Tobacco use kills more than 480,000 Americans every year from lung cancer, heart disease, COPD and other conditions resulting from smoking. There are more than 7,000 chemicals in cigarettes, cigars and cigarillos. Nearly 70 of these are cancer-causing chemicals known as carcinogens, including carbon monoxide, arsenic, DDT, formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide. Nicotine is the addictive substance in a cigarette that can make it difficult for people to quit.
Because we know quitting isn’t easy, MercyOne Clinton Medical Center is reaching out to help people in our community stop smoking. In addition to working with patients while they’re in the hospital, MercyOne offers free smoking cessation classes that are open to the public.
“Freedom from Smoking®” is a seven-week course developed by the American Lung Association. The next seven-week program begins in January at MercyOne Clinton, 1410 N. 4th St., with the first session on Thursday, Jan. 30 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Subsequent sessions will be held each Thursday through March 12. Participants are able to work together to prepare for a “quit” date of Feb. 20. MercyOne offers the Freedom from Smoking class as a community service for FREE because we care about your health.
For more information or to sign up for the course, please call 563-244-5801.