PARIS, TN – Around 8.6 million people in the US smoke with tobacco use being the leading preventable cause of death. Henry County Medical Center would like to help you take action and help you take control of your health with upcoming Smoking Cessation Classes.

The Paris and Henry County Healthcare Foundation and Henry County Medical Center will be offering the American Lung Association’s Freedom from Smoking program starting on August 7, 2018 4:30pm – 6pm. This seven week class will help you learn how to overcome your tobacco addiction so you can enjoy the benefits of better health, extra money in your pocket and healthier relationships. Classes are on Tuesdays in the HCMC Private Dining Room, except for week 4 that will also meet on Thursday. Schedule is as follows:

August 7
August 14
August 21
August 23 – Thursday
August 28
August 31
September 4
September 11

Stopping smoking is the single most important step you can take to improve the length and quality of your life. It’s never too late to quit! In fact, you cut your risk for heart disease in half just one year after quitting. Even quitting at age 50 reduces your risk of dying from a smoking-related disease by 50 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Did you know?

Cigarettes contain more than 7,000 chemicals. At least 69 are known to cause cancer.
On average, cigarette smokers die 10 years earlier than nonsmokers.
Smoking is directly responsible for 90 percent of lung cancer deaths.
For every person who dies from smoking, at least 30 (more than 16 million Americans) are living with a smoking-related illness.
Secondhand smoke causes ear infections, asthma attacks, and respiratory symptoms and infections in children and raises their risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). In adults, secondhand smoke causes heart disease, lung cancer and stroke. In fact, living with a smoker increases nonsmokers’ chance of developing lung cancer by 20 to 30 percent by exposing them to many of the toxic chemicals released from burning tobacco products and exhaled smoke.
Smoking raises blood pressure and stresses the heart, increasing your risk for heart disease.
Health experts are concerned that electronic cigarettes are “a gateway to nicotine addiction and, ultimately, smoking, particularly for young people.” Electronic cigarettes pose a risk to unborn babies whose mothers smoke (or vape) and increase nonsmokers’ exposure to nicotine and other toxins, according to a report by the World Health Organization.
More people are addicted to the nicotine in cigarettes than to any other drug. Nicotine may be as addictive as heroin, cocaine or alcohol.

Do One Thing: Although many people quit on their own, it generally takes multiple tries. You’re more likely to be successful if you get a little help. So send up your own smoke signal: Declare your intention to quit and tap into one of these proven quit-smoking resources.

Call the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) 1-800-QUIT-NOW hotline (800-784-8669) or visit the CDC’s Quit Smoking Resources or I’m Ready to Quit resources page
Join the American Lung Association’s Freedom from Smoking program
Talk to your doctor about smoking cessation medications and local quit-smoking programs

To sign up for the class, call the HCMC FindLine at 731-644-3463 or go online at www.hcmc-tn.org.

Located in Paris, TN, Henry County Medical Center is a progressive, integrated healthcare organization committed to serving the healthcare needs of Henry County and the adjoining region. Including a 142-bed hospital and other facilities, the medical center provides a variety of outpatient services, as well as inpatient care. Henry County Medical Center is a county-owned and operated nonprofit institution. For more information: www.hcmc-tn.org.