Jessica and I put together the following for a local newsletter on 'World No Tobacco Day':
The World No Tobacco Day, May 31st 2010 theme this year particularly focuses on women and tobacco use. In Australian women, lung cancer passed breast cancer as the most common cause of cancer deaths - back in 2005. Lung cancer accounts for the death of more than 50 Australian women each week.
Locally in the Southern Grampians Shire, across both genders tobacco accounts for 13.69% of deaths, compared to 1.19% for road toll and 2.38% for alcohol related deaths. Of this lung cancer accounts for 30% of the tobacco related deaths. Risk of lung cancer related to cigarette smoking increases for every cigarette smoked. Risk of lung cancer related to cigarette smoking does not reduce, let alone return to normal, after cessation of smoking; it simply stops increasing. To reduce lung cancer risk, early cessation of smoking is imperative.
Chronic illness due to smoking related conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is also prevalent, greatly reducing the quality of life of many people.
COPD should be considered in any smoker or ex-smoker over the age of 35 with breathlessness, chronic cough and / or sputum production. A spirometry assessment should be performed in such patients to pursue this diagnosis. Spirometry is highly recommended in any smoker over the age of 45 regardless of clinical symptoms, as COPD is often asymptomatic in its early stages. Cessation of cigarette smoking does not lead to reversal of damage in COPD; it only stops getting worse. In COPD, early cessation of cigarette smoking is imperative
Cessation of smoking is the first, and most important, step in treatment of COPD.
For help trying to quit please see your local GP, call the quit line on 137848 or enroll in a local quit course.
Andrew
Locally in the Southern Grampians Shire, across both genders tobacco accounts for 13.69% of deaths, compared to 1.19% for road toll and 2.38% for alcohol related deaths. Of this lung cancer accounts for 30% of the tobacco related deaths. Risk of lung cancer related to cigarette smoking increases for every cigarette smoked. Risk of lung cancer related to cigarette smoking does not reduce, let alone return to normal, after cessation of smoking; it simply stops increasing. To reduce lung cancer risk, early cessation of smoking is imperative.
Chronic illness due to smoking related conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is also prevalent, greatly reducing the quality of life of many people.
COPD should be considered in any smoker or ex-smoker over the age of 35 with breathlessness, chronic cough and / or sputum production. A spirometry assessment should be performed in such patients to pursue this diagnosis. Spirometry is highly recommended in any smoker over the age of 45 regardless of clinical symptoms, as COPD is often asymptomatic in its early stages. Cessation of cigarette smoking does not lead to reversal of damage in COPD; it only stops getting worse. In COPD, early cessation of cigarette smoking is imperative
Cessation of smoking is the first, and most important, step in treatment of COPD.
For help trying to quit please see your local GP, call the quit line on 137848 or enroll in a local quit course.
Andrew
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