Holiday classics often mention peace, joy, and comfort, but the sad truth is that this season can be a very stressful time.
Whether it’s holiday shopping, travel, or cooking, stressors can sometimes get the best of us, and even keep us from making healthy changes … like quitting tobacco.
While using tobacco might make users feel better about stress levels in the short term, the stress usually comes back afterwards and often at a higher level since it’s combined with nicotine withdrawal.
Stress, however, is just the tip of the iceberg compared to tobacco use consequences. According to the Center for Disease Control & Prevention, cigarettes alone cause more than 480,000 deaths in the United States each year.
In fact, more women die each year from lung cancer than breast cancer. Another surprising statistic is that more citizens in the United States have died from nicotine use than all those who’ve passed away from previous wars.
While quitting might be difficult at first, the benefits really pay off down the road. According to the American Cancer Society, quitting tobacco lowers your risk of diabetes, allows blood vessels to work better and improves heart and lunch health.
You do not have to do it alone. Free help is available through the Indiana Tobacco Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW or by talking with your local doctor or health department. They can set you up for multiple free counseling sessions via phone or web to assist with tobacco cessation.
Contact one of these resources today and make your plan for a tobacco free holiday season. Merry Christmas will be much more merry for you and your loved ones if you can quit smoking now.
Dr. Bobb Kenneth, Seymour