Thursday was the Great American Smokeout, and Clarendon Behavioral Health Services joined agencies throughout the nation in encouraging smokers to plan to quit or to make plans to quit smoking.
According to the American Cancer Society, tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States, yet about 42 million Americans still smoke cigarettes, about one in every five adults. As of 2012, there were also 13.4 million cigar smokers and 2.3 million who smoke tobacco in pipes and other dangerous and addictive forms of tobacco.
The health benefits of quitting smoking start immediately from the moment a smoker quits. Health risks are reduced the younger you quit, but quitting at any age can give back years that may be lost by continuing to smoke, according to the Clarendon Behavioral Health Services. Here are some benefits submitted by the agency.
When you quit your body recovers after a certain amount of time:
Quitting is difficult, but you can increase your rate of success with help. Research shows that smokers are more successful in quitting when they have support.
Clarendon Behavioral Health Services can tell you about the steps you can take to quit, provide you with information on telephone quit-lines, and provide general tobacco information.
Call (803) 435-2121 for more information.