This month, we spoke with Anna Andrałojć, Executive Director of the Polish Federation of Asthma, Allergy and COPD Patients’ Associations. Anna shares how Healthy Lungs for Life helped inspire the revival of Poland’s Spirometry Days, explains why raising awareness of lung health remains a challenge and highlights the importance of prevention, screening and early detection […]
I am someone who likes to turn ideas into action. I have worked with the Polish Federation of Asthma, Allergy and COPD Patients’ Associations for many years and currently serve as its Executive Director.
I learned about the Healthy Lungs for Life campaign during the ERS Presidential Summit Warsaw. Living in a country where air pollution levels frequently exceed safety standards, I saw the campaign as an opportunity to revive Spirometry Days and help people better understand the impact of pollution on lung health.
I have been working with people affected by lung diseases for nearly 20 years, and one of the biggest challenges I find is helping people understand that breathing is not something we should take for granted.
Life begins and ends with a breath, yet many of us only think about our lungs when something goes wrong. Good lung health underpins everyday life, but it is often overlooked until problems develop.
Over the past 20 years, our organisation has run Polish Spirometry Days every year, a community-led initiative that provides free spirometry testing through participating medical facilities and doctors’ practices across Poland. We support these centres with promotional materials and help raise awareness of the importance of lung health and early detection.
Through this initiative, nearly 65,000 people have received spirometry testing in Poland and we identified approximately 12,500 cases of airflow obstruction. Participants received a letter recommending further diagnostic testing with their doctor.
In this way, we tested nearly 65,000 Poles and detected approximately 12,500 cases of obstruction. Participants received a “letter to the doctor” recommending further diagnostic testing.
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), one of the main conditions detected through spirometry, affects around 2 million people in Poland, yet only about a quarter of the population has even heard of it.
This is why ongoing education and screening activities remain so important. By helping people better understand their lung health and encouraging testing, we can support earlier diagnosis and give people the opportunity to take action before serious problems develop.
Community screening campaigns help people become more aware of their lung health in an accessible and supportive way. These campaigns can also help reduce some of the anxiety people feel when engaging with healthcare services.
Many lung conditions develop gradually, which means people may not recognise the signs until significant damage has already occurred. Screening and awareness activities provide an opportunity to understand risk factors, learn more about lung health and take positive steps before symptoms become severe.
Early detection gives people the chance to take action sooner, build healthier habits and access the advice or care they need. This is especially important for lung diseases, where environmental and behavioural factors can have a significant impact on long-term health.
The educational value and, frankly, the life-changing impact of these campaigns cannot be overstated.
As part of EU Screening Week, on 30 September 2026, we will be conducting spirometry tests at National Health Fund (NFZ) branches in ten Polish cities: Warsaw, Wrocław, Kraków, Katowice, Rzeszów, Lublin, Opole, Szczecin, Gdańsk and Bydgoszcz. This builds on our long-standing work to make lung health checks more accessible and raise awareness of early detection across Poland.
The main message I would like to share with people and organisations across Europe is simple: let only the joys of life take your breath away. Do not wait for a diagnosis. Look for opportunities to prevent disease, protect your lungs and understand your lung health. Be part of the movement.
EU Screening Week is a Europe-wide initiative that raises awareness of the importance of prevention, screening and early detection. To learn more about the initiative and how to get involved, visit the EU Screening Week page.
Healthy Lungs for Life is a collaborative initiative of the European Lung Foundation (ELF) and the European Respiratory Society (ERS), supported by the Clean Air Fund. Working with patients, healthcare professionals and civil society organisations at national level, it combines scientific evidence, public engagement and advocacy to promote lung health and highlight the importance of clean air. To learn more about the Healthy Lungs for Life campaign and how to get involved, visit the Healthy Lungs for Life campaign page.
