Unlimited breath with exercise and innovative treatments!
World Cystic Fibrosis Day, 8 September 2018
Breath Unlimited was the motto for this year’s World Cystic Fibrosis Day, concluding the “Breath Unlimited” summer tour at Klathmonos Square on Saturday, September 8, to raise awareness about the most common hereditary disease in the white race.
“Now innovative treatments that target the causes of the disease are becoming available for more and more mutations – which makes us really optimistic. In Greece, we are one of the countries that have managed to access them after many efforts, and we are expecting for the first time the participation of our patients in the clinical trials for the next combination of innovative drugs for the majority of our patients’ mutations. All our patients have to do , is to keep their respiratory function in the best possible condition. The innovative treatments have come and our breaths can finally become unlimited!”
said the new President of the Hellenic C.F. Association, Anna Spinou.
Exercise as a key therapy for patients with Cystic Fibrosis,
and can increase their life expectancy by at least 8 years,
said the Honorary President of the Hellenic Cystic Fibrosis Association Dimitris Kontopidis during the celebration of World Cystic Fibrosis Day.
“These are the findings of a published study in 1992 according to which: The survival rate of the patients who participated in this study after 8 years was about 83%, as they had a high level of aerobic capacity through intensive exercise. In contrast, those who had moderate aerobic capacity had a survival rate of 51% after 8 years, while those who had very low aerobic capacity were at about 28% survival rate. So when it comes to Cystic Fibrosis, a condition where the first organ to be destroyed is the lungs, including daily exercise in patients’ regimens as a primary treatment substantially increases quality and adds years of life.”
That is why this year the draw for a city bicycle was symbolic of the inclusion of exercise in our daily program, held by the General Secretary of the Association, Vassilis Palios.
The Hellenic Respiratory Society was also present, providing free spirometry to the public, informing them about their respiratory function.
We would like to thank once again our sponsors Eurobank, Superfoods, Chiesi, Novartis and for their support the Hellenic Respiratory Society and the Municipality of Athens.
Cystic Fibrosis patients themselves take the lead in raising awareness.
A successful co-organization of the Hellenic Cystic Fibrosis Association and the Disability Empowerment Network “HUMANE”
