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Canadians know about mammography, but 90 percent never heard of spirometry for COPD, survey finds
Medical News Today
Ninety percent of Canadians have never heard of spirometry, a simple breathing test used to diagnose COPD, and Mary Walsh, one of Canada’s best-known actors, is teaming up with the Canadian Lung Association to find out if they are at risk for this serious lung disease.
“Considering that COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in Canada, the notion that spirometry isn’t as well-known as mammography is frightening,” says Walsh.
Spirometry is a simple and non-invasive test that measures how much air you can move out of your lungs. Spirometry is used to diagnose COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A survey released this week showed that 90 percent of Canadians had never heard of spirometry.
Walsh knows first-hand how devastating COPD can be; three of her family members are affected by the disease.
“Canadians need to realize that COPD is a serious health issue, and should be treated that way” says Walsh, celebrated for her work on This Hour has 22 Minutes, and a spokesperson for The Canadian Lung Association.
