Smyrna times., 1962-11-01
Nationwide
Educational
TB Program
Cough too much2
Short of breath2

These TWO questions will be
asked next spring from coast
to coast, from border to bor-
der, to alert people to TWO sym
ptoms of chronic respiratory
disease = and to convince them
that they should consult their
doctor about the symptoms.
The questions are being
raised in connection with nat
ionwide educational campaign to
be launched by the National
tuberculosis Association and
its affiliated associations such
as the Delaware tuberculosis
and Health Society from May
through June Is, 1868. The as
sociations have been gradually
expanding their activities into
the broad field of respiratory
diseases for a number of years.
This will be their first nat
ionwide educational RID camp
align, according to Gerald A.
Beatty, Md, president OF the
Delaware tuberculosis and
Health Society, who said it was
being planned because of the
increasing threat to health re-
presented by respiratory dis
eases.
Prior to the launching of the
1868 RID Campaign in each COM
munity, DR.. Beatty said, the
local association will seek the
advice and cooperation of its
local medical society. The OBJ
iective is to getpeople to recog-
nize TWO potentially serious
symptoms and seek medical ad-
vice concerning them.
y o Respiratory diseases, both
acute and chronic, are leading
cause of disability and death in
the United States today" said
DR.. Beatty. ''The symptoms of
acute respiratory distress are
easily recognized and lead the
patient to seek alienation. Not
so those of chronic disease,
which may go unnoticed as
warning signals or may be dis
missed as of no consequence.
"The purpose of the ap-
preaching campaign is to get
people to realize that two COM
mon symptoms = shormess of
breath and persistence cough
ing--may be warning signs. We
shall not put on campaign to
alarm people and we shall ex-
plain that shormeSs of breath
is normal under certain con-
ditions, just as coughing can
be associated with a cold and
will disappear with the cold.
But we do want people to seek
medical advice - from their
own physician = if these two
symptoms persist without any
apparent cause. AS with our
tuberculosis campaign, we are
emphasizing early detection to
prevent serious disability"
DR.. Beatty cited statistics
from the National Health Sur
vey showing that disease affect
ing or transmitted through the
respiratory system are respon-
sible for one out of every l9
deaths and that deaths from EN- :
physema alone more than
doubled between 1854 and 1859.
Furthermore, emphysema was
second only to heart and cardi-
ovascular conditions as a cause
of disability for which benefits
were granted by the Bureau OF
Old Age, Survivors, and Dis
ability Insurance In 1860.
"a study has shown, too, I"
said DR.. Beatty, ''that Is per
cent of all patients consulting
a sample of private doctors be-
cause of disease or injury hao
a respiratory condition.
l The 1868 RID Campaign will
be conducted with the use of
posters, leaflets, TV broad
casts, new stories, magazine
articles, film showings, and by
word of mouth. 1t has the back
ing of medical members of the
NTA's medical branch, the A
merican Thoracic Society.
The slogan will be Cough
too much7 Short of Breath7
You may have a respiratory
disease. Don't chances. See