A message from the Blaine County Health department: It's never too late to quit tobacco use

Jana McPherson-Hauer, RN, is Lead Local Health Official and Public Health Nurse in Blaine County.

The average adult takes 15 to 20 breaths a minute — more than 20,000 per day, according to the American Lung Association. Healthy lungs are important to deliver clean air to our bodies’ organs and tissues, which convert oxygen into fuel to support vital body functions. When a smoker lights up, it affects not only the health of the lungs, but also the body structures that depend on the lungs for oxygen.

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death, claiming the lives of more than 4...