Function: Health education works to encourage healthy lifestyles and wellness through educating individuals and communities about behaviors that promote, maintain and improve health and prevent diseases and other health problems.

Healthy Living: Eating well balanced nutritious foods, getting regular exercise and managing stress are all necessary components to live a healthier life and reduce or prevent chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer. Please check out the following links for more information on healthy living.

Tobacco: Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. On average smokers die 10 years earlier than non-smokers. Smoking causes heart disease, cancer, stroke and lung diseases. The Carter County Health Center offers individual smoking / tobacco cessation classes free of charge.

If an individual is a Medicaid recipient they can qualify to get nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) such as nicotine patches, medication, gum and other products free for a 12 week period. Participants will need to get a prescription from their physician for NRT. Two lifetime quit attempts at 12 weeks each are allowed for an individual on Medicaid.

Topics covered at the meetings include:

– Knowing if you are ready to quit smoking
– Medicines to help you quit smoking
– Lifestyle changes that make quitting easier
– Preparing for quit day
– Coping strategies
– Avoiding weight gain
– Developing a new self- image