M.E. Morreo at El Centro Esperanza tips us off to the following smoking cessation and awareness program for the local LGBTI community.

Heart Month Raises Awareness about Steps to Reduce Risk of Heart Disease: Quit Smoking and Eliminate Exposure to Secondhand Smoke

During the month of February, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people across the nation are raising awareness about heart disease and taking steps to lower their risk. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Two of the ways to reduce the risk of heart disease are to stop smoking and eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke.

According to studies, long-term exposure to secondhand smoke is associated with a 25 percent to 30 percent increased risk of heart disease in adult nonsmokers. The Pueblo Heart Study Phase II, published in the Jan. 2, 2009 issue of the Centers for disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, revealed that heart attack hospitalizations in the city of Pueblo, Colo. fell dramatically and sustained for three years after implementation of a comprehensive smoke-free workplace and public place ordinance. This latest study reinforces that smoke-free policies are vital in preventing heart disease mortality and morbidity.

The U.S. Surgeon General has found that secondhand smoke is responsible for tens of thousands of deaths in the United States each year and that there is no safe level of exposure. Colorado implemented the Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act (CCIA), its statewide smoke-free law, on July 1, 2006, and extended it to casinos on July 1, 2008. Research shows that smoke-free laws and policies to eliminate smoking indoors are credited with decreases of exposure. Before and after public places including restaurants, bars and casinos went smoke free, the State Tobacco Education & Prevention Partnership at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment conducted studies that measured air pollution in these venues. After the smoke-free law was implemented, the air improved by 90 percent in restaurants and bars and by 92 percent in casinos – an Environmental Protection Agency rating of “good.” Additionally, studies indicate that these smoke-free laws can prompt people who smoke to quit.

In the American Lung Association’s recent report card for states, Colorado was issued a grade of “A” for Smokefree Air. Though Colorado’s smoke-free law covers most indoor public places, strengthening specific areas and enforcing compliance with the law can protect more Coloradoans from exposure. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children ages 4 - 11 have the highest rate of exposure at more than 60 percent. The primary source of secondhand smoke exposure to children is in the home. Children who are exposed to secondhand smoke are more susceptible to ear infections and coughs, bronchitis and pneumonia, childhood asthma; and SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Youth ages 12 - 19 have the next highest rate of exposure at more than 55 percent.

LGBT and Allied people who want to quit smoking or those who are thinking about quitting can seek help and support from the Colorado QuitLine – a free telephone coaching service for quitting tobacco that offers a FREE supply of the patch. To contact the QuitLine, call 1.800.QUIT.NOW (1-800-784-8669) or visit www.coquitline.org for Web-based cessation tools. The Colorado QuitLine is operated by National Jewish Health under contract to the State Tobacco Education & Prevention Partnership at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. QuitLine coaches are available Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For more information on SmokeFree LGBT in Colorado, please visit http://www.glbtcolorado.org/renderContent.aspx?contentId=35

For more information on STEPP (The State Tobacco Education and Prevention Partnership), please visit http://www.steppcolorado.com/

For more information on Raising Smoke-free Kids, please visit http://www.raisesmokefreekids.com/

Posted: February 10th, 2009 under Gay marriage, Health.
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From the Coalition on Human Needs:

Congress plans to vote on children’s health this week!  Make sure no kid falls through the cracks - Call your Representative & Senators TODAY!

Dial 1-800-828-0498* and ask to speak to your Representative and Senators’ offices.

Tell them: Support reauthorizing SCHIP so millions of uninsured children can get health coverage and remove restrictions delaying coverage for children in need.

Background:
The new Congress has decided to take swift action on the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), the same program President Bush vetoed twice last year. This legislation expands health care for kids who are in working families that make too much to qualify for Medicaid, but who don’t make enough to afford private insurance.

The House of Representatives could vote as early as tomorrow, January 14. The Senate will soon follow. Once this happens, we hope the two chambers will reconcile their differences quickly - and it should land on the President’s desk soon.

It is critical Congress act quickly. With our economy in crisis, SCHIP is more important than ever. More than 1 million children have lost their health coverage because their parents were laid off and lost their employer-based coverage over the past year. The proposed legislation would provide essential health coverage to those kids already enrolled in the program and allow an additional 4 million children to qualify for coverage.

It is also important that Congress pass an SCHIP bill that addresses existing inequities in our health care system. Currently, legal immigrant children and pregnant women must wait five years before they become eligible for federally funded Medicaid and SCHIP. Congress should include the “Legal Immigrant Children’s Health Improvement Act” (ICHIA) in SCHIP reauthorization to remove this arbitrary waiting period. No child should have to wait five years for basic health care.

*Toll-free and action alert language provided by our friends at Families USA

Sign up for emails from the Coalition on Human Needs at http://www.chn.org/signUp.jsp.

Posted: January 13th, 2009 under Children, Economic Justice, Health.
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