In celebration of the American Cancer Society’s 47th Great American Smokeout on Nov. 21, Hoosiers across Clinton County are encouraged to “make the commitment and quit smoking today”.
“With the holidays just around the corner, it’s a great time for people to give the ‘gift’ of a better life to themselves and to their family and friends by quitting,” said Tammy Koger of Healthy Communities of Clinton County Coalition. “With fewer places to smoke in Indiana, now is the perfect time to quit.”
For any of the over 1 million smokers in Indiana who want to quit, help is available and there’s no better time to quit than now, according to Koger.
The free Indiana Tobacco Quitline – 1-800-QUIT-NOW – is available seven days a week, 365 days a year to provide tips and counseling on how to quit for any Indiana resident 13 years and older.
“The Quitline is staffed with professional ‘quit’ coaches, who are trained on helping people to quit using tobacco. It’s a free resource and it’s a great first step in treating what we know is a difficult addiction to overcome,” added Koger.
According to the American Cancer Society, researchers indicate that quitting smoking can increase life expectancy. Smokers who quit at age 35 gain an average of eight years of life expectancy; those who quit at age 55 gain about five years; and even long-term smokers who quit at 65 gain three years.
“It may be surprising to most people that the effects of stopping smoking are almost immediate; a person’s heart rate and blood pressure drop just 20 minutes after quitting,” explained Koger.
According to Koger, quitting smoking is critical to improving one’s life at a time when tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the U.S.
“Whether you’re trying to quit or even thinking about it, the Great American Smokeout is a great time to think about living a healthier life. It may be a challenging path, but it will be worthwhile for a lifetime,” added Koger.
