From Beaufort County Health Department

In 2011, Beaufort County’s age-adjusted trachea, bronchus and lung cancer death rates were 60 per 100,000. Smoking and tobacco increases your risk for not only cancer, but stroke and heart disease as well. Almost 20 percent of all deaths from heart disease in the U.S. are directly related to cigarette smoking. Beaufort County’s age-adjusted heart disease and stroke death rate is 207.4 (per 100,000) and 55.4 (per 100,000), respectively (N.C. Center for Health Statistics). Beaufort County agencies have implemented policies to help maintain a healthy environment for employees, clients, volunteers and visitors. To help promote healthy lifestyles, county entities require individuals and staff to refrain from the use of tobacco products within 50 feet of the property and while serving clients in any setting or in any county vehicle.

The term tobacco includes but is not limited to cigarettes, cigars, pipes, dip and chew.

It is important for those who use tobacco products to understand the risk they are putting themselves in, as well as those around them. For those who have never used tobacco, especially youth, it is important to understand never starting use is a wise decision.

Nov. 19 is recognized as the Great American Smokeout. This day serves to bring awareness to the smoking addiction, as well as encourage those who may smoke, that it is never too late to quit. In fact, in only 20 minutes after you quit smoking, your heart rate and blood pressure drops. Twelve hours after quitting, the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal (U.S. Surgeon General’s Report). Beaufort County Health Department believes in the benefits of not smoking but also understands how difficult it can be. We want to help and encourage individuals to quit, and therefore, we will be offering free Quit Kits throughout the month of November. You can quit! We can help!

For more information, please contact JaNell Lewis at 252-940-5090 or call 1-800-Quit-Now or www.quitlinenc.com.