Live Well and Breathe Free on the Fourth of July

The Fourth of July celebrates our independence – it is a day to honor all Americans, those who have served, those who are serving and those who will serve so we can breathe free. Celebrate your independence and take a deep breath towards Living Well.

As a smoker, your ability to take that deep breath on July Fourth won't be nearly as satisfying as if you were tobacco-free. From the very first puff, the more than 4,000 chemicals contained in a standard cigarette begin to damage the lining of your windpipe and prevent your lungs from performing its main function: taking in oxygen and removing carbon dioxide.

The good news is that by quitting now, you can fully experience July Fourth. Within 20 minutes of quitting smoking your blood pressure and pulse rate drop to normal levels, within 8 hours carbon monoxide and oxygen levels return to normal and within just a few months coughing and shortness of breath are decreased.

Imagine your firework-filled July Fourth spent with family and friends watching a local parade or having a barbecue, all without a cloud of tobacco smoke hanging over you. Live well, break free from the grips of tobacco and don't cloud up your Independence Day.

Be a strong and active person, you owe it to yourself to breathe in all of the moments on one of America's most celebrated holidays, and Quit Tobacco – Make Everyone Proud is ready to help.

Visit UCanQuit2.org to chat with trained smoking cessation coaches, develop your own quit plan and learn all you need to know about taking that step to becoming tobacco independent for the Fourth of July.