September 2019

‘Smart shirt’ can accurately measure breathing and could be used to monitor lung disease

Madrid, Spain: A smart shirt that measures lung function by sensing movements in the chest and abdomen has proved to be accurate when compared to traditional testing equipment, according to research presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress. [1] Researchers have used the smart shirts, together with a mobile app, to reliably measure breathing […]

Survey of truck drivers finds many suffer from sleep-related breathing disorders

Madrid, Spain: A survey of 905 Italian truck drivers has shown that approximately half suffer from at least one sleep-related breathing problem that potentially can cause drivers to fall asleep at the wheel. In a presentation at the European Respiratory Society International Congress [1], Mr Luca Roberti, President of Apnoici Italiani (the Italian Sleep Apnoea […]

Taxi drivers face highest levels of exposure to black carbon compared to other professional drivers

Madrid, Spain: Professional drivers working in congested cities are exposed to black carbon levels that are on average a third higher than would be experienced at a busy roadside, according to research presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress. [1] The research also found that taxi drivers experience the highest exposures to black carbon, […]

Air pollution linked to increased risk of infant deaths and reduced lung function in children

Madrid, Spain: Air pollution is linked to an increased risk of death in babies according to a study of nearly eight million live births, to be presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress on Sunday 29 September. [1] Although it is known already that air pollution is associated with infant deaths, it is not […]

Electronic nose can sniff out which lung cancer patients will respond to immunotherapy

An electronic nose that detects chemicals in the breath of lung cancer patients can identify with 85% accuracy those who will or will not respond to immunotherapy, according to new research published in the leading cancer journal Annals of Oncology [1]. The results of the first study to investigate this show that the eNose is […]

Cardiovascular disease patients benefit more from exercise than healthy people

A study of nearly half a million people has found for the first time that those with heart or blood vessel problems benefit more from having a physically active lifestyle than do healthy people without cardiovascular disease (CVD). Increased physical activity reduced the risk of dying during a six-year follow-up period for people with and […]