Quit Smoking and Start 2016 Off Healthier

As the new year begins, now is a great time to make a fresh start and finally commit yourself to getting healthy. If you’re a smoker, the new year is a perfect time to quit smoking and the Healthy St. Mary’s Partnership, supported by MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital, wants to help.

Nearly seven in 10 smokers in the United States want to quit smoking and overcome their addiction. There are free classes scheduled in the coming months where smokers who want to quit can get extra support and increase their chances of success exponentially.

One class is held on Saturdays from 10 to 11 am starting Jan. 9, 2016, at the Lexington Park Housing Authority building. Another class is held on Tuesdays from 6 to 7 pm starting Jan. 12, 2016, at the St. Mary’s County Health Department. For information about the classes and to register for this free program, call 301-475-4330 or 301-475-4074.

Even if you don’t take a quitting class, you can get counseling 24 hours a day over the phone at 1-800-QUIT-NOW. The classes and 24-hour hotline are funded by the Maryland Cigarette Restitution Fund.

The use of tobacco products and exposure to second-hand smoke combined represent the number one cause of preventable deaths in the United States. Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body, causing many diseases and affecting the health of smokers in general. Each year, approximately 443,000 Americans die from tobacco-related illnesses. Annually, tobacco use is estimated to cost the United States $193 billion in direct medical expenses and lost productivity. Quitting smoking has immediate as well as long-term benefits for smokers and their loved ones. Community-level action is needed to effectively help tobacco users quit use of cigarettes and other tobacco products, prevent youth and others from starting to use tobacco products, and to help nonsmokers avoid exposure to second-hand smoke.

Smoking is still the No. 1 cause of preventable death and disease in the United States. Quitting now can cut your risk for diseases caused by smoking and leave you feeling stronger and healthier.

For more information and one-click access to a full list of resources available at MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital, visit their Leader Page.