On 25 September, the world marks World Lung Day-WLD. This year’s theme is “care for your lungs and keep them healthy”.
The 2021 WLD theme will focus on:
Say no to tobacco
Protect them through vaccination
Breathe clean air
Take regular physical exercise
Say no to tobacco
Tobacco causes 8 million deaths every year and is the main cause of many lung diseases. Tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, many of which are toxic and can cause cancer.
Stopping smoking is the best way to improve your lung health and overall health.
After just 20 minutes of quitting smoking, your heart rate drops.
Within 12 hours, the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
Within 2–12 weeks, your circulation improves, and your lung function increases.
Within 1–9 months, coughing and shortness of breath decrease.
Within 5–15 years, your stroke risk is reduced to that of a non-smoker.
Within 10 years, your lung cancer death rate is about half that of a smoker.
Within 15 years, your risk of heart disease is that of a non-smoker.
  Protect your lungs through vaccination

Getting vaccinated can protect you from lots of different infectious diseases and help you keep your lungs healthy. Pneumococcal pneumonia, COVID-19, influenza, and whooping cough are examples of respiratory infections that can be prevented by vaccination.
Vaccination can also help to protect other people and it stops infections from spreading.

Breathe clean air
Air pollution kills an estimated 7 million people worldwide every year. WHO data shows that 9 out of 10 people breathe air containing high levels of pollutants.
Air pollution has a negative impact on human health, from babies to the very elderly. That is why it is important to know how much clean air we breathe where we live and in general, what impact clean air has on our health.
  Take regular physical activity

Regular physical activity reduces the risk of illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, stroke risk, etc. When you exercise, your heart beats faster and your lungs work harder, your body needs more oxygen. Regular physical activity and exercise improves your quality of life and make your lungs healthier.