Quit Tobacco Use, Eliminate Added Risks

Posted 13 April 2012 by asanders & filed under Member News, Newsroom.

Tobacco use causes the most needless deaths in the U.S. About 443,000 deaths are caused by smoking or chewing tobacco. Any person who smokes is more likely to get colds, flu, bronchitis and pneumonia.

But having a long-term illness such as heart disease, asthma, COPD or diabetes makes the risks from tobacco even worse. It makes you more likely to have bad health problems linked to tobacco use.

So how does smoking or chewing tobacco affect these health issues? Here are a few ways:

• Heart disease – It thickens your blood and narrows your blood vessels. This raises blood pressure and the chance for a heart attack or stroke. It can also lead to blood clots being formed.
• Asthma and COPD – It makes it hard for the lungs to get rid of the mucus that can build up in the airways. This can make swelling worse and cause more shortness of breath.
• Diabetes – It can cause problems with eyesight and harm nerves in your eyes. It can also limit blood flow, leading to poor wound healing.

Dealing with any of these long-term health problems can be hard, but it’s even harder if you use tobacco. Quitting any form of tobacco is difficult, but your total health will be better in the long run. You will also lower your chances of having a serious health problem.

Help is available from your doctor and many other sources, including free counseling from the Indiana Quitline, which can be reached at 1-800-QUIT-NOW, as well as medication.
Please make a promise to quit smoking today for yourself and your family — Call MHS today to see how we can help you!