Helping others breathe leads local respiratory therapist to fight for clean air

As a respiratory therapist for 28 years, I have seen the disastrous impact of poor air quality.

Patients with asthma to COPD and chronic bronchitis come in daily, fighting for air, suffering from what we call “air hunger.” They become frightened as they grasp for air, becoming more anxious as they struggle. The anxiety and the shortness of breath build on each other. It’s challenging for even the most experienced caregiver to see these patients suffer.

I’ve seen first-hand the impact of air quality on those patients who lived in cities with a large amount of smog or air pollution. Unfortunately, those patients were unaware that they had a higher chance of being diagnosed with bronchitis and asthma.

Air quality can make a huge difference to those suffering from lung disease. We monitor the air quality every day because we know of the drastic impact it has on our patients. Air quality determines whether our patients will have a good day or a bad day. As more people are being diagnosed with asthma, more people need to be aware of the impact of air pollution on their disease. 

I’m proud to support the American Lung Association and its efforts to fight lung disease and to ensure clean, healthy air for all Pennsylvanians. Please join the fight against weakening air pollution standards. Contact your elected officials and let them know that you expect them to fight for clean air and stand up to the companies that want to put profits before people.

Debbie Gurnari

Forty Fort, PA