Effects of Education and Exhaled Carbon Monoxide Testing On Cessation of Smoking
Grade Level at Time of Presentation
Secondary School
Major
-
Minor
-
Institution
Project Lead The Way - Kentucky
KY House District #
23
KY Senate District #
9
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Robert Bauer
Abstract
As of 2012, 24.8% of Kentucky adults were regular cigarette smokers. Many of these same individuals know what carbon monoxide is, but do they realize the health risk? Carbon monoxide is known as a silent killer as it is odorless and colorless. The dangers of carbon monoxide stem from its ability to bind tighter than oxygen to hemoglobin, destroy lung tissue, and prevent one from obtaining sufficient oxygen concentrations in the blood. Many smokers have an idea of the risks of smoking, but they often do not realize that carbon monoxide is the cause of these dangerous smoking side effects. By interviewing many active smokers and then using a Smokerlyzer to estimate the amount of carbon monoxide in the blood, we have worked to help individuals as they attempt to stop submitting their bodies to the destructive and carcinogenic effects or cigarettes. We informed these individuals of the harms associated with carbon monoxide as well as showing them the amounts of carbon monoxide present in their body correlated with their cigarette smoking. The effects of education and exhaled carbon monoxide testing on cessation of smoking habits in our local community was then assessed.
Effects of Education and Exhaled Carbon Monoxide Testing On Cessation of Smoking
As of 2012, 24.8% of Kentucky adults were regular cigarette smokers. Many of these same individuals know what carbon monoxide is, but do they realize the health risk? Carbon monoxide is known as a silent killer as it is odorless and colorless. The dangers of carbon monoxide stem from its ability to bind tighter than oxygen to hemoglobin, destroy lung tissue, and prevent one from obtaining sufficient oxygen concentrations in the blood. Many smokers have an idea of the risks of smoking, but they often do not realize that carbon monoxide is the cause of these dangerous smoking side effects. By interviewing many active smokers and then using a Smokerlyzer to estimate the amount of carbon monoxide in the blood, we have worked to help individuals as they attempt to stop submitting their bodies to the destructive and carcinogenic effects or cigarettes. We informed these individuals of the harms associated with carbon monoxide as well as showing them the amounts of carbon monoxide present in their body correlated with their cigarette smoking. The effects of education and exhaled carbon monoxide testing on cessation of smoking habits in our local community was then assessed.