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11/3/2013 12:00:00 AM EASTERN
Updated: 11/8/2013 3:32:52 PM EASTERN
For more information, contact John Broom.
COPD and lung cancer: Two reasons to quit smoking

If you've smoked a cigarette recently, you might think that the health risks of smoking won't affect you until much later in life.

But, in reality, every time you light up, you are putting yourself at risk for two deadly diseases: lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Ashtabula County Medical Center Pulmonologist Yisa Sunmonu, MD, said both can have life-altering effects that leave you breathless.

“Treatments can help relieve the effects of smoking and slow the progress of both lung cancer and COPD. But the single best way to help your lungs, both now and for years to come, is to join the ranks of ex-smokers. It's never too late to quit—no matter how long you've been smoking,” he said.

Lung cancer begins when cells in the lungs start to develop abnormally and then multiply and clump together into a tumor.

COPD is the umbrella term for the diseases emphysema and chronic bronchitis, which often develop together. With emphysema, the lung's air sacs are damaged, causing shortness of breath. That means less and less oxygen is transferred into the bloodstream, depleting nourishment to the body and its organs. Chronic bronchitis inflames and scars the lungs and the lining of the airways, also affecting the ability of the person to take in—and let out—a breath.

Although there are other causes for COPD and lung cancer, smoking is by far the main culprit. It's linked to about 87 percent of lung cancer deaths and up to 90 percent of COPD deaths, Dr. Sunmonu said.

In addition:

  • Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women in the U.S. It causes more deaths than colon, breast and prostate cancers combined.
  • Ashtabula County has a higher rate of lung cancer than both the State of Ohio and the United States. 
  • Lung cancer often isn't detected until it's in an advanced stage. Over half of the people with lung cancer die within a year of being diagnosed.
  • COPD is the third leading cause of death in the U.S.
  • COPD symptoms include wheezing, tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, and a nagging cough that produces mucus. They are often ignored for years. However, treatments can help improve a person's quality of life once COPD is diagnosed, so make an appointment with your doctor if you have the symptoms.

“There are other benefits acquired when you stop smoking. Many diseases are made considerably worse when you smoke. The minute you stop smoking, you will actually begin to heal your body and build immunity against other potential health risks,” Dr. Sunmonu said.

When you choose to quit smoking, your doctor is a good source of information about tools that can help, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines and smoking cessation programs.

If you are diagnosed with lung cancer or COPD, ACMC offers support groups to help you learn the lifestyle changes you need to make to lessen the symptoms. For more information, visit www.acmchealth.org. For more information about how to stop smoking, visit the website, click on the Health Library under Health Resources.