INTEGRIS Health is proud to join this national effort on Thursday, Nov. 20 by encouraging Oklahomans to take the first step toward quitting or to support someone who is ready to make that change.
Each year on the third Thursday in November, the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout provides an opportunity for people who smoke to commit to living tobacco-free. INTEGRIS Health is proud to join this national effort on Thursday, Nov. 20 by encouraging Oklahomans to take the first step toward quitting or to support someone who is ready to make that change.
“Quitting smoking is one of the most powerful steps a person can take to improve their health,” says Casey Sullivan, M.D., a cardiologist at INTEGRIS Health Heart Hospital. “Within just 20 minutes of quitting, your heart rate and blood pressure begin to drop. After one year, your risk of heart disease is cut in half. It’s never too late for your heart, or your overall health, to benefit from quitting.”
The Great American Smokeout is held during Lung Cancer Awareness Month, an important time to spotlight the nation’s leading cause of cancer deaths. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cigarette smoking remains the leading cause of preventable disease, disability and death in the United States, claiming more than 480,000 lives each year. In Oklahoma alone, nearly 1 in 5 adults still smoke, contributing to higher rates of cancer, heart disease and respiratory illness.
Smoking impacts nearly every organ in the body, but the lungs are among the first to experience harm. “Smoking damages the airways and lung tissue, increasing the risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer and other respiratory illnesses,” says Matthew Abbott, M.D., a pulmonologist at INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Baptist Pulmonary Medicine. "Stopping smoking not only slows the decline in lung function for patients with COPD, but more importantly, it significantly lowers the risk of death. No other intervention has demonstrated such a profound impact on survival in COPD,” he adds.
INTEGRIS Health encourages everyone to take advantage of the Great American Smokeout as a starting point for lasting change. If you need help, resources are available. Call the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW. They provide free cessation services, to include counseling and medication.
