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SIHF Healthcare Recognizes The Great American Smokeout & Benefits Of Quitting Smoking
Thinking about quitting smoking, now is the time to kick the habit as The Great American Smokeout is November 19th.
About 32.4 million American adults still smoke cigarettes, and smoking remains the single largest preventable cause of death and illness in the world. Smoking causes an estimated 480,000 deaths every year, and life expectancy for smokers is at least ten years shorter than that of non-smokers. And more than 16 million Americans live with a smoking-related disease, but quitting smoking before the age of 40 reduces the risk of dying from smoking-related disease by about 90%.
“No matter your age or how long you’ve been smoking, quitting can improve your health both immediately and over the long term,” says Dr. LeBeau, Family Practice Physician.
Right away you’ll notice several benefits to kicking the habit that include: Sense of smell and taste returns to normal; breath, hair, and clothes smell better; teeth and fingernails stop yellowing; damaging effects of premature wrinkling of your skin, gum disease, and tooth loss cease; and ordinary activities leave you less out of breath (for example, climbing stairs or light housework).
Quitting smoking also has multiple benefits in the long term, such as: lowering your risk of certain cancers and diabetes; letting blood vessels work better; and helping your heart and lungs function better.
Giving up smoking can be hard, but you can increase your chances of success by making a good plan, utilizing available resources and having a good support system.
Some basic steps you can follow to help you quit smoking are:
- Make the decision to quit – set a quit day, such as The Great American Smokeout and share with friends and family to offer support.
- Make a plan to manage your day without smoking – create other healthy habits such as exercise, meditation, or participating in other activities that will help you refrain from smoking.
- Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist – smoking cessation counseling or other options may be available to you, such as medication or therapies to help assist you in quitting.
At SIHF Healthcare, the medical providers at each location want to assist you in maintaining your very best health. Click here to find a SIHF Healthcare location near you and book an appointment today. Your provider will take the time to listen to your health concerns and offer the best treatment that is right for you.
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About SIHF Healthcare
SIHF Healthcare operates a network of more than 30 health centers across 11 Illinois counties with more than 160 medical providers who deliver comprehensive healthcare services including: adult, family, women’s health, pediatrics, pediatric dental services, behavioral health, and population health services. As one of the largest Federally Qualified Health Center networks in the country, SIHF Healthcare is devoted to leading individuals and communities to their healthiest lifestyle regardless of their ability to pay. For more information, visit www.sihf.org.