Smoking Cessation Smoking Can Cause More Than Just Lung Cancer
Smoking is one of the leading causes of lung cancer and deaths in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the rate of deaths is 480,000 per year.¹ However, there are many other problems that occur in the body due to smoking. One of the main concerns is the imbalance of many nutrients in the body. 2 Some of these nutrients include vitamin E, vitamin C, B-carotene, and selenium, which are all antioxidants that play a role in preventing or delaying cell damage. 2,3 Smoking can also lead to poor nutrition and loss of hunger, which is damaging to the body in serval ways. Nutritional status in smokers may also be compromised by an inadequate diet, since smokers are less likely to consume fruits and vegetables, particularly those high in vitamin C and carotenes. 2 Another effect of smoking is “passive smoking.” Passive smoking, also known as “secondhand smoke,” is the inhaling of smoke breathed out by people who smoke or from burning tobacco products. 4 Secondhand smoking is responsible for more than 41,000 deaths per year. 1 The harm caused by secondhand smoke is preventable. Decreasing or quitting smoking can save the lives of smokers and so many people around them. The HUSKY Health program has resources to help members quit smoking. Refer members to our Quit Smoking Now web page to learn about treatment options and support that is available in the community and online to help them quit smoking. References: 1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2022. Disease and Death. Retrieved from: www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fast_facts/diseases-and-death.html 2. National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology. Cigarette smoking-nutritional implications, Information, National. Retrieved from: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1784736 3. MedlinePlus, 2022. Definition of Health Terms: Minerals. Retrieved from: medlineplus.gov/definitions/mineralsdefinitions.html 4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2022. Secondhand Smoke. Retrieved from: www.cdc.gov/tobacco/secondhand-smoke/index.html
Stroke Awareness Month May is Stroke Awareness Month.¹ A stroke occurs when the blood supply becomes blocked to part of the brain or a blood vessel in the brain bursts. Strokes can cause brain damage that results in speech problems, cognitive issues, disability, paralysis, or even death. 2 Click here to learn the risk factors, treatments, and how to spot the signs of a stroke, which could possibly save a life. References:
1. Health.gov, 2022. National Health Observances. Retrieved from: health.gov/news/category/national-health-observances 2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2022. About Stroke. Retrieved from: www.cdc.gov/stroke/about.htm 3. Florida Health Orange County, 2022. Warning Signs of Stroke. Retrieved from: orange.floridahealth.gov/newsroom/2022/09/ strokes.html
HUSKY Health Community Partner Newsletter Page 5 Community Health Network of Connecticut, Inc. ® (CHNCT) is the State of Connecticut’s Medical Administrative Services Organization for the HUSKY Health program.
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