Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. and accounts for one in every five of all deaths each year. Cancer, heart disease, stroke, and respiratory disease are among the top illnesses associated with smoking.
Secondhand smoke (which, contains about 7,000 chemicals, hundreds of which are toxic) causes nearly 34,000 premature deaths a year. Nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work are at a 25-30 percent higher risk of heart disease than individuals who aren’t around smokers. Children exposed to secondhand smoke can experience a variety of health problems including asthma attacks, respiratory infections, ear infections, and sudden infant death syndrome.
Tips to help you stop
1. Write down why you want to quit. Do you want to quit because you have health problems or worry about a smoking-related illness? Do you want to set a good example? Having good reasons will help you stop smoking.
2. Know that it will take commitment. Nearly all smokers have nicotine withdrawal when they try to quit. Nicotine is addictive. Knowing this will help you deal with symptoms such as bad moods and a crave to smoke.
There are many ways smokers quit, including nicotine gum and patches or FDA-approved, non-nicotine cessation medications. Some people don’t experience withdrawal symptoms. For most people, symptoms last a few days to a couple of weeks. Take quitting one day at a time.
3. Don’t smoke a cigarette. Each cigarette you smoke damages your lungs, your blood vessels, and cells.
4. Get help. Smokers can receive free and assistance by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW, by visiting the Colorado QuitLine website at www.coquitline.org, or the CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov. Your primary health care provider is a good source for help and support.
5. Remember this good news: More than half of all adult smokers have quit. Quitting smoking is the most important step you can take to protect your health and the health of your family. * Information for this story from the Centers for Disease Control.
Southwest Health System staffing new student clinic at SWOS
Students at Southwest Open School in Cortez have a new clinic staffed by members of the Southwest Health System team. Kameo Smith, DO, provides oversight for nurse practitioners and a social worker at the clinic.
“We are excited about partnering with SWOS to offer health care to their students,” said Liz Sellers, Interim CEO at Southwest Health System. “The new clinic is providing a valuable service, and we’re proud to be a part of what they are doing.”
Save the date
The Southwest Memorial Hospital Foundation will host a fundraiser for its health care scholarship fund, which was established in 1991. The annual Made in Montezuma event will be on Sunday, Oct. 19 at Trail Canyon Ranch in McElmo Canyon. This afternoon celebration, featuring a guided tour of the tree nursery by certified arborist David Temple, followed by an auction of locally crafted items with auctioneer Larry Don Suckla, and local food, wine and brews.
Southwest Health Notes is a public service provided by Southwest Memorial Hospital in Cortez.