Prevention Connection - Gundersen Health System

Quit tobacco for you and those you love
Tobacco-related deaths continue to be the largest
preventable cause of death in the United States.
Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do to
improve and protect your health.
Did you know…
• Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,800 chemicals,
69 of which are known to cause cancer.
• Smoking is directly responsible for about 90 percent
of lung cancer deaths and about 80-90 percent of
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
deaths, such as those caused by emphysema and
chronic bronchitis.
• Smoking is a major factor in coronary heart disease
and stroke.
• Smoking is linked to slow healing of wounds, infertility
and peptic ulcer disease.
• Smoking can cause pneumonia.
• Smoking in pregnancy accounts for an estimated 20-
30 percent of low-birth weight babies, up to 14 percent
of premature deliveries and about 10 percent of
infant deaths.
• Smoking by parents is also associated with a wide
range of adverse effects in children, including:
– making asthma worse
– increased frequency of colds and ear infections
– increase in sudden infant death syndrome
(SIDS)
• Secondhand smoke causes:
– irritation of the eyes, nose and throat
– irritation of lungs leading to coughing, excessive
phlegm and chest discomfort
– an estimated 22,700-69,600 deaths per year
from heart disease in adult non-smokers
– about 3,000 deaths each year from lung cancer
in non-smokers
– lower respiratory tract infections in children,
often resulting in hospitalization
Resources to help you quit or to help you support
someone who is quitting
Tobacco quit lines – A quit coach can provide you with
information and resources to help you quit for good. The
service is free and confidential. You may be able to tap
into free product resources as well.
In Wisconsin (800) QUIT NOW; (800) 784-8669
In Minnesota (888) 354-PLAN; (888) 354-7526
In Iowa (866) U CAN TRY; (866) 822-6879 or
(800) QUIT NOW; (800) 784-8669
Medical provider – Talk with your doctor about quitting
smoking. Your doctor can help you set up a quit plan and
prescribe medications to help you with the quitting
process. There is no magic pill, but products are available
to make quitting more manageable.
Gundersen Lutheran resources – If you need help finding
a medical provider, call Community and Preventive
Care Services at (608) 775-5442 or (800) 362-9567, ext
55442. We can help you through the process.
Source: American Lung Association
Many people quit smoking to protect their health or have
a chance for better health. Improved health may be your
motivation, along with many other important outcomes.
Discover the reason that matters to you, and you’ve taken
the first step.
6