Statewide Iowa (RI) — Nearly 17% of Iowans smoke, and if you’re one of them, you probably already know how hard it is to quit.
Michelle Gilbertson, a wellness education specialist at Emplify Health by Gundersen, says it can be overwhelming trying to beat a nicotine dependency, but it’s far from impossible. She suggests starting small.
For many Iowans, smoking is a crutch to fall back on during times of stress, and in social situations, especially when you’re out drinking.
Quitting nicotine is hard, and Gilbertson says you shouldn’t be afraid to seek out the help of a professional.
State health officials say tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death for Iowans, taking the lives of more than 5,100 adults each year.
Money is also a big motivating factor to quit smoking, as a pack of cigarettes is now averaging about $10 in Iowa.
An Iowa HHS report says the estimated annual health care costs in Iowa directly related to tobacco use totals nearly $1.3 billion.
An American Lung Association survey finds for every 100 Iowans who smoke, 70 of them want to quit, while 52 of them tried to quit in the past year.
Emplify Health by Gundersen has clinics in Calmar, Decorah, Fayette, Lansing, Postville, and Waukon, as well as a hospital in West Union.
KIWA Staff Photo
