Respiratory Rally a fit for Fresno area
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| Pulmonologist Dr. Karl Van Gundy speaks to more than 70 people at Fresno's first Respiratory Rally at Community Health Center-Sierra. |
Because of the good turnout and feedback, organizers plan to make the event, which was held Nov. 9, annual.
The rally, sponsored by the American Lung Association, has three main goals:
- Teach management techniques that will enable those affected by lung disease and their caregivers to live a more productive and fulfilling life.
- Provide social interaction with those sharing a common problem in an effort to decrease depression and provide a more optimistic view of life.
- Provide and exchange information that will give those affected by lung disease the tools necessary for living daily with a chronic illness.
Pulmonary rehabilitation specialist Marilyn Carter said a key message for patients and their families is maintaining an exercise program at home.
“They have to continue that for life,” Carter said. “They’re going to have their disease for life, that means they have to stay active.”
Dr. Karl Van Gundy, a Community Medical Center pulmonologist and UCSF Fresno faculty member, spoke to the audience about managing and living with chronic lung disease. He said events such as these are important to increase awareness.
“More education is always better for patients,” Dr. Van Gundy said. “The more aware they are of their disease, the better they can take care of it.”
Dr. Van Gundy said it’s vital for patients battling lung disease to follow their doctors’ orders. He said, for instance, he sometimes sees patients who he’s prescribed oxygen to, not using their oxygen. But he urged the crowd to make sure to use their oxygen if they’re supposed to.
“They tend not to go out and socialize for fear of staring and gawking,” Dr. Van Gundy said. “Either way, just do it.”
This story was reported by Eddie Hughes. He can be reached at eddieh@communitymedical.org.