By Suzie Ledezma Rubio Carson City Health and Human Services
Wednesday, November 17, 2021
For more than 40 years, the American Cancer Society has hosted the Great American Smokeout on the third Thursday of November. On Nov. 18, join other individuals across the nation by taking part in the challenge to start or plan your journey towards a smoke-free lifestyle.
This Is Why
Smoking continues to be the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the U.S. causing more than 480,000 deaths every year. This is more deaths than alcohol, AIDS, car crashes, illegal drugs, murders, and suicides combined and thousands more die from other tobacco-related causes.
Smoking effects nearly every organ of the body and there are many health benefits to quitting. Quitting lowers the risk of many adverse health effects including reproductive health outcomes, cardiovascular disease, COPD and 12 types of cancers.
The most important actions a person can take to improve their health is to quit smoking regardless of their age or how long they’ve been smoking. Although quitting can be difficult, it is possible. Tobacco dependence is driven by addiction to nicotine which is found in all tobacco products. There are proven treatments and strategies to help people quit smoking successfully which include counseling and medications approved by the FDA. In fact, according to the surgeon general report 50 percent of adult smokers try quitting each year and three in five succeed.
After you smoke your last cigarette, your body begins a series of positive changes just minutes after that will continue for years to come. To have the best chance at success for quitting, the evidence shows you need to combine counseling with medications. Check with your insurance provider to see what cessation coverage is offered, as many insurance providers offer cessation services and medications.
Do You Need Help Quitting?
Nevada offers free counseling through the Nevada Tobacco Quitline with a professional via phone. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or enroll at nevadatobaccoquitline.com to connect with your personal quitting coach. For youth go to MyLifeMyQuit.com or text “Start My Quit” to 36072. Here’s to your journey toward a smoke-free lifestyle. Get Healthy Carson City!
For information about services and programs available to you through Carson City Health and Human Services, go to https://gethealthycarsoncity.org/, or call 775-887-2190. You can also find us at 900 E. Long St., in Carson City, or follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/cchhs, Twitter @CCHealthEd, or Instagram @GetHealthCarsonCity.
