FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Linda Evans

Director, Physician & Community Development

760-775-8478 (work) or 760-899-3279 (cell)

Linda.evans@tenethealth.com

JFK – A Tobacco Free Campus – Effective September 1^st

September 1, 2010 - INDIO, CA:  JFK Memorial Hospital goes Tobacco Free effective today.   “We are committed to providing a healthy and safe environment for employees, patients, and visitors,” states Dan Bowers, Chief Executive Officer of JFK.  The hospital has been preparing for months to become Tobacco Free, and as a result, approximately 21 employees have sought assistance to successfully quit smoking. Classes have been held to educate staff and physicians on how to communicate effectively with smokers if presented with them on the JFK campus.  Approximately 46 million Americans have been able to kick the habit.  This is positive health news and a step in the right direction of taking personal responsibility for your health.     

 Coping with dizziness, depression, anxiety, irritability, headaches, tiredness, increased appetite, weight gain and sleep disturbances can be quite difficult when attempting to quit the habit of smoking.  But those symptoms are much easier to manage than the alternative health problems caused by smoking.

 Long-term risks related to smoking range from lung cancer and heart disease, to stomach ulcers, acid reflux, gum disease and serious breathing problems. The negative health impact of smoking can not only steal quality of life, but also shorten a person’s lifespan. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, men and women who smoke lose an average of 14 years of life.

 Quitting smoking is a multi-step process that requires ongoing commitment. Some smokers may find themselves going two steps forward and three steps back. But keep trying.  The immediate benefits of not smoking can help reinforce your commitment to quit.

 You will notice that your:

·                    Breath smells better and stained teeth look whiter.

·                    Yellow fingers and fingernails begin to disappear.

·                    Sense of smell returns and food tastes better.

·                    Hair and clothes smell better.

·                    Skin and overall appearance is brighter.

Need help to quit?  Call the California Smokers Helpline at: 1-800-NO-BUTTS or 1-800-QUIT-NOW or go to the web at www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit_smoking/cessation. 

Breathe easier!

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