HJAR Sep/Oct 2024

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  SEP / OCT 2024 41 Jennifer Dillaha, MD Director Arkansas Department of Health syndrome, ectopic pregnancy, and oro- facial clefts in infants. • Lowering a man’s sperm count, reduc- ing fertility, and increasing the risk of birth defects and miscarriage. • Weakened bone health. Women past childbearing years who smoke have weaker bones than women who never smoked. They are also at greater risk for broken bones. • Decreased health of teeth and gums. It can cause tooth loss. • Cataracts and age-related macular de- generation (AMD). AMD is damage to a small spot near the center of the retina that is needed for central vision. • Type 2 diabetes mellitus and can make it harder to control. The risk of devel- oping diabetes is 30-40% higher for active smokers than nonsmokers. • Rheumatoid arthritis and general ad- verse effects on the body, such as in- flammation and decreased immune function. Tobacco use also decreases the effective- ness of some medications. For example, if a person is undergoing treatment such as chemotherapy for cancer, continuing to use tobacco may decrease the success of the cancer treatment. By quitting smoking, a person increases their body’s ability to undergo treatment and have better health outcomes. This means anyone who quits smoking should inform their doctor because their medications may need to be adjusted. While quitting smoking is one of the most important actions people can take to improve their health, another important resource is lung cancer screening. Also known as a low-dose CT scan, this screening is quick, painless, and done at a much lower dose (five times less radiation) than a standard CT scan. It is beneficial for smokers and former smokers who have quit within the past 15 years if they are between the ages of 50 and 80, have no recent cancer diagnosis, and have a 20- pack smoking history. Medicaid and most private insurances cover it, although anyone interested is encouraged to talk to their doctor and insurance provider. Lung cancer screening is a noninvasive test used to detect the early stages of cancer. It can detect cancers the size of a grain of rice, compared to the traditional X-ray, which can detect cancers the size of a dime. This is a crucial difference. The smaller the tumor detected, the less likely the cancer cells have spread to other body parts. This means more treatment options and a higher chance of survival. Early detection is important. By the time a person has lung cancer symptoms, their chances of survival are only about 20%. Smoking accounts for 90% of all lung cancer. Lung cancer kills more Americans than any other cancer. Approximately 357 Americans die every day from lung cancer, and someone is diagnosed with it every 2.2 minutes. According to CDC, lung cancer killed 131,888 Americans in 2022. It was followed by female breast cancer (42,211) and prostate cancer (33,636). To learn more, visit BeWellArkansas. org, https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/ programs-services/topics/tobacco-pre- vention-and-cessation, and https://www. cdc.gov/tobacco/. Visit https://www.us- preventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/ recommendation/lung-cancer-screening for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’s recommendations for annual screening for lung cancer. n counseling sessions, the highest quit rate in the nation. Resources include free coun- seling and, if eligible, nicotine replacement therapy. There is no cost to the caller. To get help, tobacco users can request cessation services online, call 800-283- WELL (9355) or text 501-588-8455. The Be Well Call Center is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except state holidays. If counselors are unavailable, callers can leave their contact information and receive a call back within one business day. They can enroll 24/7 at BeWellArkansas. org. The website also offers free resources to health professionals under its “Health Care Providers” tab. These resources, which can be shipped for free anywhere in the state, include posters, wallet cards, magnets, and lanyards. About 20% of Arkansans smoke, down 2% from two years ago. While this is a step in the right direction, the state is still ranked among the highest states in the nation for prevalence of smoking. Communication is one way to ensure people who smoke get the information and resources they need to quit. While people who smoke may know it is bad for them and that it can cause lung cancer, they do not always know all the ways smoking can impact their lives. Not only can it cause cancer and respiratory problems, but it can also increase the risk for: • Heart attacks. • Strokes. • Blocked blood flow to the arms and especially the legs. • Making it harder for a woman to be- come pregnant. It can affect her baby’s health before and after birth. It also in- creases the risk for preterm, stillbirth, low birth weight, sudden infant death