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For most people, breathing is an automatic function that doesn’t require much attention. You breathe in, you breathe out; there’s no need to think about it. 

It’s all part of our ever-important respiratory system, which is essential to life. It supplies the body with oxygen while removing carbon dioxide, which can be lethal to humans in high concentrations. The system also helps protect the body from harmful particles and germs, and it allows people to speak and smell.

Unfortunately, chronic respiratory diseases are the third leading cause of death globally, according to the World Health Organization, accounting for four million deaths in 2019 alone. 

In the United States, nearly five percent of adults have been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), emphysema or chronic bronchitis, the three most common chronic respiratory diseases, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with nearly 150,000 dying from chronic respiratory diseases in the U.S. each year.

If left untreated, respiratory disorders can produce health complications, problematic symptoms and life-threatening conditions.

“For many people, the impact of chronic respiratory disease can be devastating. Along with the long-term effect on their physical health including issues like chronic breathlessness and fatigue, which can be disabling and frightening, respiratory issues can also have a significant psychological and economic impact on patients as their caregivers,” says pulmonologist Alfredo Arauco Brown, MD, a critical care medicine specialist affiliated with STHS McAllen. “That’s why early detection, treatment and prevention of chronic respiratory diseases is vital.”   

To help raise awareness about the dangers of untreated respiratory issues among residents of the Rio Grande Valley, South Texas Health System (STHS) and South Texas Health System Clinics (STHS Clinics)l devotec the latest episode of their monthly “South Texas Healthy Living” television program to chronic respiratory diseases. 

Broadcast live on Saturday, August 24, and Sunday, August 25 at 11:00 a.m. on KGBT 4.1, the program featured an interview with Dr. Arauco Brown, who highlighted the common causes, risk factors and early warning signs of common respiratory diseases, as well as highlighted how doctors diagnose and treat them. 

Additionally, STHS System Director of Marketing and  Public Relations and South Texas Healthy Living host Tom Castañeda interviewed a respiratory therapist at STHS McAllen to learn how specialized treatments can enhance the quality of life for patients with respiratory issues while highlighting at-home exercises that can help improve lung function and breathing.

The program also featured a cooking segment led by Patrick Woodin, South Texas Health System McAllen’s Director of Dietary and Nutrition Services, on lung-friendly foods and a demonstration aimed at improving your respiratory health with a member of the STHS McAllen Outpatient Rehabilitation Center, as well as important advice on preventing chronic respiratory diseases.

“It’s a simple fact: if your respiratory system strains to help you breathe, your overall health will struggle,” says Castañeda. “But you can take several steps to improve your respiratory health, including getting regular exercise and eating healthy. So, in the latest episode of ‘South Texas Healthy Living,’ we won’t just address the common types of chronic respiratory diseases and the complications associated with them. We’ll also share strategies to help prevent chronic respiratory issues from developing, worsening or returning, as well as some great exercises you can do in the comfort of your home to get healthy and stay healthy!”

If you or someone you know has chronic lung disease or is at risk of developing lung issues, don’t miss the latest episode of “South Texas Healthy Living”. A rebroadcast of the show will air on Saturday, August 31 and Sunday, September 1 at 11:00 a.m. on KGBT 4.1.