Survey reveals Brum 's most popular places to 'take a breath '
A new survey has revealed that Birmingham Botanical Gardens is the most popular place in Birmingham for local people to 'take a breath ' and connect with their lungs.
The survey, commissioned by Taskforce for Lung Health, invited local residents to name their favourite city location where they can enjoy their own breathing space, as part of a brand-new awareness campaign around lung health.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens, a 15-acre garden in Edgbaston, was the most popular choice with 21 per cent of the vote.
This was followed by city locations Cannon Hill Park (19 per cent), canal-side at Mailbox (17 per cent), Winterbourne Gardens (10 per cent) and St Paul 's Square (10 per cent).
People from across the city came together at St Paul 's Square to celebrate the top five breathing spaces and call on residents to show their support.
The campaign is encouraging people in Birmingham to pause and 'take a breath ' for five minutes this Friday (27 August) and appreciate the vital role our lungs play.
Taskforce for Lung Health is encouraging people in the city to look after their lungs, as well as increase their understanding of the challenges faced by the one in five people in the UK who live with lung disease.
People take on average 25,000 breaths a day, and yet good lung health is something that can often be taken for granted.
It is estimated that over 55,000 people in Birmingham & Solihull and Sandwell & West Birmingham Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) have been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) - a group of lung conditions that causes breathing difficulties. Both areas are in the top fifth of CCGs in the country for prevalence of the condition.
Dr Alison Cook, chair of Taskforce for Lung Health, said: “We 're encouraging people in Birmingham to take a moment to think about and appreciate their lung health.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted many of us to reflect on the importance of taking a breath and the feeling of being able to breathe freely - something that can often be taken for granted in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives.
“We want to highlight that this simple action can be a real challenge for the 1 in 5 people in the UK who live with a lung condition, and that action must be taken to help improve the treatment, care and quality of life for every person affected. ”
The survey revealed that 58 per cent of respondents have paused to 'take a breath ' more often during the COVID-19 pandemic, with people 's most popular reasons being to relax (43 per cent) and clear their head (38 per cent).
Having peace and quiet (40 per cent) and clean air (27 per cent) were voted the most important elements to have in a breathing space, with 44 per cent of respondents being more aware of their lung health when they do pause to 'take a breath ' in the city.
However, the survey highlighted that there is still a wider lack of awareness around lung health, with only one fifth (21 per cent) being able to correctly state that one in fove people in the UK will be diagnosed with lung disease in their lifetime.
And only 8 per cent of respondents were aware that 700,000 hospital admissions in the UK are linked to lung disease each year.
To find out more about the Taskforce for Lung Health 'Take a Breath ' campaign, and how you can get involved, click here or follow the hashtag #BreatheInBrum.
Pictured: Dr Alison Cook, chair of Taskforce for Lung Health, Birmingham resident Andy Bright who received a lifesaving double lung transplant after being diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and Dr Davinder Dosanjh, Respiratory Consultant in the West Midlands, pictured at St Paul 's Square in the Jewellery Quarter