Make Thursday, November 21 the First Day of the Rest of Your Life
You’ve heard it before: it’s a good idea to quit smoking. If you would like a day to start, or restart a new habit of not smoking, join The Great American Smokeout on Thursday, November 21 during National Lung Cancer Awareness Month. The American Cancer Society, which has hosted the Great American Smokeout since 1976 to encourage people to quit smoking, is reminding people to use this as a day to make a plan to commit to a tobacco- and smoke-free life year-round.
Approximately 34 million American adults smoke cigarettes, which remains the single largest preventable cause of death and illness in the world. Smoking causes an estimated 480,000 deaths every year, or about 1 in 5 deaths. While the rates of cigarette smoking have declined over the past several decades, from 42% in 1965 to 14% in 2019, the gains have been inconsistent.
“We know that once a person quits, the benefits are almost instant,” says Amy McClary, RN, BSN, patient navigator, Northern Light Lung Cancer Screening Program. “Within 20 minutes of quitting, a person’s heart rate and blood pressure may go back to normal limits for that person. If you are wanting to quit or are ready to quit there are resources available.”
If you’re ready to make a change, The Great American Smokeout, may help you gain momentum. Talk to your primary care provider today for support, or contact the Maine Quit Link by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW for more resources. For more information, to connect with the free telephone quit line, or to access resources to help make a plan to quit, visit https://www.cancer.org.
To learn more about lung cancer screenings at Northern Light locations around Maine visit, https://northernlighthealth.org/EMMCLCS