Tanner News

Tanner Health System’s Get Healthy, Live Well is encouraging tobacco-users to commit or recommit to healthy, tobacco-free lives by participating in the American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout on Nov. 16. 

“The most important thing smokers can do to improve their health is to quit cigarettes and other forms of tobacco,” said Phyllis Head, community outreach coordinator at Get Healthy, Live Well. “As leaders in promoting health and wellness, we are showing our support for people who take those first steps toward making a plan to quit.” 

Tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States. About half of all Americans who keep smoking will die because of the habit. Each year more than 480,000 people in the United States die from illnesses related to tobacco use. This means smoking causes about 1 out of 5 deaths in the U.S. annually. 

Yet, because tobacco is one of the strongest addictions one can have, about 40 million American adults still smoke. Doctors and public health officials used to encourage smokers to quit cold turkey on a single day. Today, the evidence shows that quitting is a process. It starts with a plan, often takes time and requires a lot of support. 

Get Healthy, Live Well is partnering with the American Cancer Society, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide support as people make their plan to quit. To register for a free Freshstart tobacco cessation class at Tanner, visit Get Healthy, Live Well’s calendar of events. 

“Get Healthy, Live Well wants to help the people in our community be healthy and happy,” Head said. “During this year’s Great American Smokeout, we hope everyone will join us — and encourage their friends, family and colleagues to join us — in committing or recommitting to year-around, tobacco-free lives.”

For more information about the Great American Smokeout, visit cancer.org/smokeout or call 1.800.227.2345.