HHS HealthBeat (February 15, 2010)

Beating smoking

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

You can prevent the leading cause of preventable disease and death. Don’t smoke – or, if you do smoke, quit.

Smokers know it’s easier said than done. And survey data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show it.  The proportion of U.S. adults who smoke has stalled.  Adult smoking rates have remained virtually the same since 2004.

Even though quitting isn’t easy, here’s what CDC’s Dr. Matthew McKenna says about quitting:

[Dr. Matthew McKenna speaks]``There are more effective treatments available than ever before. Places to start for getting help are with their doctor, to talk about whether counseling and medications might be helpful. But they can also call 1-800-QUIT-NOW and get professional counseling services.’’

The study is in 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 Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: May 7, 2011