnea treatment is working. More research is still needed, but in the future we may just use our phones to diagnose sleep apnea.

On November 24, 2014 Health Canada issued an alert regarding the use of electronic cigarettes in the presence of an oxygen source.  This is after a person, while using oxygen, was injured in a fire caused by the electronic cigarette.  Electronic cigarettes include heating elements and a power source that may be charged from a USB port or a separate battery charger. These sources of heat may ignite the electronic cigarette if they are close to oxygen.

Health Canada is warning consumers of potential risks of using electronic cigarettes while undergoing oxygen therapy.  They also warn that electronic cigarette batteries should not be charged near an oxygen source due to the risk of fire. Additionally, consumers are warned that other kinds of electrical devices may have the potential to cause a fire when used near an oxygen source.

Do You use Your Inhaler Properly?

Thank You for supporting our Christmas Seals Campaign!

Since 1908, Canadians have made a difference in the lives of people with lung disease by supporting the Christmas Seal campaign.  When a humble postmaster in Copenhagen, Denmark came up with the idea to sell decorative stamps to make money for the crusade against tuberculosis (TB), little did he realize that a little paper stamp would help save lives and impact lung disease around the world and for generations to come. 
Today Christmas Seals are an essential fundraiser for The Lung Association nationwide.  Thank you for supporting our Christmas Seals Campaign with your generous support.  To date we have received over $169,000 in donations to support science-based information, research, education, support programs, and advocacy on lung health issues in Saskatchewan.

ArtWorks for Lung Health

Glorious Sunflowers by Regina artist, Val Moker

Your support for lung health in Saskatchewan hasn’t gone unnoticed.  In fact, all of us at The Lung Association are so grateful for your efforts to improve lung health right here in our province, we want you to have a special chance to win a piece of spectacular Canadian artwork donated by: Robert Bateman, Naomi Gerrard, Vera Hand, Carmen Heinrichs, Yvonne Kydd, Robert Lowdon, Gaye McConnell, Val Moker, Dan Reid, and Glen Scrimshaw. 

Attention all Volunteers – Back the Attack on Asthma & Allergies Door-to-Door Campaign

From June 1 – 7, thousands of dedicated volunteer canvassers hit the streets in communities across Saskatchewan to give people an opportunity to support our programs and services in the area of asthma and allergies.  If you live in Regina, Saskatoon, Yorkton, Estevan, Swift Current, North Battleford or Prince Albert, please say “YES” when you receive a call from one of our telephone operators.  If canvassing is not to your liking we also need Area and Zone Captains.  Thank you very much for your help!

Share The Air Raffle

Former Saskatchewan Roughrider Joins the Fight for Clean Air - The Lung Association of Saskatchewan is pleased to announce that #80, Don Narcisse, Saskatchewan Roughrider favourite Alumnus and CFL Hall of Fame Inductee, is the ambassador for the 2015 Share the Air Raffle. Don has had asthma since childhood and he knows from first-hand experience how important good air quality is for lung health. Tickets are on sale for our annual Share the Air Raffle (Lottery License #LR14-0082). Purchasing your tickets will not only help Saskatchewan residents to breathe easier but will also give you a chance to win the grand prize of up to $121,750 in tax-free cash or a host of electronic and cash prizes! To purchase your 2015 Share the Air Raffle tickets, call our toll-free, 24-hour raffle hotline at 1-866-95LOTTO (1-866-955-6886) or order your tickets online. Deadline for purchasing tickets is midnight on May 29 with the draw on June 5.

Classified Ads

• Respironics Evergo portable concentrator with 2 batteries for sale. This was only used for travelling. Also available: an Easy Pulse 5 oxgyen conserving device. Interested? Call Fred in Regina at 206-522-8144.

The Lung Association of Saskatchewan is not responsible for any product purchased through ads in the Breathe Newsletter.

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