It’s no secret that smoking is a leading cause of lung cancer, emphysema, bronchitis and even heart attacks and stroke. 

Each year, more than 160,000 people die in the U.S. from lung cancer, and experts believe one in every four deaths from coronary artery disease is related to smoking. Smoking also contributes to cancers of the mouth, larynx, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, bladder and cervix.

Experts also agree that it’s never too late to quit. As part of November’s Lung Cancer Awareness Month activities, Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital is offering a tobacco cessation seminar scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9 in the Brazos Pavilion Conference Center.

“Research shows that quitting smoking at any age provides health benefits,” said Sindhu Nair, M.D., a board-certified hematologist oncologist with Houston Methodist Oncology Partners at Sugar Land. “Not only does quitting reduce the risk of cancer; it also improves blood circulation and supports healthy heart and lung function. It’s definitely worth the effort.”

In fact, studies show that the risk of getting lung cancer can be reduced by as much as 50 percent by quitting. Former smokers who haven’t smoked in 15 years have about the same level of risk of lung cancer as individuals who have never smoked.

“Quitting smoking is not easy, but it can be done with the proper approach and support,” said Nair. “We are fortunate today to have access to a wide variety of nicotine replacement products that can be extremely effective in reducing withdrawal symptoms and allowing people to eventually eliminate tobacco use altogether without having to go ‘cold turkey.’”

Nair will be joined at the seminar by Melodie Roberson from Houston Methodist Wellness Services. The two will share various strategies for quitting smoking or other forms of tobacco use, discuss the benefits of various tobacco cessation products, discuss lung cancer screening criteria and benefits, and answer questions.

Registration is required for this seminar. For more information or to register, visit events.houstonmethodist.org/tobaccocessation-sl or call 281.274.7500.
Visit our Facebook page at fb.com/methodistsugarland for the latest news, events and information.