Leade Health Supports National Great American Smokeout on November 16

Every year, smokers across the nation participate in the American Cancer Societyís Great American Smokeout on Thursday, Nov. 16. Leade Health, Inc. ñ a national leader and pioneer in health coaching programs ñ is encouraging all citizens to support smokersí efforts to quit this year.

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death and disability in the nation; according to the Center for Disease Control, smoking accounts for approximately 400,000 deaths in the United States each year.

ìQuitting tobacco is difficult for everyone, but those who have a plan and seek ongoing support are the most likely to be successful in accomplishing their goal to quit,î said Michael D. Mulvihill, president and CEO of Leade Health. ìDespite the research, only one in seven current smokers report having tried any recommended therapies during their last attempt to quit. Leade Healthís program, which uses personal health coaches assigned to each individual, provides the support that people need to quit.î

Leade Health has implemented smoking cessation programs in various states across the nation, serving nearly 34,000 tobacco users. Its award-winning iCanQuit program offers employees a dedicated Health Coach who personally works with an individual for a 12-month period. Leadeís quit rates rank among the highest in the industry, averaging 27 percent at 12 months.

Established in the 1970s, the Great American Smokeout encourages people to stop the use of tobacco and raises awareness of effective ways to quit smoking. The benefits of quitting tobacco are significant and almost immediate. Within 20 minutes of giving up tobacco, elevated blood pressure and pulse decrease; in two days, nerve endings regenerate; in two weeks, circulation improves; in one to nine months fatigue and shortness of breath decrease; and in one year, the risk of a heart attack is cut in half.

Studies show that smokers have increased risk of complications following surgery, take longer to heal from wounds, and are at a greater risk of impotence due to damage to their circulatory systems. Tobacco use is also responsible for 75 percent of all heart disease cases, 30 percent of all cervical and uterine cancer cases and 75 percent of all lung cancer cases.