Want to Quit Smoking? Here's Help

Want to quit smoking?

Nov. 21 is the Great American Smokeout, a day designated by the American Cancer Society as the day to kick the habit.

The Cook County Department of Public Health offers the following advice:

Quit Today. Tobacco harms nearly every organ in your body. However, within minutes of quitting your heart rate and blood pressure will drop and within hours the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.

Keep a Smoke-free Home. A smoke-free home protects your family from second-hand smoke and makes children less likely to smoke, even if their parents smoke. Smoking around kids can trigger asthma attacks, cause respiratory problems and increase incidences of ear infections. For a child who is exposed to secondhand smoke from birth, by age five, they will have inhaled more than 100 packs of cigarettes.

Encourage your kids not to smoke. Kids are very vulnerable to tobacco advertising and most adult, long time smokers admit to starting their habit before the age of 18. Learn more at www.thatsjustnasty.com.

The Cook County Public Health Department encourages you to share your success story on Twitter: @CookCoHealth using #ForeverQuitter. 

For assistance on quitting smoking, call the Illinois Tobacco Quitline at 1-866 QUIT YES or visit www.quityes.org.