More than 40 million Americans smoke cigarettes, even though tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of death in the U.S. 

To help lower this number and the heightened risk for disease caused by cigarette smoking, the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout is Thursday, Nov. 16. This annual observance is designed to encourage smokers to make a plan to quit.

According to the American Cancer Society:

• Your blood pressure and heart rate begin to decline within 20 minutes of quitting smoking.
• Within a few days of quitting, the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
• Within two weeks to three months, your circulation improves and your lung function increases.
• Within ten years of quitting smoking, the risk of dying from lung cancer is about half of a person who is still smoking. The risk of cancer of the larynx (voice box) and pancreas decreases.
• Smoking can reduce your lung capacity, making it more difficult to get the physical activity you need to stay healthy. Smoking also reduces your good cholesterol (HDL).
• Quitting smoking today will lower your risk for heart disease, aneurysms, blood clots, strokes, and peripheral artery disease (PAD).

Additional information: You Can Quit Smoking: Here's How

Bladder problems can disrupt day-to-day life. When people have bladder problems, they may avoid social settings and have a more challenging time getting tasks done at home or work. Common bladder problems include urinary tract infections, urinary incontinence, and urinary retention.

Some signs of a bladder problem may include:

• Inability to hold urine or leaking urine
• Needing to urinate more frequently or urgently
• Cloudy urine
• Blood in the urine
• Pain or burning before, during, or after urinating
• Trouble starting or having a weak stream while urinating
• Trouble emptying the bladder

If you experience any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor.

Additional information: 15 Tips To Keep Your Bladder Healthy

Foxhall Internists will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23, and on Friday, Nov. 24.

If you need to reach us after the office is closed to discuss an urgent matter, you may also use the main phone number, and you will be connected to our answering service. If for some reason you are not directed automatically to the answering service or you are not able to get through to our office during normal business hours, please contact our answering service directly by calling (301) 446-2541. If you have an emergency, please call 911.