TOP NEWS
Talk to Your Healthcare Provider About RSV Vaccination
The American Lung Association is urging adults 50 or older with chronic lung disease and all adults 75 or older to talk with their healthcare provider about getting vaccinated against respiratory syncytial virus(RSV). Highly contagious, RSV spreads widely during the fall and winter months and can cause serious complications, including pneumonia and worsening of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and heart failure. In older adults, severe RSV illness and long-lasting symptoms can lead to a loss of independence and reduced quality of life.
You can also join the American Lung Association for an informative webinar, “Preparing for Respiratory Virus Season.” Participants will learn about common respiratory viruses, risk factors for severe illness, effective prevention strategies, current vaccination recommendations, and available resources. The webinar will also address frequently asked questions and provide guidance on having informed conversations with healthcare providers about recommended vaccines. Register Today!
For more information on RSV prevention and vaccination, visit Lung.org/rsv. This initiative is supported by an educational grant from GSK.
Championing Critical Lung Health Funding and Care
On September 24, Lung Champions and their caregivers traveled to Washington, D.C., for the fourth American Lung Association Respiratory Advocacy Day. They met with members of Congress on Capitol Hill, sharing their personal stories and advocating for passage of the Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act and robust funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
You can support our lung champions by asking your members of Congress to cosponsor the SOAR Act and fund the National Asthma Control Program, Office on Smoking and Health, and National Immunization Program at CDC.
EVENTS
Our Fall Events are in Full Swing
Join us at one of our upcoming events, benefiting the Lung Association's lung cancer research and support programs:
- LUNG FORCE Run/Walk Charleston: Charleston, South Carolina – The Dunes House at Folly Beach on Saturday, October 17.Register here.
- LUNG FORCE Walk Long Island: East Meadow, New York – Eisenhower Park on Saturday, October 24. Register here.
- LUNG FORCE Community Walk: Hershey, Pennsylvania—Hershey Botanical Gardens. Register here
Our Powered by Lungs Team also has limited bibs available for the following 2026 marathons:
- Irish Life Dublin Marathon on Sunday, October 25. Learn more or support a runner.
- TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 2. Learn more or support a runner.
- JAL Honolulu Marathon on Sunday, December 13. Learn more or support a runner.
RESEARCH
Advancing COPD and Lung Cancer Research Through Collaboration
The Lung Association recently joined researchers, clinicians and other leaders at the 2026 Pittsburgh International Lung Conference, in collaboration with COPD-iNET, to advance the conversation around COPD research. With more than 16 million people in the U.S. living with COPD, progress depends on collaboration—bringing together experts across disciplines to accelerate discovery and translate promising science into better care. For the second time, the Lung Association supported this important gathering, helping foster ideas, innovation and a shared commitment to improving the lives of people living with COPD.
Read more about the studies, researchers and collaborative meetings supported by the American Lung Association Research Institute.
YOUR HEALTH
Why Vaping Isn't Harmless: Understanding Long-Term Risks
Vaping is often advertised as a safer option than smoking. However, as e-cigarettes have become more common, researchers have learned that they come with serious risks of their own. While scientists are still studying the long-term effects, they know that vaping exposes users to nicotine and other harmful chemicals that can damage the lungs. Nicotine is highly addictive and can negatively affect attention, learning, memory, mood and self-control. These effects are especially concerning for people under age 25 because their brains are still developing. Read more.
Shortness of Breath: Anxiety or Lung Health Issue?
Have you ever felt breathless during a stressful situation and wondered if it was a sign of something more serious? Symptoms like shortness of breath, chest tightness and feeling like you can't get enough air can go hand in hand with stress and anxiety, but determining the root cause of those symptoms can be tricky. In our new blog, David Zisman, MD, Site Director of Pulmonary and Critical Care Department, Weston Hospital, and Director, Interstitial Lung Disease program at Cleveland Clinic Florida, discusses the connection between anxiety and breathing problems, and why getting a proper diagnosis and treatment for the cause of these symptoms is essential to good health.
ADVOCACY
Lung Association Files Lawsuit to Block EPA Repeal of Power Plant Pollution Restrictions
Last month, the Lung Association filed a lawsuit to stop the Environmental Protection Agency's repeal of pollution standards for coal-fired power plants, established under the authority of the Clean Air Act and designed to reduce harmful pollution, including greenhouse gases. The Lung Association is the lead petitioner in the lawsuit, brought by attorneys at the Clean Air Task Force, and joined by the American Public Health Association and other nonprofits. “Emissions from power plants drive climate change, and climate change is a health emergency,” said Harold Wimmer, president and CEO of the American Lung Association. “EPA has the authority and the responsibility to protect people’s health from air pollution.”
EACH BREATH BLOG
Young, Healthy and Facing Stage 4 Lung Cancer
Kirah was a young, healthy working professional who had never given much thought to lung cancer. She had no history of smoking or family history of lung disease, so when she couldn't shake a cough after a bout of COVID-19, she didn't think much of it. However, her cough continued and worsened for many months. Eventually, a biopsy revealed a stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis. Read more about Kirah, including her treatment journey, from surgery and chemotherapy to a successful clinical trial, and how she is staying positive and connected while navigating lung cancer.
Blog last updated: October 9, 2026
