Breathe California of Los Angeles County (BREATHE LA)

BREATHE LA is dedicated to clean air and healthy lungs. Our programs and services include environmental education, lung health research, teen quit smoking and asthma management programs.

Why do we exist?

BREATHE LA was founded in 1903 to address then-epidemic Tuberculosis ( TB ). At that time, Los Angeles was recognized as a city with clean, warm, dry air essential to improving quality of life for those suffering with lung disease.

As the air quality landscape of Los Angeles has changed, we were among the first to make the connection between air quality and lung health. We have continued to create innovative and meaningful programs for our community. We have had many names over the years, but one overarching goal, to work towards cleaner air and the alleviation of suffering for those with lung disease.  Today we are part of BREATHE California, a statewide organization with affiliates in Central Coast, Sacramento-Emigrant Trails, and San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara-San Benito counties. 

BREATHE LA Lung Power asthma control program educates and empowers children with asthma. The program is taught in afterschool camps in Los Angeles County. BREATHE LA Lung Power allows children, caregivers and family members to understand asthma. Through fun exercises and family-friendly “homework” activities, the program empowers children and families to take charge of asthma as the best way to control it. BREATHE LA O24U environmental educational program is provided to low income inner city children in air pollution impacted areas.  BREATHE LA O24U curriculum topics include air pollution and environmental changes, health effects of air pollution, toxic indoor environments, and the use of alternate fuels and renewable energy.  Each topic includes fun activities that educate and empower children to make changes for clean air by encouraging them to be advocates for clean air within their homes and communities and to Reduce, Recycle and Reuse.

BREATHE LA 4-U-N-I  (text lingo = For You And I) is a student-led, BREATHE LA supported, teen quit smoking program designed to inspire, support and assist youth to quit smoking.  4-U-N-I students are working to establish a peer mentoring in their schools and have created a series of animated PSAs highlighting the dangers of smoking that were unveiled on World No Tobacco Day, May 31, 2008.

What have you accomplished?

BREATHE LA Center for Healthy Lungs funds lung research. One of our current research projects is being conducted by Dr. Margaret Nield, “It's a matter of  not focusing on the disease, but on what your life can be in spite of the disease,” Dr Nield says with a gentle smile.
Indeed, Dr Nield’s BREATHE LA Center for Healthy Lungs study, despite an unwieldy title (“Implementation of a Breathing Pattern Retraining Protocol with Interactive Telecommunications System in Los Angeles County Better Breathers’ Clubs” ) seeks to do just that by allowing patients to remain in the comfort of their homes while receiving personalized face to face care from a health professional over the internet. Dr Nield’s study plans to demonstrate the efficacy of
e-health care specific to COPD* patients drawn from Los Angeles Area Veterans served by the VA hospital in Los Angeles. The potential for long term benefits of this type of health care for other remote or home-bound patients, using internet access, skype and web cam technology, and humanizing the experience with personalized care excites Dr. Nield,  “As a nurse, I approach this with a different level of care. CARE vs CURE – nursing approach to health within disease.”

 *Chronic Obstructic Pulmonary Disease, COPD, is a term for a range of lung diseases that primarily affect the elderly and includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Dr Nield says, “COPD can also be affected by environmental factors. Air pollution, pollen, smoke from seasonal wildfires can all make it even more difficult for COPD and Asthma patients to breathe. In California, and in other warm and tropical locations, increased warmth leads to more blooming and this can lead to lung irritation triggers. Dr Nield shakes her head in agreement at the suggestion of a connection between Global Warming and the rise in the incidence of asthma in children, “It is a global issue. The increase in warming and blooming of plants are part of the reason for increase in asthma cases. Focusing on environmental issues is only natural.  There is a link to the natural in lung health and disease.”

 BREATHE LA is dedicated to clean air and healthy lungs. All our programs and services are centered on empowerment, environmental responsibility and creative solutions to health issues.

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