October 17, 2005
GMC Offers Pulmonary Screenings In Conjunction With Great American Smokeout
Davenport, IA - Genesis Medical Center will be offering free pulmonary screenings and distributing smoking cessation information in conjunction with the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout on Nov. 17.
Four screenings will be available over two days beginning Nov. 16. Pre-registration is not required.
On Nov. 16, there will be a screening from 8:00 - 10:30 am at the Genesis Wellness Center in the Bettendorf YMCA at 3800 Tanglefoot Lane. There will also be a screening on Nov. 16 from 1-3 pm at Genesis Medical Center, Illini Campus, in the Larson Center, 801 Illini Drive, Silvis.
Screenings will be available on Nov. 17 at the Genesis Heart Institute at 8-10:30 am and at Genesis Medical Center, 1401 West Central Park, from 1-3:30 pm.
Christine Pekios, smoking cessation facilitator for Genesis Medical Center, said the pulmonary screenings will provide a baseline of breathing function to those who are screened.
“What we hope is that we can determine reduced function before it becomes a serious problem. Smoking is a cause not only of lung cancer, but heart disease and other lung diseases,’’ Pekios explained. “If you only smoke for a year or two and then quit, the effect may be minimal. It’s the long-term effects of smoking that decrease lung function that we want to prevent." Claudia Tarr, Coordinator of Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Genesis Medical Center, Davenport, said individuals being screened will be asked to breathe into a mouthpiece that measures function.
“The test is not only for smokers, but it’s especially important for smokers, or former smokers, to have a baseline like this," Tarr explained. “It’s something everyone can benefit from. It’s similar to having a baseline electrocardiogram so that you have something to compare to future EKG results."
Smoking cessation information will be available at each screening. Pre-registration for the screening is not required.
“There are a number of effective methods to stop smoking. We hope that these screenings, along with the information available about how to try to quit, will help encourage smokers to at least think about trying to quit," said Wendy Ballou, Thoracic Oncology Coordinator for the Genesis Cancer Center.
The American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout challenges people to stop using tobacco and raises awareness of effective methods for quitting.
An estimated 46 million U.S adults smoke. Smoking is responsible for 1 in 3 cancer deaths, and 1 in 5 deaths from all causes. An additional 8.6 million people are living with serious illnesses caused by smoking.
For information on how to quit smoking, contact Genesis On Call at 563-421-2000 or the Genesis pulmonary rehabilitation department at 563-421-1768.
