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October 1, 2021 - Updated July 1, 2022

October is Healthy Lung Month

October is Healthy Lung Month. Healthy Lung Month is focused on making the public aware of how to protect their lungs so they can live healthier lives. Most people don’t think about their lungs and how they work until they have issues with breathing. Pollution and irritants in the air can affect the way we breathe. Diseases can also affect our lung functioning and breathing. It is estimated around 25 million people in the US are currently diagnosed with asthma and approximately 10 million Americans are diagnosed each year with chronic bronchitis (Healthy Lung Month - October, 2021). Though environmental conditions including allergens and exposure to infections can play a significant role in lung disease, the leading cause of lung disease in the United States in smoking. Smoking damages the tissue in the airways and alveoli of the lungs. Most cases of lung cancer can be attributed to cigarette smoking.

There are several steps you can take to assist your patients keep their lungs healthy:

  • Educate your patients on the effects of smoking. Medicare covers counseling to prevent tobacco use for those patients that qualify. Discuss this Medicare covered benefit with your patients and encourage them to enroll.
  • If your patients are smokers or have a history of smoking, Medicare covers Lung Cancer Screening Counseling and Annual Screening for Lung Cancer with Low Dose Computed Tomography for those patients that qualify. Discuss this Medicare covered benefit with your patients and encourage them to enroll.
  • Discuss possible irritants to the lungs such as allergens and how to avoid or minimize exposure to these allergens.
  • Encourage your patients to schedule annual wellness visits and health screenings.
  • Encourage your patients to get their flu shot annually.
  • Encourage your patients to get their pneumococcal shot.
  • Educate our patients on infection prevention practices such as frequent handwashing.
  • Educate your patients on healthy habits such as exercising, eating a well-balanced diet, and getting enough sleep.

To learn more about Medicare-covered services, visit CMS Preventive ServicesExternal Website

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