62% of Canadians with asthma suffer when air quality poor: Lung Association survey

       Survey also finds that link between air pollution and asthma is
                              under-appreciated

    OTTAWA, May 6 /CNW Telbec/ - A new survey released today by The Lung
Association shows that more than half of Canadians with asthma notice that
their breathing gets worse on smoggy days, yet few know the range of steps
they can take to protect their breathing.
    Additionally, the survey found that a surprising 62 per cent of Canadians
with asthma say their asthma "acts up" on days when air quality is poor.
    Results also show that more than half of all Canadians who have asthma
know to stay indoors on smoggy days. However, in contrast, very few Canadians
with asthma know other strategies to protect their lung health on poor air
quality days. Only 29 per cent know to take their asthma medication, and fewer
know to avoid strenuous exercise outdoors (6%) or staying away from high
traffic areas, where pollution tends to be worse (1%).
    "The link between air pollution and asthma is often under-appreciated,"
says Dr. Menn Biagtan of the B.C. Lung Association. "Short-term exposure to
ozone - the main component of smog - can exacerbate lung conditions, causing
illness, and hospitalization. Chronic exposure to ozone can cause pre-mature
deaths in people with pre-existing lung and heart conditions."
    Smog can cause breathing problems in anyone, even people without a lung
condition. Certain people, such as those with asthma or chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD) as well as children and the elderly, are more
sensitive to smog's effects.
    "People with asthma may notice that their breathing gets worse after a
few minutes outside in the smog. But smog can also trigger symptoms later on,
even the next day. So some people with asthma may not realize that their
symptoms were triggered by exposure to smog" says Dr. Biagtan.
    The survey also revealed that almost four in ten (38%) Canadian
households include at least one individual who has asthma.
    For more information on how Canadians with asthma can protect their
breathing, visit: www.lung.ca/smogsmart.

    This survey was conducted by Environics Research, on behalf of The Lung
Association. The survey was conducted between March 13 and April 7, 2008 and
is based on telephone interviews with a representative sample of
2,026 Canadians (18 years and over). The margin of sampling error for the full
sample is plus or minus 2.2 percent, in 19 out of 20 samples.

    Established in 1900, The Lung Association is one of Canada's oldest and
most respected health charities, and the leading national organization for
science-based information, research, education, support programs and advocacy
on lung heath issues.

For further information: Cameron Bishop, Director of Government Affairs
and Media Relations, The Lung Association, (613) 569-6411, ext. 223,
cbishop@lung.ca