Next Thursday: The Great American Smoke-Out

From the Peoria City/County Health Department:

The Peoria City/County Health Department is reminding the public that Thursday, November 15, 2012 is the 37th annual Great American Smoke-Out Day. On this day, the Health Department is urging area residents to quit smoking and to encourage others to quit.

In Peoria County, about 1 in 4 adults smoke cigarettes. Peoria County lung cancer incidence rates exceed state and national averages. Not only do cigarettes cause cancer, but also cigars, pipes, and chewing tobacco. Additionally, lung cancer continues to be one of the top ten leading causes of death in the tri-county area.

Greg Chance, Administrator at Peoria City/County Health Department states, "The past few decades have seen great strides in changing attitudes about smoking, understanding addiction, and learning how to help people quit. Yet, tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the US. The Great American Smoke-out challenges people to learn about the tools they can use to quit smoking and enjoy the health benefits."

People who quit smoking will experience immediate health benefits. Within 20 minutes of quitting, heart rate and blood pressure drop. Within 12 hours of quitting, the oxygen level in the blood increases to normal. Within 3 months of quitting, circulation improves and lung function increases. Five years after quitting, the risk of many diseases, including cancer and stroke, decreases dramatically.

Kicking the tobacco habit offers some additional personal benefits:

• Breath smells better
• Stained teeth get whiter
• Bad smells in clothes and hair go away
• Yellow on fingers and in fingernails disappears
• Food tastes better
• Sense of smell returns to normal

Research shows that smokers are most successful in kicking the habit when they have support, such as nicotine replacement products, telephone smoking cessation hotlines, counseling, and encouragement and support from friends and family members.

The Health Department is partnering with the Illinois Department of Public Health, Hult Center for Health Education, and the Illinois Tobacco Quitline to provide education and smoking cessation services.

For help to quit smoking, call the Quitline at 1-866-QUIT-YES. For information on other public health issues, visit the Peoria City/County Health Department website at www.pcchd.org.