Thursday, November 20, is the 33rd Great American Smokeout, and the American Cancer Society continues its legacy of providing free resources to help smokers quit. The Great American Smokeout was inaugurated in 1976 to inspire and encourage smokers to quit for one day. Now, 44.2 percent of the 45.3 million Americans who smoke have attempted to quit for at least one day in the past year, and the Great American Smokeout remains a great opportunity to encourage people to commit to making a long-term plan to quit for good.
With all the resources available to help smokers quit, there has never been a better time to quit smoking, and the American Cancer Society is here to help. If you smoke, make a plan and set the Great American Smokeout, November 20, 2008, as your quit date. By calling the American Cancer Society Quitline® at 1-800-227-2345, people who plan to quit will be able to speak with a trained counselor and receive free, confidential counseling.
Studies have found that Quitline can more than double a person’s chances of successfully quitting tobacco. Callers to Quitline can be connected with smoking cessation resources in their communities, social support groups, Internet resources, and medication assistance referrals. Since its inception in 2000, Quitline has provided counseling support to more than 380,000 smokers.
The American Cancer Society offers other free resources – through Quitline and at www.cancer.org/GreatAmericans – that can increase a smoker’s chances of quitting successfully, including tips and tools for friends, family, and coworkers of potential quitters to help them be aware and supportive of the struggle to quit smoking. Studies show the importance of social support in quitting smoking, as people are most likely to quit smoking when their friends, family, and coworkers decide to quit smoking. Popular online social networks such as Facebook and MySpace are also becoming support channels for people who want to quit, and American Cancer Society Smokeout-related downloadable desktop applications are available on these networks to help people quit or join the fight against tobacco.
“A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that social networks are helpful in quitting smoking,” said [spokesperson]. “Friends and family can help the most by being aware and supportive of the struggle to quit, and the American Cancer Society has resources to help them show support for their loved one who is trying to quit.”
Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States. Each year, smoking accounts for an estimated 438,000 premature deaths, including 38,000 deaths among nonsmokers as a result of secondhand smoke. Half of all Americans who continue to smoke will die from smoking-related diseases.
Also imperative in this effort to encourage people to quit smoking are smoke-free laws and higher tobacco taxes which make it harder for people to smoke, and protect nonsmokers from tobacco smoke. The majority of U.S. communities are now covered by smoke-free laws, while forty-three states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico have raised tobacco taxes since 2000. Smokers nationwide now face an average cost of $4.32 for one pack of cigarettes, not including all taxes. The rising cost of living is also affecting smokers, as the cost of cigarettes presents an even greater burden. Smoke-free workplace laws and other tobacco control legislation, supported by the Society and its nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action NetworkSM (ACS CAN), help protect Americans from secondhand smoke and encourage smokers to quit.
The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. Founded in 1913 and with national headquarters in Atlanta, the Society has 13 regional Divisions and local offices in 3,400 communities, involving millions of volunteers across the United States. For more information anytime, call toll free 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org. : This is a very important mission, I am sure that we all know someone who smokes, and not just non christians. You may be a smoker, if so I will pray for you. It is a terrible addiction, but you can quit. With Gods help, and other helpful resources you can be a winner at the quitting game my friend. Lets kick cigarettes in their butts!! When Smokers Quit—The Health Benefits Over Time
20 minutes after quitting: Your heart rate and blood pressure drops.
12 hours after quitting: The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
2 weeks to 3 months after quitting: Your circulation improves and your lung function increases.
1 to 9 months after quitting: Coughing and shortness of breath decrease; cilia (tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection.
1 year after quitting: The excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker's.
5 years after quitting: Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker 5 to 15 years after quitting.
10 years after quitting: The lung cancer death rate is about half that of a continuing smoker's. The risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix, and pancreas decrease.
15 years after quitting: The risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker's.
12 comments:
I have never smoked and will never smoke, but I grew up in a household of smokers. Thankfully, my mom and dad both quit, but it was later on in their lives.
Thanks for sharing this information with all of us!!
Be sure to drop over sometime today...it's my 100th post giveaway!!
