More than 1 in 5 American adults smoke despite the many well-known health risks associated with tobacco use. Many smokers say they want to quit, but doing so can be difficult. In this week’s edition of “Project Health,” Penn State Hershey’s Jonathan Foulds, who recently earned a large federal grant to research tobacco alternatives like e-cigarettes, offers simple tips for making the commitment to quit.
We all know being dependent on tobacco can cause serious health problems. Tobacco use remains very common in the United States, with one in five adults smoking cigarettes. Those who have tried to quit find it a difficult process. If you’re a smoker, the single most important thing important thing you can do for your health is to quit smoking. And there are a few things you can do to help. The first is to get some counseling, either from your doctor or from a telephone quit line. Use of an FDA approved medicine like nicotine replacement or a prescription medicine will also increase your chances. So the first step is to make that decision, make a plan and then stick with it. Research has clearly shown that quitting smoking reduces the chance of lung cancer, heart attacks and breathing problems.
Get more information about how to get started with quitting at BecomeAnEx.com.
Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center also offers smoking cessations classes, available by calling CARELINE at 800-243-1455.
The Medical Minute is a weekly health news feature brought to you by Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Articles feature the expertise of Penn State Hershey faculty physicians and staff, and are designed to offer timely, relevant health information of interest to a broad audience.
