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It’s Time to Quit Smoking. We Can Help.

It's time to quit smoking - here's why.Each year about 1.3 million smokers quit. Are you ready?

According to the American Lung Association, cigarette smoking causes more than 480,000 deaths per year which turns out to be 1 in 5 deaths in the U.S.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that smoking is the cause of 90% of lung cancer deaths and 80% of deaths in people with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Not only does cigarette smoking affect the lungs it can be linked to cardiovascular disease. Smokers are 2-4 times more likely to have coronary artery disease and are 2-4 times more likely to have a stroke.

In addition to affecting the heart and lungs, smoking can have a negative effect on other systems in the body including circulatory system, reproductive organs, mouth, skin, eyes, and bones. Smoking is also a risk factor for many other cancers throughout the body, including but not limited to, pancreas, liver, colon, and throat to name a few.

There are many reasons to quit smoking and every smoker has their own personal motive.

The following are some of the most popular reasons:

Health: The sooner a person quits smoking the better. As soon as a person quits the body begins to repair any damage caused by smoking.

  • 20 minutes after quitting, your heart rate drops to normal and blood pressure decreases
  • 12 hours after quitting, the carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal
  • 2-3 days after quitting, your sense of smell and taste improve
  • 2-12 weeks after quitting, your circulation improves and breathing is easier
  • 1-9 months after quitting, coughing and shortness of breath decrease
  • 1 year after quitting, your risk of coronary artery disease is half of a smoker’s risk
  • 5-15 years after quitting, the risk of having a stroke is the same as a non-smoker
  • 10 years after quitting, your risk of dying from lung cancer is half of a smoker’s risk
  • 15 years after quitting, the risk of coronary artery disease is the same as a non-smoker

Money: Cigarettes are expensive and in some places can cost up to $10 a pack. Even if a pack cost $5 and a person smokes a pack a day that adds up to $1,825 per year. How about that for savings!

Convenience: Let’s face it, smokers are the minority and it has become extremely inconvenient to light up in public places. Smokers are forced to stand out in the cold or rain just to get that nicotine fix.

Friends and Family: Second-hand smoke is not good for anyone, especially children and babies. Children often times have more chest colds and ear infections when they are around second-hand smoke. Babies who are born to smoking mothers have an increased risk for premature delivery, low birth weight, and higher rate of sudden infant death syndrome.

Do any or all of these give you incentive to quit now?

Are you or someone you know ready to quit? Beebe Healthcare, in partnership with the Delaware Quitline, is offering free smoking cessation counseling. Beebe’s trained counselors are available to meet with clients at the Margaret H. Rollins Lewes Campus and at Beebe Cardiac Rehab in the Medical Arts Building at the Rehoboth Beach Health Campus on Route 24.

The counseling consists of three, free, one-on-one visits with a trained smoking cessation counselor. At these sessions you and the counselor together will select a quit date and formulate the best quit plan for you.

Vouchers for prescription and non-prescription nicotine replacement therapy will be distributed by the counselor. Any smoker who is a Delaware resident and is of 18 years of age is eligible to take part in this program.

If you are interested in signing up, call (302) 645-3030 or go to: www.beebehealthcare.org/smoking.

Kelly Thompson, Respiratory Therapist, Beebe

Kelly Thompson has a bachelor’s degree in respiratory therapy from Salisbury University. She is a registered respiratory therapist and has been employed by Beebe Healthcare since 2008. She currently works in the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Department at Beebe Healthcare.