World Lung Day 2023- Learn Details About Respiratory Health, Problems Affecting It, And Prevention

World Lung Day is observed every year by people all over the world on September 25. The day is observed to raise global awareness to take meaningful action to achieve and maintain better respiratory health. It was first established by the Forum of International Respiratory Societies in 2017. Various awareness events and programs are organized in different parts of the world to mark this day. Get interesting details related to World Lung Day 2023 such as its history, theme, significance, celebration, and more from this article.

World Lung Day 2023 Overview

World Lung Day 2023 Date

World Lung Day Significance

Almost every country in the world is affected by respiratory disease but the problem is more relevant in countries with low and middle income. Places where there is a scarcity of prevention and management facilities are more prone to respiratory illness. There are many reasons that can affect respiratory health prominent being air pollution, use of tobacco, climate change, etc. It is therefore important to look closely into the matter that has been the reason behind the respiratory disease and find out the solutions to them. To raise global awareness of respiratory diseases and to make respiratory care and treatment available to all, especially those residing in poor countries, World Lung Day is observed every year on September 25.

History of World Lung Day

The Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) along with the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer and the American College of Chest Physicians launched an awareness campaign. Started in 2012, the campaign was focused on spreading knowledge about lung cancer and other lung-related problems. Five years later at the World Health Assembly held in 2017, the FIRS proclaimed about having a dedicated day for lung health in order to create awareness of respiratory diseases, and thus World Lung Day came into existence. On September 25, 2017, the world’s very first Lung Day was observed and has been observed every year since.

About Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS)

The Forum of International Respiratory Societies is a federation of various organizations supporting respiratory health. Established in the year 2002 and based in Lausanne, Switzerland, the forum has more than 70,000 members all over the world. The European Respiratory Society, The American College of Chest Physicians, The American Thoracic Society, The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, etc. are some of the organizations under FIRS.

Also Read about World Heart Day

World Lung Day Celebration 2023

Different awareness programs, seminars, and discussions to support respiratory health are organized on the occasion of World Lung Day. The FIRS uses the day as an opportunity to request governments to address the issues of social inequalities in respiratory health. As an individual, you can also contribute toward spreading awareness through social media accounts. You can download the World Lung Day profile image and change your profile picture and can even use #WorldLungDay to promote this day.

World Lung Day Theme 2023

Each year the FIRS declares a theme for observing World Lung Day and the observation of the day is carried out according to the theme. Check out the table below for the theme for World Lung Day 2023 and also for the past four years:

Important Facts about Respiratory Health

• Around 200 million people in the world are living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• COPD is also the third-leading cause of death causing more than 3 million deaths every year.
• Millions of others die every year from lung cancer and it is responsible for 1 in 4 cancer deaths.
• For children below 5 years of age, pneumonia is a leading cause of death.
• Asthma is one of the most common types of non-communicable disease.
• After the COVID pandemic, the number of deaths caused by tuberculosis has risen drastically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: When is World Lung Day 2023?

Answer: September 25, 2023

Question 2: When is Healthy Lung Month observed?

Answer: October is observed as Healthy Lung Month.

Question 3: How many respiratory deaths are caused per year?

Answer: Millions of lives are lost due to respiratory illness in the world every year.

Question 4: What good lung habits should we apply in our daily lives?

Answer: Stop smoking, exercise on a regular basis, and prevent being exposed to air pollution.

Question 5: What are the most common respiratory diseases?

Answer: Lung cancer, tuberculosis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and acute respiratory tract infection (pneumonia)