Piedmont: Make This the Year You Quit Smoking

From Piedmont Newnan Hospital Press Release

Smoking is the single, largest, preventable cause of death and illness in the world. It’s estimated that smoking causes about 480,000 deaths each year as it is a risk factor for stroke and heart disease as well as lung cancer and respiratory illnesses.

The Great American Smokeout, which takes place on the third Thursday of every November, is a great place to begin the journey of being smoke free. Vijay Patel, M.D., a pulmonologist with Piedmont Physicians Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine Newnan, urges smokers to quit starting on Thursday, Nov. 20, if not sooner.

“Quitting smoking will improve your lung function and circulation. You’ll likely feel a difference within a few weeks,” said Dr. Patel. “Your risk of having a heart attack is also reduced once you quit smoking and your risk of heart disease decreases as well.”

Quitting smoking doesn’t just benefit you, but also everyone around you. Smoke exposure causes many serious health problems – such as heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer – in nonsmoking adults. In children, secondhand smoke can cause sudden infant death syndrome, acute respiratory infections and ear infections, and more frequent and severe asthma attacks.

“Smoking, and that includes the use of e-cigarettes, can cause a lot of damage,” said Dr. Patel. “It’s important to do all you can to either reverse that damage or stop it from progressing further.”

It can be difficult to quit smoking, especially if you have been smoking for an extended period, but those who have support on their journey tend to have better success. For more information on resources to quit smoking visit https://www.piedmont.org/patients-visitors/stop-smoking.