November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month

The Three Leading Causes of Lung Cancer

1. Smoking According to the American Cancer Society,lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in American men and women today. Smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer. It is estimated that 87% of lung cancer deaths are caused by smoking. As soon as you quit, your body reaps the benefits of being tobacco free. Quitting smoking is the BEST defense against lung cancer as your body will begin to heal within hours.
2. Radon Gas EPA estimates that about 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the U.S. are radon-related. Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Radon is an odorless, tasteless and invisible gas produced by the decay of naturally occurring uranium in soil and water. Radon is a form of ionizing radiation and a proven carcinogen. Lung cancer is the only known effect on human health from exposure to radon in air.
3. Second Hand Smoke The current Surgeon General's Report concluded that scientific evidence indicates that there is no risk-free level of exposure to second hand smoke. Short exposures to second hand smoke can cause blood platelets to become stickier, damage the lining of blood vessels, decrease coronary flow velocity reserves, and reduce heart rate variability, potentially increasing the risk of heart attack. American Lung Association

What you can do

Stop Smoking –

• In Ohio – Advanced Laser Solutions National Network of Tobacco Cessation Quitlines 1-800-quitnow (1-800-784-8669) a single access point to the National Network of Tobacco Cessation Quitlines. Callers are automatically routed to a state-run quitline, if one exists in their area.

If there is no state-run quitline, callers are routed to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) quitline, where they may receive:

• Help with quitting smoking
• Informational materials mailed to you
• Referrals to other resources
• Protect Yourself from Radon Gas
  Who can Test or Fix Your Home for Radon? Free consumers guide to radon detection
• Refuse Second-Hand Smoke
  Do not allow smoking in your home or in your car. Choose smoke-free restaurants, and smoke-free care facilities. Learn more about becoming proactive from the Mayo Clinic Web Site

Additional Resources

Are you breathing polluted air outside? Find out how clean or polluted your air is. Find out how your state and city rate.

Are you breathing polluted air inside? According to the EPA, the air inside your home may be up to 100 times more polluted than the air outside, and people spend approximately 90% of their time indoors. Create a cleaner, healthier environment at home with the exceptional cleaning power of Oreck Air Purifiers. In Ohio – call 440-801-1067 to locate the nearest retail store which offers a 30 day trial with a full refund guarantee. Are You at Risk? Free Lung Cancer Screening Test

Founder of Senior Approved Services

About the Author:
Barbara Mascio
Added: Fri Oct 27 2006
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