This month’s
System News covers Penn Medicine’s research efforts on the mysteries of tobacco dependence, the reasons adolescents begin smoking, and how basic science may determine what strategies help people to toss their tobacco. Are you or your dependents trying to quit smoking? Penn Medicine’s
WellFocused tobacco cessation program may be just the resource you were looking for.
In an effort to promote a culture of health and well-being at PPMC, the WellFocused team has removed all financial barriers to give you the best chance for success! The 13-week program offers free telephonic counseling, free nicotine replacement products (patch, lozenge, or gum) mailed to your home, and access to a judgment-free “quit smoking” coach who understands and respects your needs, circumstances, and health status. To learn more, check out the UPHS HR and You website.
“No matter how logical or strong-willed you are in other aspects of your life, or how much you know about health and wellness, nicotine is powerfully addicting and hijacks your behavior,” said Frank T. Leone, MD, MS, medical director of the Comprehensive Smoking Treatment Program of the Harron Lung Center. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of. Every person who has ever quit smoking was sure it would never work — right before it did! There are ways to manage that feeling before you quit so it makes the change easier. Talk to a pro to find out what you’ve been missing.”
Research has shown that if you choose a “quitting date” in the next 30 days and stick to it, you’ll be more likely to end your tobacco use for good. But why quit?
- 20 minutes after quitting: heart rate and blood pressure drop
- 12 hours: carbon monoxide level drops to normal.
- 2 weeks to 3 months: circulation improves and lung function increases
- 1 to 9 months: coughing and shortness of breath decrease; cilia (tiny hair-like structures in the lungs) regain normal function, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce infection
- 1 year: excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker’s
- 5 years: risks of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and bladder are cut in half; cervical cancer risk falls to that of a nonsmoker; stroke risk can fall to that of a non-smoker after 2 to 5 years
- 10 years: lung cancer death rate is about half that of a smoker; risks of cancer of the larynx and pancreas decrease
- 15 years: risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker’s