The most dreaded disease of the early 20th century was not heart disease or
cancer—it was tuberculosis, also known then as consumption. The American Lung
Association was founded in 1904 as the National Association for the Study and
Prevention of Tuberculosis, and it was the center of the fight to tackle that
dreaded disease.
Although tuberculosis has waned as a public health threat in most parts of the
world, the fight for healthy lungs has continued.
The American Lung Association works to improve treatments and find cures for
lung diseases and to help people stop smoking, but there is another area the
organization has made a huge impact—air quality.
“The American Lung Association is the primary voice for the general public about
lung-related health issues, and one of the most important for the general
community is probably our air,” said William Lawson, M.D., assistant professor of Medicine in the
Allergy/Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Division.
“Not many people probably think about it, but it is really our best advocate for
air quality,” he said. “It has been vital in the push for protecting the air we breathe.”
The American Lung Association, a member of Community Health Charities, works in
three ways—advocacy, research and education.
As a pulmonary physician, Lawson has a vested interest in the organization’s research arm. Lawson studies pulmonary fibrosis, which has no known cure and
affects nearly 50,000 people nationwide. Most patients die within five years.
Lung disease is common, said Lawson. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
(COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. causing one in 20
deaths. Asthma affects millions of people. Combine COPD, asthma and lung
cancer, and it becomes clear that lung disease is a significant health burden,
said Lawson.
“It doesn’t take a person too many steps from their own family tree to know someone with a
lung disease or disorder,” he said. “That is why the American Lung Association is so important. They are supporting
research into the development of new treatment strategies for people with lung
disease.”
Recently, the association has been responsible for developing asthma recognition
initiatives for use in child care facilities. It also created the asthma
response protocols for the school systems nationwide.
Lawson, who has asthma, said he can really appreciate the work the organization
does.
“I am involved in the American Lung Association not just because of my research
focus, but I also volunteer because it gives me a chance to use my professional
expertise to support a very important organization that brings to the forefront
the importance of lung diseases in our country.
“This group takes the approach of looking into the future of all things related
to the lungs and empowers people right now to make a difference. By providing
assistance to people in the moment, they are having an impact on our future.”
Some of the association’s kudos include tackling smoking as the nation’s greatest preventable health risk, and to make the connection between air
pollution and lung disease.
The agency lists among its victories the passage of the Clean Air Act, banning
smoking on airplanes, and passage of the bill which gave the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration authority over the marketing, sale and manufacturing of tobacco
products.
Community Health Charities are a group of agencies devoted to enhancing the
operations, programs and services of its health-related charities. It is a
federation of the country’s leading health organizations that have come together to raise funds in the
workplace.
