Speaker slated to discuss pulmonary disorder at St. Francis Health-hosted event

INDIANAPOLIS – It’s called Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, a genetic disorder that often goes undiagnosed and affects the lungs and liver.

To raise awareness of that disorder, the Better Breathers support group at Franciscan St. Francis Health will host a special presentation from an advocate who knows first-hand about the disease. Tom Corron, a representative from the Fort Wayne-based Alpha-1 Association will talk about his experiences at 1:30 p.m., April 18.

Alpha-1’s symptoms are similar to asthma and can lead to early chronic obstructive pulmonary disease cirrhosis of the liver and reduce life expectancy.

Sponsored by Franciscan St. Francis and the American Lung Association, the seminar is free to the public. The event will be in the Cardiac Testing conference room at the Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center, 8111 S. Emerson Ave.

To learn more about the Better Breathers support group, visit http://www.stfrancishospitals.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=95.