BLOOMINGTON – Fall is a time for tasty foods, festivals, and fun. It can also be a great time to turn over a new leaf by quitting tobacco.
“Smoking cessation has many benefits for your health, but one that isn’t as widely talked about is that quitting smoking can significantly improve your sense of taste and smell,” said IU Health Community Health Tobacco Prevention Coordinator Kristen Terry. “It also lowers your heart rate and can reduce coughing and shortness of breath.”
Terry shares that those are just the tip of the “Why to quit tobacco” list. According to the American Cancer Society:
- The risk of a heart attack drops dramatically 1 to 2 years after quitting
- The risk of mouth, throat, and voice box cancers is cut in half 5 to 10 years after quitting
- The risk of lung cancer is about half that of smokers 10 years after quitting
- The risk of coronary heart disease is close to that of nonsmokers 15 years after quitting
The American Cancer Society shares more benefits of quitting on its website.
“October is such a fun time of year, and it can be even more enjoyable when you’re not craving your next nicotine hit,” says Terry. “Take the first step and say, ‘it’s time to quit.’”
Call 1.800.Quit.Now for help from a trained quit coach and to get started on a quit plan if you don’t already have one. You can also call this number for free, evidence-based tobacco cessation support. Visit QuitNowIndiana.com to learn more.
For local tobacco prevention and control efforts, visit the Tobacco Free Coalition of Monroe County on Facebook.
