World Lung Day Date in the current year: September 25, 2024

The lungs are the primary organs of our respiratory system. They are critical organs because they deliver oxygen to the rest of the body, and without oxygen our bodies simply would not work. Therefore respiratory health is essential for maintaining overall health.

The lungs can be affected by a number of diseases and disorders, some of which are extremely dangerous and potentially deadly. Common respiratory diseases include pneumonia, tuberculosis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer, various congenital disorders (cystic fibrosis, pulmonary hypoplasia, and others), COVID-19, and many more.

Respiratory infections (including tuberculosis) and chronic respiratory diseases are among the most common causes of death worldwide. COPD, asthma, acute respiratory infections (pneumonia), tuberculosis, and lung cancer claim millions of lives every year. They are collectively referred to as the Big Five respiratory diseases.

According to the World Health Organization, the main risk factors for chronic respiratory diseases are tobacco smoking (including second-hand smoke), allergens, occupational hazards (chemicals and dusts), outdoor and indoor air pollution, and frequent childhood respiratory infections. Some of them are relatively easily preventable (for example, you can make a decision to quit smoking), while others require international cooperation to reduce their impact.

World Lung Day was created to bring together healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to reduce the burden of respiratory diseases on global health. It was launched in 2017 by the Forum of International Respiratory Societies, a coalition of leading international professional respiratory societies that unite about 100,000 respiratory health professionals around the globe.

The main goal of World Lung Day is to raise global awareness of respiratory health. Every year, the awareness campaign focuses on a critical issue related to lung health. For example, the 2022 and 2023 campaigns addressed global inequalities in respiratory health, such as scarce resources for research, prevention, and management of respiratory illnesses in low- and middle-income countries, and the importance of accessible lung health care for everyone regardless of their geographic location and socioeconomic background.

World Lung Day events and activities include public lectures, educational workshops, free health screenings, fundraising initiatives, and advocacy campaigns. You can get involved with World Lung Day by participating in an event near you, learning more about common respiratory illnesses and promising yourself to take better care of your respiratory health, donating to an organization that funds research into chronic respiratory diseases or helps patients and their families, and spreading the word on social media with the hashtag #WorldLungDay.