Improve your health today – by quitting!
Do you smoke? Have you thought about quitting?
Let’s face it. Everyone knows tobacco – including cigarettes, chewing tobacco, snuff, snus, pipes and cigars – is dangerous and causes significant health issues. Tobacco use can lead to lung diseases such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Tobacco use may even lead to more serious health events such as heart attacks and strokes. In fact, tobacco affects every organ system in the body from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. And, the more problems a person develops from tobacco use, the more difficult it becomes to treat and control the conditions.
It’s never too late to quit.
When you quit smoking or the use of other tobacco products, you will begin to see improvement in your health within minutes. The longer you stay off tobacco products, the more likely it is you will be able to reduce the number of medications needed to manage chronic health problems. Several weeks after quitting, you’ll begin to see improvement in breathing and heart rate, and you may possibly see a decrease in blood sugar readings. In general, you will feel better and will start to gain control over your health and well-being.
It’s OK to ask for help.
Quitting tobacco can be a very challenging thing. In fact, it is very common for people to make several attempts at quitting before they finally reach their goal of becoming tobacco-free. But, if you’re committed to making a change in your life, start by talking with your health care provider to learn more about available treatment options.
Start improving your health today.
Mercy is proud to offer “Freedom From Smoking” – a free eight-week smoking cessation program – to all patients interested in improving their health by quitting smoking. For more information, or to sign-up, call (515) 643-7457 or email employeehealthcoach@mercydesmoines.org.