If you don't mind "Shorty", may I copy this out and send it to my sister and sister-in-law? What say you? I'm not sure if my sister will listen but my sil has quit for a few weeks. I am encouraging her not to quit because our minds don't comprehend quit so I am hoping she will say she has stopped instead. I guess I think like a writer a times too. :)
I wholeheartedly support the Great American Smokeout!! My mom was a lifelong smoker who fought bladder cancer due to her smoking (and beat that) but ironically, 1 year after she quit smoking she was diagnosed with lung cancer and died. It is a hideous and deadly habit. I physically cringe anytime I see anyone smoking! Thanks for sharing this, I hadn't realized it was time again!
That is a great post Denise I am all for it even though smokers give me job security needing chest x-rays. I have never smoked and I cannot stand it, my kids already dislike it because they see their friends parents smoke and when they come home from the friend's house they stink.
My heart goes out to anyone addicted because i happen to love food and I strugle with that so good luck to anyone participating in this mission monday.
Denise,
These are amazing statistics, and should encourage a lot of people.
I come from a family of ten, and only myself and one other NEVER smoked. Our mother did, but not our Dad. Smoking has been the cause of illnesses that caused the death of two of my siblings, and two others are sick and losing their battles with illness, all due to lifelong smoking! It's a disgusting habit, but very very hard to quit, many say worse than alchohol! Second hand smoke is just as bad for those of us who never smoked. Please, please, people...STOP NOW! Your lungs and your family/friends will thank you for it!!
My hubby quit smoking six years ago. I am so grateful. Zyban worked wonders. He just stopped liking the taste after 2 weeks of taking it!
I never smoked until I got in the restaurant business. At the time the only people who got breaks really were those who smoked...everyone else would have to stay in and hold the line.
So take that and the massive amount of stress and I began smoking at 27.
My uncle once warned my sister and I that smoking was like having a deadly snake wrapped around your neck that you could not get loose...I understand him now.
I quit smoking when Julia was born...but have battled with it off and on. It is a horrible thing to quit. But God can help.....He is the one who will set you free. And when He sets you free...you will be free indeed.
I understand the struggle of those out there....the only way I was set free was by being obedient to the will of God.
WOW Denise...that is alot of information & a great help for Smokers. I'm so glad that you shared this with Mission4Monday but moreso with ALL that may venture here & read to be aware of so much! Great statistic sharing! Great help resources! Now we just have to pray for the SMOKERS to see, read, get help and get rid of this habit that the enemy is using to rob them of God's fresh air!!!
My mom smoked until my baby brother was born and she set the kitchen curtains on fire. I swore I would never smoke and never have but even second hand smoke is robbing me of breathing. Each time I have lung or respiratory problems, they ask me if I smoke and it's like they don't believe me...but honestly I don't and my nose lets me know when there is smoke in clothes or nearby. My lungs must look as bad as if I do smoke. I just pray that all smokers will find this & all these facts to save their physical lives and those of us around them that somehow receive that smoke worse than them.
Bless you for caring & sharing! God, please help the smokers to admit that they need to stop & that You can help them with all of these other helps also!!! They can stop!
Thank you for running this, Denise. KNowledge is power.
Oh, I thank God my husband and I were never smokers, however, we both grew up with parents who were. Thank you so much for great information. I pray this reaches out far and wide to others. Thanks for always coming to visit. I missed you so much! Big hugs for an almost birthday girl! smies!
Great incentives to stop this nasty habit! Thanks for sharing!
Millions of Americans will quit smoking in the Great American Smokeout this Thursday. But it's important to remember that the average smoker quits 7-10 times, so the challenge is not only in quitting originally, but in making sure that you continue to live your life smoke-free. This year there’s a new idea to help smokers stay quit after the official Smokeout on Thursday. Its called Quit and Stay Quit Monday - smokers who make the decision to quit smoking on the Great American Smokeout can reaffirm their commitment to staying tobacco free on the following Monday and each Monday after that to ensure that they are still tobacco-free. Each week is an opportunity for you to celebrate your progress or recommit to improving your health and well-being. Check out www.healthymonday.org/stayquit for more info.
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