Smoking affects the long-term health of smokers and nonsmokers alike, and has been identified as the number one health risk in California. That’s why Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital is urging smokers to heed the advice of physicians and the Surgeon General and make smoking a thing of the past.
“With smoking being one of the top health risk factors associated with cancer today, we believe that quitting is the most important step an individual can take to manage their health,” reports Peter Jaeger, RRT-NPS- TTS, Henry Mayo’s Smoking Cessation Program clinical manager. “But we also know that quitting smoking can be a challenge, so we offer a tobacco cessation program tailored specifically for the needs of each individual, including behavior modification to help minimize smoking urges and numerous coping strategies.”
Henry Mayo’s tobacco cessation program has been in existence since 2004. Each participant is individually assessed and treated privately by a trained program counselor with a goal of becoming tobacco free. Several different methods for changing smoking behavior are explored so that individuals can find approaches that work best for them, and a combination of medication and counseling is used to help improve the rate of success.
“Making the decision to quit smoking can have immediate benefits,” Jaeger explained. “Oxygen levels increase and carbon monoxide levels decrease within eight hours. And the ability to smell and taste is usually restored within two to three days.”
Jaeger added that long-term benefits include increased lung function, circulation improvement, and reducing cancer risks.
“The benefits of tobacco cessation are not limited to just the smoker,” reported Jaeger. “Cancer risks are associated to second-hand smoke, as well as other breathing disorders and health conditions. An individual can make a big impact in the health of those around him when he quits smoking.”
Don’t wait until it is too late. For more information on Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital’s Tobacco Cessation Program, call 661-253-8243 or visit www.henrymayo.com .