Maine Voices: Maine has a lung issue. A Trek Across Maine will help.

The state of Maine has a difficulty: lung well being.

In response to the American Lung Affiliation, Maine’s price of recent lung most cancers instances is among the many highest in America (fifth-highest total, behind solely Kentucky, West Virginia, Arkansas, and Tennessee and Mississippi, which have basically the identical price), whereas early prognosis and survival additionally lag behind many different states. It doesn’t assist that vaping is on the rise: Between 2017 and 2019, the variety of Maine highschool college students who use e-cigarettes elevated from 15 % to just about 30 %. A college principal in Washington County put it this manner: “Vaping is everywhere.”

Nicotine dependancy is actual – and rising. Much more troubling is that many Mainers are creating that dependancy at a younger age, making it all of the tougher to kick the behavior later in life.

And policymakers are taking discover. Again in 2019, Gov. Mills launched a public training marketing campaign geared toward youngsters, warning younger Mainers in regards to the dangers related to vaping. Extra lately, the Portland Metropolis Council voted unanimously to ban the sale of flavored tobacco merchandise, becoming a member of greater than 300 communities across the nation which have restricted the sale of such merchandise. When the ban goes into impact in June, our dad and mom and our youngsters will be capable of have a good time a significant victory for public well being, and I hope this ban spreads all through our state. That is private for me, having misplaced each of my dad and mom to lung illness and having seen so many sufferers battle to breathe all through my nursing profession.

Way more work must be performed to create a tobacco-free future – and we are able to do it. On the lung well being entrance, public consciousness is one element. Advocacy and policymaking are two others. However we additionally shouldn’t underestimate the attain of fundraising occasions that empower these on the entrance traces with new sources to advertise wholesome lungs.

One such occasion is the American Lung Affiliation’s Trek Throughout Maine, which Mid Coast Hospital is proud to sponsor once more in 2022. Our workforce will as soon as once more experience within the Trek this yr, traversing virtually 200 miles in three days. In 2007, the Mid Coast Hospital workforce was led by Carl DeMars, M.D., elevating over $7,000 in assist of the American Lung Affiliation. We now have been proud to take part ever since, elevating funds within the identify of lung well being.

This yr, we’re much more excited. With in-person attendance on the rise, the 2022 Trek Throughout Maine will as soon as once more begin and finish in Brunswick at Thomas Level Seashore, which is correct across the nook from our hospital campus on Medical Middle Drive. The Trek’s total aim is to boost $1 million, and Trek individuals have already raised six figures for the higher good.

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We are able to get to $1 million, however provided that different Mainers cycle throughout the state. Now’s the time to do extra for wholesome lungs. Come be a part of the Trek.

You possibly can assist clear air and assist finish the vaping epidemic. You possibly can assist the policymakers who’re turning advocacy into motion. Occasions just like the Trek – coupled with the important work performed by groups of pulmonary clinicians at native hospitals – are indispensable in our work to defeat lung most cancers and forestall lung illness.

If something, the final two years have taught us that respiratory points hit near house. Both instantly or not directly, we have now all been affected by lung-related points because the COVID-19 pandemic started, with out even taking into consideration the prevalence of devastating illnesses like lung most cancers.

Fixing Maine’s lung drawback will take a collective, communal effort. From our hospitals to bike trails throughout the state, let’s come collectively. Be the answer.