Healthy lungs require kicking the habit
by Dr. Albert Chang
If you want to prevent lung cancer, here are the three most important things you can do: Don’t smoke, don’t smoke and don’t smoke.
Lung cancer kills more people than prostate, breast and colon cancer combined. But 80 percent of lung cancers could be prevented if people did not pick up that first cigarette. The sooner you quit, the sooner you’ll reduce your risk.
Quitting is different for every smoker. But, in general, try these steps:
- Set a quit date. Before the date arrives, prepare by reminding
yourself why you want to quit and the benefits of quitting – improved
health, better breath, longer life, even saving the cost of cigarettes.
Identify alternatives for triggers that cause you to smoke, such as
stress and drinking.
- Ease into it. Before your quit date, ease into quitting by
eliminating smoking from certain parts of your life. For example, stop
smoking in the car or during work breaks.
- Get help. Support can come in many forms – a quit buddy, a support group, nicotine patches or gums. Prescription medications are also available.
Regular visits to a physician, particularly if you are a past smoker, may help uncover lung problems. If something is found, a thoracic surgeon should be consulted for further evaluation and treatment options. Remember, early detection with appropriate management can increase survival rates up to 85 percent.
― Dr. Chang is a cardiothoracic surgeon with MCGHI