Austin Regional Clinic encourages you to quit smoking to avoid serious health risks and reap the benefits of healthier lungs. Please read the information below and talk to your physician about what you can do to quit smoking and live longer.
Risks associated with smoking:
- heart disease: doubles the risk of developing
- lung cancer: responsible for 90% of cases
- osteoporosis: increases bone loss and risk for hip fracture
- other risks: can lead to premature skin wrinkling, blindness, stroke, pregnancy complications and impotence
Benefits of quitting:
- increase life span: people who quit smoking before age 50 reduce their risk of death over the next 15 years by 50%
- improve quality of life: people who quit smoking have more energy, breathe easier, save money and reduce the risk of lung cancer, other cancers, heart attack, stroke and chronic lung disease.
Things to help you quit smoking:
- Set a quit date
- Throw cigarettes away
- Spend time with non-smokers
- Tell family, friends and co-workers you plan to quit and ask for support
- Keep busy
- Try new activities to help you manage stress
- Join a support group or smoking cessation (quit smoking) program
- Consider nicotine gum or patches
- Talk to you doctor about prescription meds to help you quit
Free resources in the Austin area to help you quit smoking:
QUITLINE
American Cancer Society's free telephone counseling service
Available 24/7 - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Call Toll-Free 1-877-937-7848 (YES-QUIT)
Nicotine Anonymous: support group style programs
Appointments Monday & Thursday Evening, 7:00-8:00 pm
(512) 467-2795 or (512) 345-6639
Smoking cessation web sites: