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A beach day can feel like the perfect escape. “I love the fresh air, and the ocean, and the water is beautiful,” said Tara Bennett who visited from Maryland. However, the pungent smell of smoke can quickly change the experience. “That's not my favorite atmosphere to be around with all the cigarette smoke and having a toddler and being around that is kind of yucky.”
It's also dangerous. “Lung cancer is the second leading cause of cancer, both in men and women worldwide. It is the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women worldwide as well. Most patients with lung cancer have been former smokers or are current smokers,” said Pulmonologist and Critical Care Physician Dr. Krunal Patel.
That’s one reason why smoking is banned at many of our area’s most popular beaches, including Fort Myers, Sanibel, Lee County, and Naples. “That's incredible to be able to just come here and not having to worry about being around any of that,” said Bennett.
The ban doesn’t just stop at cigarettes. It also includes vaping. “Anything that doesn't belong in your lungs can still cause a problem,” said Pulmonologist and Critical Care Physician Dr. Parmeet Saini. “In the long term, side effects are very poorly understood...Anything pro-inflammatory is not good over time.”
Smoking and vaping are also banned in Lee County public parks. A cleaner way to enjoy Southwest Florida’s natural beauty.
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Lee Health in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of health care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For more than 100 years, we’ve been providing our community with personalized preventative health services and primary care to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries.
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