HHS HealthBeat (January 9, 2012)

Commit to quit

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Charles Copus with HHS HealthBeat.

Nearly 7 in 10 smokers say they want to quit. But fewer than 1 of them will do so successfully this year. Committing can be hard, but support can help -- from a friend, counseling, medication, and your health care provider. The best medicine to help you clear the habit; All of the above.

Dr. Ann Malarcher of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

“The combination of both medication and counseling is the most effective for quitting smoking. And they double or triple your chances of quitting. Counseling does work including individual, group and telephone counseling.” (13 seconds)

Quitting has immediate health benefits and reduces your of your cardiovascular disease.

An article on quitting smoking is in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Charles Copus.

Last revised: January 9, 2012