The history of lung health with Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation

Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation have been part of lung health history for a long time! In this blog, Sophie from our Media team walks you through a short history of lung health and how our brands have made an impact.

From the first inhaler in 1788 to the life-changing Ultra Low Emissions Zone extension in London in 2021, we look back at our history and key moments in lung health as we look ahead to the future.

1788 – the first inhaler was introduced

Based on a pewter tankard, English physician and astronomer John Mudge created the first inhaler. It allowed people to breathe in an opium vapor to treat what was called a “catarrhous cough,” a cough with a lot of mucus.

To operate the inhaler, you would pour water into the tankard, close the lid, and breathe in the steam through a flexible tube inserted into an opening in the cover. It seems a world away from modern day inhalers.

1914 – medicinal cigarettes were introduced to help control asthma

It seems hard to believe in present day, but medicinal cigarettes were prescribed by doctors back in the mid-1900s. They were meant to help “the temporary relief of paroxysms of asthma…hay fever, and simple nasal irritations.”

1927 – Asthma Research Council

This year marks the early beginnings of our charity that would later become Asthma UK. The Earl of Limerick wrote to The Times, drawing attention to the distress and suffering caused by asthma, and called for the establishment of an organisation that would research into the “cause and cure of asthma from a firm scientific foundation.” At the time, there were estimated to be around 200,000 people in the UK with asthma.

1956 – the modern-day MDI (metered-dose inhaler) was introduced

Dr. George Maison, president of Riker Laboratories, was inspired by a question asked by his 13-year-old daughter about why she couldn’t have her asthma medication in a spray can ‘like hairspray’. Eager to make his daughter’s wish come true he set to work to make the modern-day MDI inhaler we all know today.

This was the first device to effectively deliver medicine to the lungs and set the stage for asthma technology to come.

11th June 1963 – first single successful lung transplant

History was made in medicine when the first human lung transplantation was performed in Jackson, Mississippi by Dr James D Hardy and his team on patient John Russell who was terminally ill.

*The first British Lung Foundation logo*

June 1985 – British Lung Foundation formed

Professor Sir Malcolm Green and his colleagues came together and founded the British Lung Foundation because research into lungs was underfunded and underappreciated, and lung diseases were poorly understood. The British Lung Foundation was officially launched by Princess Margaret aiming to fund research, raise the profile of lung conditions and help patients.

1988– Princess Diana is photographed in the famous British Lung Foundation jumper

After becoming the British Lung Foundation patron in 1986, Princess Diana was photographed in the now iconic image wearing a British Lung Foundation jumper with a baseball cap, blazer, and pair of jeans at Guards Polo Club in Windsor.

The casual look thrust the British Lung Foundation into the spotlight and the image continues to be known as one of Princess Diana’s most famous ‘off-duty’ looks.

18th January 1990 – Asthma Research Council became National Asthma Campaign with first official meeting

As it become obvious more research into asthma was needed, both the Asthma Society & Friends of the Asthma Research Council and Asthma Research Council merged to become known as the National Asthma Campaign.

The first official meeting of the new National Asthma Campaign happened on 18th January 1990 with HRH Duchess of Gloucester, patron, in attendance.

1st October 1990 – peak flow meters become available on prescription

After campaigning for nearly a decade, we were delighted, as the National Asthma Campaign, to see the government grant peak flow meters to be available on prescription. This was a huge milestone at the time!

1991 – the British Lung Foundation Breathe Easy support groups were launched

Trevor Clay MBE founded the Breathe Easy network to help provide support and information for people living with a lung condition, and for those who look after them.

Now it has grown to an impressive 150 support groups, based all around the country. Alongside the support groups the charity continues to host special groups including Singing for Lung Health groups, Mindfulness for Lung Health and Harmonica for Lung Health launching in 2022.

2003 – Dame Judi Dench set up our first Breath of Life fund in memory of her late husband

We launched our first Breath of Life tribute page for the British Lung Foundation in 2003 with the help of national treasure and actress Dame Judi Dench.

Serving as a perfect reminder of a loved one, a tribute page is a way to remember and celebrate the life of a loved one, with the opportunity for friends and family to come together to help raise money in memory.

2004 – National Asthma Campaign became Asthma UK

Following many years as the National Asthma Campaign, the charity renamed to Asthma UK. Years of successful campaigning, funding research and providing health advice followed.

March 2005 – the BLF helpline opens in Liverpool

Keen to provide a much-needed resource and support for people living with lung conditions, as the British Lung Foundation, we launched our network of respiratory nurses. As well as helping to man the helpline, they also provide a valuable service to support and educate health care professionals, including GPs and practice nurses.

1st October 2015 – We helped to pass the law banning smoking in cars with children in England and Wales

We campaigned for smoking in cars with children to be illegal, with this law being passed in 2015, protecting countless generations to come. Alongside 23 children, we went to Downing Street to hand in our campaign petition with more than 50,000 signatures.

27th May 2017 – law passed to introduce plain cigarette packaging

We campaigned to pass a law to ensure all cigarettes were sold in drab, standardised packaging rather than the bright, colourful packaging. The new law forbade logos or promotional packaging in a bid to discourage young people from taking up smoking.

April 2019 – launch of ULEZ in London and the expansion in 2021

The launch of the ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) in London was put in place to help fight air pollution in the capital, covering the same area as the previous congestion charge.

In October 2021 the ULEZ (Ultra Low Expansion Zone) in London expanded further to the North and South circular roads. The new zone will help to further reduce levels of toxic air in the capital, helping an extra 250,000 residents with asthma and COPD breathe.

1st January 2020 – Asthma UK and British Lung Foundation Partnership created

Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation merged to become our new charity – the Asthma UK and British Lung Foundation Partnership. The partnership’s aim is to be a united, powerful voice for all people with lung conditions, calling for change and better care and treatments.

A lot has changed over the years! And we’ll continue to work to help people with lung conditions get the support, care and understanding they deserve. As well as campaigning for lung health and clean air for all.