Senate Bill 83 Passes
The American Lung Association in South Dakota is pleased to announce that bill, SB83, just passed the South Dakota legislature and is awaiting the Governor's signature.   Read more...

Give the Perfect Gift for your Golfer AND Fight Lung Disease
The Golf Privilege Book is the perfect gift for any golfer in your heart this year.   Read more...

American Lung Association: 'Incomplete' Grade For Smokefree Air In South Dakota, Other Grades Remain Static
As South Dakotans wait for a chance to vote in November to enact a statewide smokefree law passed last year by lawmakers and signed by the Governor, the American Lung Association's annual State of Tobacco Control Report has given the state a rare "I" or incomplete grade for smokefree air.   Read more...

New Freedom From Smoking Online Launched
The American Lung Association's Freedom From Smoking (FFS) program has helped thousands of people quit smoking and is considered the gold standard for its clinically proven techniques.   Read more...

Senate Passes Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act
On June 11, 2009, the United States Senate took the nation one step closer to permanently altering the face of public health in America as it passed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which grants the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversight over the manufacture and sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products.   Read more...

Behind the Headlines: Swine Flu
The Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported a number of cases of swine flu in human adults and children living in several U.S. states.   Read more...

American Lung Association of Upper Midwest Offers Tips On Dealing With Floodwaters
The American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest shares the concerns many are feeling about the rising water levels and flooding in several states that we serve.   Read more...

President Obama Hikes Federal Cigarette Tax to Help Kids
The American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest applauds President Obama for helping promote and preserve the health of some of America's most vulnerable children.   Read more...

American Lung Association: Two 'F' Grades In New Report Highlights Need For Smokefree South Dakota
As state lawmakers pledge support for a statewide law limiting smoking in indoor workplaces, the American Lung Association's annual State of Tobacco Control Report has given the state an "F" for smokefree air. Last year, South Dakota earned a "C" for smokefree air.   Read more...

Celebrate Smoke-Free Homes for the Holidays
Thank you for your past support of smoke-free environments! The American Lung Association is encouraging everyone to pledge their home and car smoke-free.   Read more...

World COPD Day Celebrated
World COPD Day is being celebrated to recognize and raise awareness to the 4th leading cause of death in the United States.   Read more...

Quitting Smoking Saves Lives and Money
If you smoke, quitting can save you money as well as your life. However, where you live can help or hurt your ability to quit.   Read more...

Radon Causes Thousands of Deaths Annually
During national Lung Cancer Awareness Month in November, the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest is urging everyone to protect themselves by testing their homes for radon gas.   Read more...

November is COPD Awareness Month
November is COPD Awareness Month, and the American Lung Association is again partnering with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute on this year's "COPD Learn More Breathe Better" campaign.   Read more...

Historic Appeals Case Against Tobacco
Recently, the U.S. Department of Justice and Public Health Intervenors, including the American Lung Association, presented oral arguments before the United States Court of Appeals in a landmark case against the tobacco industry.   Read more...

Tobacco Trends On Campuses
The American Lung Association recently released a report that found one in five college students still continues to smoke.   Read more...

Going Back to School with Asthma
As the school bells get ready to ring, parents and other caregivers of children who have asthma should prepare for a possible peak in asthma episodes (also known as attacks or exacerbations).   Read more...

Lung Disease Death Rates Increasing
According to the latest report by the American Lung Association, Lung Disease Data, death rates due to lung disease are currently increasing while death rates due to other leading causes of death such as heart disease, cancer and stroke are declining.   Read more...

China Disputes Air Pollution Prior to Games
With only days remaining till the start of the Beijing Olympic Games, Chinese officials are defending the accuracy of pollution data that seem to contradict the visible gray haze hanging over the capital city.   Read more...

Smokeless Tobacco Raises Cancer Risk
Smokeless tobacco is less dangerous than cigarettes, but still raises the risk of oral cancer by 80 percent.   Read more...

