Mahaska Health Partnership to hold Freedom from Smoking Clinic
Mahaska Health Partnership
OSKALOOSA – Mahaska Health Partnership Cardiopulmonary Services will be offering an eight-week Freedom from Smoking Clinic beginning September 13.
Freedom from Smoking is a clinic offered by the American Lung Association that emphasizes long-term freedom from smoking. According to certified teacher Kai Schwab, each smoker who joins this clinic will develop an individual plan for quitting and will learn the latest updates on stress management and pharmaceutical interventions.
A free informational session will be held Tuesday, September 6 from 4:30 to 6:30 pm in Cardiopulmonary Services, located on the 1st floor of the hospital (entrance #2) on the MHP campus in Oskaloosa.
“I encourage anyone even thinking about quitting to attend this session,” Schwab stressed. “We’ll be discussing how the classes are structured and what is required for people who decide to attend.”
Most people realize smoking can lead to cancer, however; the American Cancer Society says that smoking causes pneumonia and increases your risk of getting emphysema and chronic bronchitis, grouped together as COPD. They also explain that smokers are twice as likely to die from heart-attacks as are non-smokers and smoking is a major risk factor for peripheral vascular disease or narrowing of the blood vessels.
“Everyone knows there are dangerous health risks associated with smoking,” Schwab said. “Even if people have tried to quit before, they should continue trying to quit. Nicotine is addictive and it is hard to quit. The Freedom from Smoking program can help with proven steps to help make quitting easier and more successful.”
The Freedom from Smoking classes will be offered over eight weeks with class meeting every Tuesday, beginning September 13 through October 25, from 4:30 to 6:30 pm on the MHP campus in Oskaloosa. For more information and to register for the Freedom from Smoking classes offered by MHP, attend the information session on Tuesday, September 6 from 4:30 to 6:30 or contact Schwab at 641-672-3163.
