T.J. Samson | Destination Health | October 2019

2 DESTINATION HEALTH Wellness Get ready for your mammogram Most things go better with a little preparation. And mammograms are no exception. Whether it’s your first mam- mogram, or you’ve been getting the tests faithfully for years, these tips from the American Cancer Society (ACS) can help the whole process go more smoothly: Be consistent. Try to go to the same facility every time you get a mammogram.That way your images can be easily compared from year to year. But if you’ve had mammograms elsewhere, get the old images and bring them with you. Schedule smart. If you’re men- struating, try to avoid getting your mammogram the week before your period. Instead, schedule a time for when your breasts aren’t likely to be tender or swollen.That will help ease any discomfort and help get better pictures. Don’t wear deodorant the day of the exam. Some contain sub- stances that can show up on x-rays as white spots. Speak up. Describe any breast symptoms or problems to the tech- nologist doing the mammogram. Also bring up any medical history that could affect your breast cancer risk, such as hormone use or breast cancer in your family. Ask when to expect the results. If you don’t hear, don’t as- sume the results are normal. Get back in touch. STAY ON TOP OF SCREENING Be sure to talk with your doctor about the best mammogram schedule for you. Here’s what the ACS advises for women at average risk of breast can- cer in the following age ranges: 40 to 44. You have the op- tion to start screening with yearly mammograms. 45 to 54. Get yearly mammograms. 55 and older. You can switch to a mammogram every other year or continue with yearly screening for as long as you’re in good health. To schedule your mammo- gram at the T.J. Health Pavil- ion, please call 270-651-1814 . Additional source: Radiological Society of North America Thinking of vaping? Know the potential risks Puffing on an electronic cigarette, or vaping, may seem like a safe alternative to smoking real cigarettes. But not so fast. Scientists are still studying e-cigarettes and their possible long-term health risks, but there are already concerns, says Katie Shepard, Community Health Educator for T.J. Regional Health. “We are waiting for more research, but what we do know is very scary,” she says. WHAT ARE THE RISKS? Battery powered e-cigarettes and similar devices, such as JUUL, heat liquid flavoring and other chemicals to form an aerosol that users inhale.The aerosol looks like a puff of steam. But it isn’t sim- ply water vapor. According to Shepard, e-cigarette aerosol contains nicotine, a drug that can be as addictive as heroin. “That’s what gets someone hooked,” she says. Nicotine also isn’t safe for pregnant women and their unborn babies. A vape cloud can contain other harmful sub- stances, such as cancer-causing chemicals (though generally fewer than tobacco smoke); heavy met- als, like lead; flavorings such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to “popcorn” lung, a serious and irreversible disease that scars, thickens and narrows the air- ways in the lungs; and ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs. “And we have seen an association between e-cigarettes and deterioration of oral health,” Shepard adds. YOUNG PEOPLE ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE Vaping is especially popular among young people, a group that may be hurt the most by e-cigarettes. Nicotine can harm the brain that is still develop- ing until about age 26. “Nicotine can cause issues with parts of the brain that control your attention, your mood and your impulse control,” Shepard says. You must be 18 to buy e-cigarettes in Kentucky, but many kids younger than that manage to obtain them. Some vaping devices are even made to look like USB computer flash drives or felt-tipped pens. So parents should be aware. The flavorings used in vaping devices are often designed to appeal to kids, Shepard says. Popular flavors include mango, cinnamon roll or candy. “I’ve had a parent ask me, ‘Why does my son’s backpack smell like SweeTarts?’” Shepard says. “Well, it smells like SweeTarts because he is using e-cigarettes.” BETTER WAYS TO QUIT Although e-cigarettes could potentially benefit some adult smokers, they are currently not an ap- proved stop-smoking method. “What is recommended is that you talk with your health care provider about other quit-smoking aids that are approved,” Shepard says.These include over-the-counter nicotine- replacement products and prescription medicines. You can also call a free tobacco quit line at 800-QUIT-NOW ( 800-784-8669 ) to re- ceive support. “The biggest thing is just to be aware of what you’re putting in your body when you use e- cigarettes,” Shepard says. T.J. Samson hosts the American Lung Association’s Freedom from Smoking classes three times a year. Call 270-659-5528 to sign up for the free classes.