the Statistics - Just One Breath

Lung disease in Australia
AT LEAST
the Statistics
1/10
AUSTRALIANS HAS LUNG DISEASE
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however Lung Foundation Australia estimates
the number to be significantly higher. (Note 1).
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2.3 million
Australians have asthma II
An estimated
1.49 million
III
Australians have some form of airflow limitation.
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are diagnosed
11,580 withAustralians
lung cancer each year.
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14%
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667
Australians are diagnosed with
pleural mesothelioma
each year. V
of all deaths in Australia are caused by lung disease,
includingVI COPD, asthma, bronchiectasis, lung
cancer, influenza and pneumonia.
Indigenous people die of lung
disease at a rate of up to three
times that of the non-indigenous
populationVII, and, in the case
of COPD, five times that of
non-indigenous people.VIII
Much lung disease is undiagnosed,
as people ignore or not aware of
important symptoms such as
breathlessness and productive cough.IX,X
Early diagnosis can
lead to better outcomes.
LUNG FOUNDATION AUSTRALIA
Level 2
11 Finchley Street
Milton QLD 4064
Postal Address:
PO Box 1949
Milton QLD 4064
Telephone: 1800 654 301 (within Australia)
Phone: +61 (0) 7 3251 3600
Fax:
+61 (0)7 3368 3564
Email: enquiries@lungfoundation.com.au
www.lungfoundation.com.au
What is lung disease?
CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE (COPD)
COPD is an umbrella term that includes emphysema, chronic bronchitis and chronic asthma which isn’t fully
reversible if causes shortness of breath. While COPD currently has no cure, there are things that people can
do to breathe easier, keep out of hospital and improve quality of life.XI
LUNG CANCER
a malignant tumour in the tissue of one or both lungs, which usually starts in the lining of an airway
(bronchus). There are many different types of lung cancer, and these are classified according to the type of cell
affected. They can be grouped into two main types: small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. XII
ASTHMA
is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways. People with asthma experience episodes of wheezing,
breathlessness and chest tightness due to widespread narrowing of the airways.XIII
BRONCHIECTASIS
refers to an abnormal and irreversible widening of air passages in the lungs. People with bronchiectasis are
prone to infections as mucus accumulates in the airways and becomes stagnant.
PLEURAL MESOTHELIOMA
is a rare and often fatal cancer of the mesothelium, the membrane that covers most of the body’s internal organs.
It generally starts in the outer membrane of the lungs and can develop decades after exposure to asbestos.XIV
INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASES
are a group of rare lung conditions that cause inflammation of the lung tissue which leads to scarring (fibrosis)
of the air sacs that interferes with the ability of the lungs to deliver oxygen. If the problem gets worse, the
lungs become stiff, and shrink resulting in increased breathlessness. The problem usually develops over the
age of 50 years.
CYSTIC FIBROSIS
is a hereditary disease in which mucus from glands is thicker and stickier than normal, affecting the lungs and
other organs. Difficulty in clearing mucus from the airway leads to chest infections and airflow obstruction,
with related problems such as bronchiectasis and shortened life expectancy.XV
PULMONARY ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION (PAH)
a condition where the flow of blood from the heart to the lungs is severely restricted. This increases pressure
in the pulmonary arteries, putting the heart under increasing strain to maintain blood flow to the lungs.
RESPIRATORY INFECTIOUS DISEASES
have an enormous diversity both in their epidemiology and their likely severity. They may involve the upper
airway (such as rhinitis and sinusitis) or the lower airway and/or the lungs (such as influenza and pneumonia).XVI
CHRONIC COUGH
a cough that persists for longer than three weeks. In some instances it can cause uncomfortable
complications such as pain, fatigue and sleeping difficulty.XVII Chronic cough has a negative impact on quality of
life in adults and in parents of children with chronic cough. In adults, it may be associated with significant
psychosocial disturbance, including anxiety and depression.XVIII
ORPHAN LUNG DISEASES
the term given to rare lung diseases. In Australia, a rare disease is defined as one with a prevalence of less
than one in 10,000.
