Lung health, this unknown? According to a survey conducted by AstraRicerche, Italians actually have little awareness: one in three, in particular, is not fully satisfied with the health of their lungs, especially smokers and those who live in polluted areas. Furthermore, three out of four Italians would like to have more information, only 1 out of 4 is well informed about their aging, while 50% have never heard of oxidative stress of the respiratory tract.
Precisely to overcome this gap and to raise awareness on the importance of constantly keeping an eye on the health of the lungs and respiratory tract, Zambon Italy launched the educational campaign Protect your lungs, which in this edition can count on the support of one ambassador exceptional: the Italian swimming champion Federica Pellegrini.
«Breathing is essential in sport and beyond. To maintain good lung health it is important to learn to listen to your lungs, as well as to train them, keeping fit and practicing sports, according to everyone’s possibilities and at all ages ”, explains the athlete. “For this reason it is essential to sensitize Italians on how to protect their lungs and thus take care of their breathing”.
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Pellegrini herself, for whom a healthy respiratory activity has always been a determining factor from a sporting point of view, discovered the importance of taking care of this aspect when, at the beginning of her career, she happened to have to deal with some ailments. inherent in breathing.
What kind of lung problems did you have to face during your sporting activity?
«In the initial part of my career I felt suffocating sensations, a couple of which even during a race».
What were the symptoms?
“You feel just like a closing of the lungs, something so bad it makes you lose control. I remember that the news made the rounds of the news and was also picked up by the evening Tg1 ».
How did you react on a practical and psychological level?
«I have always thought that every problem should be entrusted to a competent specialist in the subject. In my case, broncho-spasms were diagnosed, which is also frequent in swimming ».
How important is it for an athlete to take care of their lung health, and for all other people in general?
“Doing so is essential. After all, we live in times in which the attack on the lungs has left us with our backs to the wall. I believe in prevention and medical advances ».
What is important to us about the way we “breathe”?
«Self-control, especially when you are under pressure. A theme that goes well beyond competitive sport, and for which you can acquire techniques and, through them, improve “.
Is lung health an underestimated necessity, in your opinion?
“I think so, and I don’t think that’s the only thing we underestimate. Taking care of yourself, and finding a balance, improves everything overall, starting with daily relationships “.
What do you hope will change through the awareness campaign you are advocating?
“The audience is immense: being able to reach even a substantial percentage of people with these messages makes me think that it is worth constantly engaging in awareness raising.”
As part of the educational campaign Protect your lungsZambon Italia also promoted the initiative Journey into the breathwhich provides a 10-step practical guide by Maria Pia Foschino BarbaroDirector of the Respiratory System Diseases Operating Unit of the Policlinico Riuniti of Foggia e an animated docu-series in six episodes, each enriched by an exercise to improve the functionality of the breath. From lifestyle to risk factors to avoid, up to practical advice to listen to your breath, train it and keep it healthy: six episodes that want to help introduce the respiratory system and improve the quality of life through good breathing.
To watch the episodes of the animated docu-series and consult the practical guide to protect lung health in 10 steps, just go to the site www.proteggiituoipolmoni.it.
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Source: Vanity Fair
