Air Quality in Oklahoma and its Health Impacts
I didn’t know that a majority of Oklahoma citizens face health risks due to radon gas exposure. Exposure to this gas increases an individual’s risk of contracting lung cancer. The gas, which occurs naturally – can be found in both the air and drinking water. With reference to EPA (2019), the risk of developing cancer due to radon in indoor air is much higher than exposure to drinking water. Exposure to indoor air occurs through contaminated soil whereby the soil in a residential home is concentrated with radon. Research shows that after smoking, radon is the second major cause of lung cancer. Further reports prove that even the lowest concentration of radon can impact an individual’s health negatively. For smokers, the probability of developing lung cancer from radon exposure is higher than for non-smokers.
According to EPA (2019), Oklahoma is among the states where indoor air quality has been reported to have been affected by radon. As a result, the health of the residents in this state is at stake, with a significant portion of the population at risk of developing lung cancer. While the radon concentration is not that high, the health risk remains a major crisis. This is because low and medium radon concentrations trigger most of the lung cancer cases resulting from exposure to radon. In addition, a significant percentage of state residents are smokers, which increases their chances of developing lung cancer.
My Role as a Community Health Nurse in Addressing the Above Concern
As a community health nurse, it is crucial to address the health concerns listed above. The major health risk discussed is lung cancer. As a CHN, I would focus on promoting the health of the Oklahoma community residents. This includes the at-risk population and the ones that are already victims of the disease. As a preventive measure, I would embark on health education within the community. This strategy involves teaching and educating individuals on the health risks posed by radon and how to reduce them. For instance, Oklahoma residents should be aware of the presence or absence of radon in their homes. The best way to be sure is to get their homes tested for gas. Through education, I would be able to raise awareness and eventually reduce the health risks caused by radon exposure. Further, I would encourage the residents to ensure they have access to safe drinking water to mitigate the impacts of radon exposure through contaminated drinking water.
It is equally essential to develop health promotion strategies for the population that has already contracted lung cancer. As a community health nurse, I would advocate for a healthy lifestyle, such as embracing proper nutrition and quitting smoking for smokers (Chin, 2019). Further, I would encourage these patients to engage in physical activity and to take their medication religiously to maintain their health. In addition, community health nursing involves combined efforts between patients and nurses. On my part, I would provide the patients with emotional support and regularly check on them. It is not uncommon to find cancer patients falling into depression and losing hope due to the high mortality rates that this disease causes. Thus, providing them with emotional support gives them hope for better days ahead and improves their overall health by reducing their stress levels and blood pressure. I would also incorporate health education among these patients. Sharing information with cancer patients is also an effective way of alleviating the negative impacts of chronic conditions.
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