Published on July 24, 2019

Silver Cross Offers Freedom from Smoking Program Starting Aug. 15

If you or someone you love is a smoker, you know how hard it is to quit. Having a plan to help you succeed is essential.

That’s why beginning Aug. 15, Silver Cross Hospital will offer the American Lung Association’s proven Freedom from Smoking program. The seven-week class will be taught by Silver Cross exercise physiologist and health coach Charles Murray.  

Charles MurrayThe program features weekly meetings, group classes, support and a quit plan with topics that include lifestyle changes to make quitting easier, stress management, avoiding weight gain, and much more. 

If you’re still not sure if now’s the right time to quit, consider these health benefits from the American Cancer Society:

  • 20 minutes after quitting, your heart rate and blood pressure drop.

  • 12 hours after quitting, the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.

  • Two weeks to three months after quitting, your circulation improves and your lung function increases.

  • One to nine months after quitting, coughing and shortness of breath decrease.

  • One year after quitting, the excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of someone who still smokes, and your heart attack risk drops dramatically.

  • Five years after quitting, your risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and bladder is cut in half. Cervical cancer risk falls to that of a non-smoker, and your stroke risk can fall to that of a non-smoker after two years.

“Now’s the time,” Murray explains. “You won’t be alone in your journey to Freedom from Smoking! We’re here to help every step of the way.”

To register for the Freedom from Smoking program at Silver Cross Hospital, visit www.silvercross.org.

If you’re a member of the media and need information about Silver Cross Hospital, please contact Debra Robbins, Director of Marketing & Communications, at 815-300-7562 or drobbins@silvercross.org

Parking Lot P, located on Silver Cross Boulevard, is our designated space for media and TV crews.

Physicians on Silver Cross Hospital’s Medical Staff have expertise in their areas of practice to meet the needs of patients seeking their care. These physicians are independent practitioners on the Medical Staff and are not the agents or employees of Silver Cross Hospital. They treat patients based upon their independent medical judgment and they bill patients separately for their services.