Smoking is the single-most preventable cause of death and illness in the world. It’s estimated that smoking causes about 480,000 deaths in the U.S. each year as it is a risk factor for stroke and heart disease as well as lung cancer and respiratory illnesses.

The Great American Smokeout, which takes place on the third Thursday of every November, is a great place to begin the journey of being smoke free. Piedmont Macon urges smokers to quit starting on Thursday, Nov. 20, if not sooner.  

“Quitting smoking will improve your lung function and circulation. Most people who quit feel that their breathing improves in just a few weeks,” said Charles Teames, M.D., a resident physician at Piedmont Macon Medical Center. “Once you quit smoking, your risk of heart attack, stroke, COPD and lung cancer all decline rapidly. Five years after quitting, your risk of death from any of these conditions falls by nearly 50 percent.”

Quitting smoking not only benefits you but also everyone around you. Smoke exposure causes many serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke and lung cancer in nonsmoking adults. In children, secondhand smoke can cause sudden infant death syndrome, acute respiratory infections, ear infections, and more frequent and severe asthma attacks. 

“Smoking, and that includes the use of e-cigarettes, can cause serious damage to your lungs and arteries,” said Dr. Teames. “It’s important to do all you can to reverse that damage and stop it from progressing further. The best way to do that is to decide to quit smoking now.” 

It can be difficult to quit smoking, especially if you have been smoking for an extended period, but those who have support on their journey tend to have better success. For more information on resources to quit smoking visit https://www.piedmont.org/patients-visitors/stop-smoking.