Note 1: This figure is based on the prevalence of asthma only. There is no information available on the overall prevalence in Australia for lung disease and little information
on the prevalence of other lung diseases including bronchiectasis, pulmonary fibrosis, and occupational lung diseases. Additionally because of the significant cross-over
between COPD and asthma, COPD prevalence figures have not been added to this figure of 1 in 10.
What are the symptoms of lung disease?
The symptoms of lung disease may not be obvious at first and may be mistaken as signs of ageing
or lack of fitness. Broadly, the most common early signs of lung disease include:
CHEST PAIN
AND/OR TIGHTNESS
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BREATHLESSNESS
/WHEEZE
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COUGHING UP BLOOD,
MUCUS OR PHLEGM
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FATIGUE
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PERSISTENT, NEW,
OR CHANGED COUGH
Symptoms may vary depending on which condition a person with lung disease has.
Check how healthy your lungs are by taking our two minute lung health check at
www.lungfoundation.com.au
For further information and detailed notes referenced in this document visit www.lungfoundation.com.au/general-information/statistics/
• A
rchie Roach is Australia’s beloved,
respected and admired Aboriginal singer/
songwriter; his voice and sensibility that
is this country’s most important song line.
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• C
asey Dellacqua made her Australian Open
debut as a 17 year old in 2003. Last year she
achieved her highest singles ranking of #26.
Casey represented Australia in the Olympic
team at Beijing in 2008, and London in 2012.
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Did you know that more than 90% of your body’s energy comes from your breath? A healthy set of lungs
is fundamental to a healthy life; yet the simplest daily action – breathing – is often taken for granted
or overlooked.
Just One Breath is brought to you by Lung Foundation Australia. It is both a celebration of positive health
and wellbeing, and an invitation for everyone to think about the importance of healthy lungs, and the
power of breath for a life of vitality.
Our Just One Breath champions have shared with us their personal stories about the power of breath
in their professional lives, and we hope you’ll enjoy watching their stories, and help us share and spread
their message and tips for good lung health.
What makes a Just One Breath Champion?
Welcome to our Just One Breath Champions, a hand-picked selection of iconic Aussies who embody
everything we celebrate about lung health. Donating their time and stories to our cause, our
Champions are not only leaders in their industries, they serve as role models for the next generation
of Australian achievers. You can watch a short video from each of our Champions, where we ask them
what lung health means to them and their passion, and any tips they may have to share along the
way! Make sure you follow their social media handles (below) too, and stay in touch with what it
takes to become a true Champion.
• C
hristine Anu has enjoyed an illustrious
career spanning over two decades in the
entertainment industry. A multi-platinum
selling artist, Christine has won five ARIA
Music Awards.
instagram.com/anuchristine
facebook.com/OfficialChristineAnu
• J ames Morrison James Morrison is a
musical virtuoso. The multi-instrumentalist
jazz musician and composer is best known
for his mastery with the trumpet, and opened
the 2000 Olympics with a single epic note.
facebook.com/JamesMorrisonTrumpet3
instagram.com/morrisontrumpet
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att Hall is a third generation pilot, a
former RAAF Fighter Combat (Top Gun)
Instructor, and an international unlimited
aerobatic competitor with Red Bull.
instagram.com/matthallracing
facebook.com/MattHallRacing
• J usten ‘Jughead’ Allport is an all round
family man, fireman, lifeguard and adrenalineseeking big wave surfer who commands some
of the biggest waves around the world.
instagram.com/jugjugheadhead
• M
elissa Breen is the nation’s official fastest
female runner at 100 and 200 metres. Melissa
broke the Australian record for the women’s
100 metre sprint in early 2014, a record
previously held by Melinda Gainsford-Taylor
which had stood for more than 20 years.
instagram.com/melissa_breen
• J ess Fox is a gold-winning canoe slalom
athlete, who created history in 2014 by
becoming the first slalom athlete to win the
world championship in two classes, and the
youngest woman in the sporting category
to win an Olympic medal.
facebook.com/jessfox.canoeslalom
instagram.com/jessfox94
• M
att O’Leary is the Senior Winemaker
at Wolf Blass Wines, with vineyard
responsibilities stretching from the
Adelaide Hills to Mount Gambier.
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