Smoking is responsible for 1 in 5 deaths in Canada!
This is because smoking causes the following conditions:
– Nicotine addiction
– Risk to mother and baby during pregnancy
– Heart attack and sudden coronary death, stroke, and other vascular diseases
– Disease of air passages: sinusitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, decreased lung function, chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), and more
frequent chest complications after general anesthetic
– Cancer of the lung, larynx, throat, tongue, mouth, esophagus, pancreas, kidney, bladder, and cervix
– Aggravation of peptic ulcers, disease of the esophagus, and Crohn’s disease
– Increase of occupational risks: asbestos, nickel, chromate, silica
– Impaired wound healing: white blood cells are affected
– Decreased blood and oxygen supply which can reduce ability to perform physically
Unfortunately, knowing the risks of smoking does not always make quitting any easier. That is why we offer our patients who smoke the additional resources of smoking cessation counseling. Our pharmacists, Nita and Beverly, who offer medications, advice, and strategies tailored to fit each individual, run this program. It also involves regular follow-up to help patients with any problems faced along the way, and to help maintain motivation.
If you are ready to make steps to quit smoking, please book an appointment with the pharmacist. This program has already helped many of our patients to stop smoking and improve their health. You could be next!