Teen Smoking Battle Stalls
U.S. Health officials are saying that efforts to reduce teen smoking have stalled in the past five years.   Read more...

U.S. House Passes Pulmonary & Cardiac Rehab Act
The American Lung Association commends and thanks the U.S. House of Representatives for its passage of the Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation Act today.   Read more...

Smoking Linked To Mental Decline
A recent study suggests that middle-aged smokers tend to perform poorly on tests of memory, reasoning, vocabulary, and verbal fluency, as compared to nonsmokers.   Read more...

Adult Asthma in Women linked to Heart Disease & Stroke
A recent study suggests that adult-onset asthma in women tends to increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.   Read more...

Lung Cancer Risk Linked to Genetic Variant
A recent study is suggesting that a common genetic variant increases the risk of lung cancer...even in nonsmokers.   Read more...

Lung Cancer Test Looks Promising
Researchers are hopeful that a diagnostic blood test may one day be used alongside lung CT scanning in patients with suspected lung cancer.   Read more...

New Asthma Inhaler By Year's End
By year's end, millions of asthma sufferers will have to switch to inhalers that are chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-free.   Read more...

Record Number Of Flu Doses Projected
Manufacturers of the flu vaccine expect to produce a record number of doses for next year's flu season.   Read more...

Now Is The Time To Quit!
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently published an update to its 1996 Public Health Service Clinical Practice Guideline, Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence, which contains revised and improved recommendations to providers and clinicians so that they can better assist smokers in quitting.   Read more...

World Asthma Day
May 6th is World Asthma Day, organized to raise awareness and improve asthma care throughout the world.   Read more...

The Grades On South Dakota's Air Are In
The American Lung Association's annual State of The Air Report has been released, with South Dakota earning all "A" or "B" grades for ozone and particulate pollution.   Read more...

Children More Vulnerable to Air Pollution
The effects of air pollution on children are becoming clearer according to recent stories in the news.   Read more...

Low Radon Levels May Reduce Risk Of Lung Cancer
According to a decade-long study, radon levels typically found in U.S. homes may not raise the risk of lung cancer.   Read more...

Flu Likely Comes From Asia
For over 50 years the global movement of flu viruses has been a mystery. However, a new study is suggesting that flu viruses evolve out of east and southeast Asia.   Read more...

Maternal Smoking Leads to Infant Heart Defects
New research shows that nearly 30 percent of U.S. women of childbearing age smoke.   Read more...

Easier Treatment For Allergic Asthma
A recent study found that children ages 3 to 18 years suffering with allergic asthma, may benefit from an "under the tongue" or sublingual therapy.   Read more...

Smoking and Lung Cancer Genetically Linked
A new study is suggesting that an individual's susceptibility to smoking, and number of cigarettes smoked may be biologically linked.   Read more...

Surviving Allergy Season
It's allergy season, and if you suffer from sneezing, sniffling, and itchy eyes, your symptoms are probably in overdrive.   Read more...

Adult Asthma Left Uncontrolled After ER Visit
A new study suggests that emergency room (ER) care for adult asthma could be improved.   Read more...

Microwave Popcorn and Lung Disease
A recent study is suggesting that an ingredient in microwave popcorn can damage the airways and lungs.   Read more...

Smoking Increases Risk of Hemorrhagic Stroke
A new study is suggesting that smoking may further damage blood vessels already weakened by high blood pressure.   Read more...

Flu Virus Wears An Overcoat
Researchers may have recently found a clue for the advancement of new flu treatments.   Read more...

New Exercise Technique May Be Beneficial For COPD
New research suggests that Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients could benefit from lower intensity physical activity.   Read more...

New Recipe For Flu Shot
The recipe for next flu season's vaccine is getting a complete revamping to hopefully provide protection against the three new and different strains predicted for the upcoming year.   Read more...

Risk Of Colon Polyps Increases With Smoking
A new study suggests that smokers have a higher likelihood of developing polyps in the colon.   Read more...

