ELIMINATE CLEANERS WITH DANGEROUS CHEMICAL FROM YOUR HOME The 20-year independent study found that using chemical cleaning compounds as little as once a week can be as damaging to lungs as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day for 20 years. Researchers are learning that the damage can be serious, even permanent. MONITOR RADON Radon is a gas naturally found in some rock and soil. If a home is built on top of an area with radon, it can leak into a home through basement floors or foundations. Trapped inside, it can build up to unhealthy levels. Radon cannot be seen or smelled, and yet because it becomes radioactive as it decays, exposure to high levels can cause lung cancer. In fact, behind smoking, it is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. To detect radon in your home, use a radon test kit.
DON’T SMOKE By now, just about everyone knows the dangers of cigarette smoke. It increases risk for lung cancer and other diseases by destroying lung tissue and introducing free radicals that can cause cell mutation. It constricts air passages and severely reduces lung capacity. It also creates a state of chronic inflammation within the lungs and throughout the body. If you do smoke, quitting isn’t easy, but the benefits are immense. Set a goal. Find an accountability partner. It’s never too late. AVOID POLLUTION The tiny tissues deep in the cavities of your lungs are actually quite delicate and vulnerable to damage if exposed to pollution and chemicals over an extended period of time. Avoid secondhand smoke, outdoor air pollution, and harmful chemicals at home and work.
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter