Lung disease in Canada significantly impacts various aspects of life, including healthcare, employment, and media engagement. With millions of Canadians active on social media, public health messages about lung diseases, such as the dangers of smoking, reach a wide audience.
Media includes books, television, newspaper, magazine, radio, etc. Not having access to social media or access to advertisement is inevitable. Therefore, individuals are highly likely to hear about an advertisement. Example, a popular advertisement for lung disease includes "smoking causes lung cancer". This popular advertisement makes individuals aware of the risks associated with smoking.
Approximately 22.7 million Canadians had a social media account during 2017, a number that has grown by 300,000 annually for the past 2 years. Canadians are seeing the value of using social media to engage with just about anyone; from brands, to public sector and government officials. This includes public sectors that provides information about lung diseases.
Healthcare
Diagnosis and/or treatment for lung diseases requires a visit (or multiple visits) to a specialist or more than one specialist, which put a burden on the healthcare system
Using 2013 hospital utilization data, the Canadian Institute for Health Information (2014) calculated the average cost per patient for hospital care (for COPD, excluding physician fees) across the Western provinces ranges from $6,351 (in MB) to $8,868 (AB) vs. Canada $7,192 (BC: $6,639; SK: $6,968).
The burden of lung disease is heavy in Canada. In particular, lung cancer, asthma and COPD exact an enormous human and economic toll. In 2014, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women, causing more cancer deaths among Canadians than breast, colorectal and prostate cancer combined. Note, lung cancer is caused by smoking or second hand smoke which can be avoided.
Economy
Health care costs is expensive and is paid for in our taxes. The more individuals that become hospitalized for lung diseases or other diseases and/or healthcare issues, the more likely taxes will increase for Canadians. Therefore, it is important that individuals are educated about lung diseases. This includes ways to avoid lung disease(s).
Three major chronic lung diseases (asthma, COPD, and lung cancer) cost Canada’s economy $12 billion in 2010, according to an analysis by The Conference Board of Canada. Overall, chronic lung disease accounts for more than 6% of annual health-care costs in Canada, and COPD is the leading cause of hospitalization. A large number of Canadians with COPD and asthma also remain undiagnosed.
Indiviual
When an individual is affected by lung disease, for example cancer, they can become stressed and worrisome because of their incapability of taking care of their household and family. In addition, if they are told they have a few months to live, it adds more stress and pressure because they are unsure what will happen to their family after their passing.
An Individual that is diagnosed with asthma, their life will change because it is recommended by their doctors to not be too active. For example, exercising can trigger asthma. A child with asthma cannot live a normal childhood. He/she will be limited to their activities.
First Nations and Inuit Children are disproportionately affected by respiratory infections such as viral bronchiolitis, pneumonia and tuberculosis. Improving these issues will require addressing the social origins of health in First Nations and Inuit communities, including poverty and employment, building more and improving existing housing, and will likely require developing enhanced immunization and surveillance strategies
Employment
An ndividual who is ill is unable to perform the same work tasks. Therefore, the employer would have to find an easier task for the individual to perform or pay out the individual. This results in a loss for the employer as they have to pay someone for a few months and hire someone new.
17% of COPD patients changed the number of hours worked or type of work due to breathing problems, and 14% reported stopping working permanently. This can results in the employer finding a replacement worker.
Family
When a close family member passes it takes days, months, sometimes years to move on, while some individuals don't move on. Death impacts a family member drastically causing emotional distress which can lead to health care issues such as high blood pressure.
Lung diseases puts a burden on family members because they have to take responsibility for the individual that is ill. This requires taking time off work to assist with appointments. This can result in loss of money as the family member is unable to attend work.
The three most common respiratory diseases-lung cancer (19,112 deaths), COPD (10,859), influenza and pneumonia (5,826)-were responsible for the deaths of 35,727 people in 2009. Other major respiratory diseases also contribute to mortality in Canada, but in much smaller numbers, either because the case fatality rate is low (such as asthma, with 228 deaths) or because the disease is uncommon (such as cystic fibrosis, with 45 deaths in 2011).
