Not Too Late To Spring into a Healthier Lifestyle with “Quit Smoking Now” Classes at Hendersonville Medical Center

HENDERSONVILLE, TN (April 2, 2007) - Research indicates that quitting smoking is one of the most beneficial lifestyle changes you can make to improve and extend your life.  Smoking costs the United States over $150 billion each year in health-care costs including $81.9 billion in mortality-related productivity loses and $75.5 billion in excess medical expenditures.  Quitting smoking has immediate as well as long-term benefits, reducing risks for stroke, cancers, coronary heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ulcer, peripheral artery disease, and low-birth-weight infants.

On Monday, April 16th, Hendersonville Medical Center will begin a new 8-class smoking cessation series called “Quit Smoking Now.”  The classes will be held from 6:30-8:00 p.m. in the medical center’s Learning Resource Center.

The class addresses the reasons you smoke and helps you develop a personalized plan for quitting.  Led by instructors professionally trained by the American Lung Association, the classes create a supportive environment with an emphasis on long-term freedom from smoking, with each participant developing an individual plan for quitting. This group approach uses positive thinking, alternate behaviors, one-on-one help, rewards and group support.  The classes also include the latest skills for stress management, weight control, assertive communication and exercise—skills to help participants succeed.

"It used to be that going 'cold turkey' was the only way to quit smoking and many smokers are not able to quite using that method," said Brian Clyburn, certified ALS instructor for the “Stop Smoking Now” class. "In this class, we review the many approaches available for a smoker to kick the habit and develop an individual plan for each participant so that they are successful with quitting."

Registration is required as space is limited; persons may call TriStar MedLine at 342-1919 or 1-800-242-5662 for more information or to sign-up.  For people who choose to register for the program, seven classes will follow the orientation program.  The cost for the full program is $50, which is fully refunded to participants who complete all eight classes.

Hendersonville Medical Center, part of the TriStar Health System, is a 110-bed community-based medical center with comprehensive medical and surgical programs including Obstetrics, Cardiology, Orthopaedics and Neurosurgery services.  Fully accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, Hendersonville Medical Center remains the only Accredited Chest Pain Center in Sumner County.  Portland Medical Center, a facility of Hendersonville Medical Center, joined the TriStar Health System in April 2006 and together, we are proudly serving the healthcare needs of Sumner County.

For more information about the services offered and health plans accepted by Hendersonville Medical Center, Portland Medical Center or TriStar Health System, call MedLine at 342-1919, toll-free outside of Nashville at 1-800-242-5662, or visit the website at TriStarHealth.com.