LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Kentucky Medical Association is encouraging Kentuckians to make healthy lifestyle choices through its two-year "Small Steps, Big Impact" initiative. 

“The preventative side of medicine and helping people optimize their health and try to prevent disease with lifestyle choices is very important to me,” said Evelyn Jones, KMA president. 

Jones said the plan emphasizes S.T.E.P.S.: screenings, tobacco use, exercise & nutrition, physician visits and stress.

“For instance, colorectal screenings, people need to start that at age 45," Jones said. "For lung cancer screenings, you may be eligible based on your tobacco use history at an earlier age than others."

Jones said she wants Kentuckians to know the age they should begin screening for colon, lung, breast and skin cancer and other illnesses. Tobacco use is another key component of the "Small Steps, Big Impact" initiative in helping Kentuckians quit.

“We also know that finding something else to do when you would normally smoke a cigarette or cigar or vape is to do something else, maybe go for five-to-15-minute walks,” Jones said.

Lesley Kellie, a doctor practicing in lifestyle medicine, said people should always think about substituting bad health habits with a healthier alternative. 

"Maybe don’t have a cigarette with you; have a straw or something like that to have in place [of] the cigarette and take deep breaths,” Kellie said. 

Managing and relieving stress can have a positive impact in many ways, Kellie said. 

“Unchecked stress can really lead to not just feeling of depression, anxiety, but can affect our blood pressure," Kellie added. "It can cause heart disease and many other diseases later on."

Diet changes and even adding minimal exercise can lead to drastic health improvements, as small steps can make Kentucky a healthier state, Jones added.