Missouri lung cancer deaths high despite national decline

“We continue to reach out to Missourians to help them understand the importance of quitting smoking to reduce lung cancer deaths in our state,” said Stan Cowan, manager of the Tobacco Use Prevention Program at the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, in a news release.

In 2005, lung cancer was responsible for the death of 3,882 Missourians, compared to 3,687 deaths in 1996. Another 6,000 Missouri residents die each year from other smoking-related diseases such as heart disease and stroke.

A consistently higher-than-average smoking rate is the primary reason Missouri’s death rate from lung cancer hasn’t dropped, according to the state health department. Missouri has one of the highest smoking rates in the nation – more than 23 percent of adults in the state smoke, compared to 20 percent nationwide. Missouri ranks No. 6 among the worst states in the nation for smoking-related deaths.

“If we could help more people stop smoking, or never start in the first place, Missouri would see fewer smoking-related deaths,” Cowan said. “Comprehensive antismoking efforts pay off and we applaud the governor’s support for cessation and education efforts.”

Gov. Matt Blunt previously recommended that $875,000 of the proceeds from a settlement reached with several of the smaller tobacco companies be used to institute new youth tobacco prevention programs. This proposal, however, was not included in the final budget passed by the general assembly.

To help smokers quit, the state health department offers (800) QUIT-NOW, a toll-free telephone counseling service that provides callers with a kit of self-help materials.

Why Quit?

There are many health benefits from quitting smoking, including these:

• Within 20 minutes of quitting, blood pressure and pulse return to normal.

• Within one day of quitting, the chance of a heart attack decreases.

• Within five years of quitting, the lung cancer death rate for the average pack-a-day smoker drops by almost half.

Source: Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services