Flu Vaccine May Fall Short In Protection
This year's flu vaccine may not protect as well as previously thought, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).   Read more...

Smoking Cessation and Pregnancy
New research is suggesting that women rarely choose to use smoking cessation medication during pregnancy.   Read more...

Important Difference Between Severe And Mild Asthma
A recent study is reporting that there may be important distinctions between those suffering with severe asthma and those with mild or moderate asthma.   Read more...

Breast Cancer Treatment and Smoking Increase Lung Cancer Risk
A new study shows that women who smoke, and have undergone radiation treatment for breast cancer, dramatically increase their risk for developing lung cancer.   Read more...

Kids May Be Influenced By Movie Characters
A recent study suggests that youngsters may be influenced to start using tobacco due to watching movie characters who smoke.   Read more...

State of Tobacco Control Report Card Released
The American Lung Association's State of Tobacco Control 2007 report, an annual report card on federal and state tobacco control legislation and policies, assigns only Ds and Fs to the federal government, but says 2008 presents an historic opportunity for Congress to make a dramatic impact on tobacco control across America.   Read more...

Studies Link Vehicle Pollution to Lung Function
Recently released studies demonstrate the real-world effects of motor vehicle pollution on lung function.   Read more...

Christmas Trees Aggravate Allergies
For a second year in a row, researchers are pointing toward the Christmas tree as the culprit for increased asthma, allergy, and sinus complications.   Read more...

New Christmas Seals® Website Launched
This year the American Lung Association is celebrating 100 years of Christmas Seals® by launching a new Christmas Seals® website.   Read more...

COPD - A Major Killer of Women
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an illness that claims the lives of 120,000 Americans a year. It is the fourth leading cause of death and is expected to be the third by 2020.   Read more...

Experts Release New Cystic Fibrosis Guidelines
New clinical standards for the treatment of cystic fibrosis were released recently, based on a two-year review of published research on patients aged six and older.   Read more...

Actress Jennifer Garner Kicks Off Faces of Influenza Awareness Campaign
Actress and mother Jennifer Garner joined leading medical officials at a press conference on Monday, November 12th to kick off the American Lung Association's national public awareness campaign, urging Americans to get their annual influenza vaccination.   Read more...

New Program will Recognize Exceptional COPD Efforts
The American Lung Association has partnered with The Joint Commission to develop a new program in which hospitals, clinics, and providers may obtain the Certificate of Quality Distinction for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).   Read more...

November is COPD Awareness Month
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis—diseases that are characterized by obstruction to air flow.   Read more...

American Lung Association Applauds Release of CDC Best Practices
The American Lung Association welcomes the update to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs.   Read more...

COPD: Learn More, Breathe Better
COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) is a serious lung disease that, over time, makes it hard to breathe.   Read more...

Sleep Tight, Breathe Right
Bedtime is anything but pleasant for people with allergies and asthma since that's very often the time when symptoms worsen.   Read more...

MMWR Reports Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report has published new 2006 data on the prevalence of cigarette smoking among adults and quitting among persons aged 18-35.   Read more...

FDA Regulation of Tobacco Debated in Committee
Today, the Subcommittee on Health of the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Energy and Commerce begins historic consideration of HR 1108, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.   Read more...

U.S. House of Representatives Approves Cigarette Tax Increase
Last night the U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of a 61-cent-per-pack increase in the federal cigarette tax.   Read more...

Influenza Season Approaching
Influenza or "the flu" is not merely the common cold, but a serious respiratory illness.   Read more...

Pesticides Can Double Asthma Risk
Researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences have found that exposure to several commonly used pesticides appears to increase the risk of asthma.   Read more...

Our Children Are Vulnerable
Today's announcement of a new program to protect children enrolled in Head Start from exposure to secondhand smoke is an important public health measure   Read more...

Disparities in Lung Disease
Diverse communities throughout the nation continue to be disproportionately affected by lung diseases such as asthma, tuberculosis, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).   Read more...