MEDICAL ADVICE
Take Steps to Protect Your Lungs by DR. JOY JACKSON
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ovember is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and the Department of Health in Polk County wants to share with you the importance of caring for your lungs, how Polk County is affected by lung cancer, and what factors pose significant risks to developing lung cancer. Our lungs play a vital role in our bodies, caring for them is critical for optimal health. Lungs work by extracting oxygen from the air and transferring it into our bloodstream to be used in many chemical processes throughout our bodies. When lungs are exposed to harmful particles or poisons many diseases can result, including lung cancer. Lung cancer occurs when cells start growing uncontrolled in the lungs. There are several causes that may contribute to the development of lung cancer, but cigarette smoking is the number one risk factor. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 80 to 90 percent of lung cancer deaths in the United States are related to tobacco. In 2018, Polk County reported 603 residents
were diagnosed with lung cancer. The lung cancer incidence rates were higher in Polk County than in the state of Florida; about 60.1 out of every 100,000 people were diagnosed with lung cancer in Polk County. In Florida, that number is 55.9 people out of every 100,000. This means that in 2018, someone in Polk County was more likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer compared to the rest of the state. Although incidence rates have been dropping for several years, both county and statewide, there is still room for improvement.
and children. It is also associated with an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Radon is a gas found naturally in rocks and dirt. It can become harmful when inhaled after being trapped in homes or other buildings. DOH-Polk offers no-cost radon testing kits. For more information, visit polk.flhealth.gov.
There are several ways poisons in tobacco smoke can impact lung health; they weaken the immune system, making it more difficult to kill cancer cells, and they can damage or change DNA, altering the normal growth and function of cells.
• Get your home tested for radon
Other risk factors for lung cancer include exposure to secondhand smoke, exposure to radon gas, and exposure to other substances such as asbestos, arsenic, and diesel exhaust. Secondhand smoke is known to increase the risk of respiratory infections, ear infections, and asthma attacks in infants
To reduce your risk of contracting lung cancer the CDC has several tips: • Don’t smoke • Avoid secondhand smoke • Beware of exposures to harmful substances DOH-Polk wishes you a happy and healthy holiday season, especially for your lungs. HN County and State Lung Cancer Incidence Rates Source: University of Miami (FL) Medical School, Florida Cancer Data System, via FL Health CHARTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dr. Joy Jackson, an internal medicine physician, serves the community as director of the Florida department of Health in Polk County (DOH-Polk). For more information about DOH-Polk, visit mypolkhealth.org. Follow DOH-Polk on Twitter at twitter.com/FLHealthPolk.
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