The American Cancer Society will be marking the 35th Great American Smokeout on the third Thursday of November, November 18. This annual event aims to encourage people to quit smoking. By quitting, smokers can live longer and healthier lives.
So, why should someone quit smoking? To begin with, tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals and nearly 70 of them are known to cause cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, half of all smokers who keep on smoking will end up dying of a smoke-related illness. In the U.S. alone, smoking is responsible for nearly one in five deaths and over eight million smokers suffer from related lung and heart diseases.
Another reason to stop is cosmetic. Smoking smells bad and ruins your teeth and gums. Smokers also get more wrinkles and they get them at a younger age. Smoking is also extremely expensive. Cigarettes contain the addictive drug nicotine, and at $10.75 a pack locally, smoking is a costly habit. Then there is second-hand smoke which is sometimes referred to as environmental or passive smoke. This smoke has also been proven to cause cancer which means you put everyone around you at risk too.
Quitting can bring about immediate benefits. Within twenty minutes of stopping, a person’s heart rate and blood pressure drops. Within twelve hours, a person’s carbon monoxide level in his blood drops to normal, and in only a few weeks, both circulation and lung functions improve. Quitting smoking makes you healthier, makes everyone near you healthier, makes you look better, and saves you lots of money. There are no downsides!
Quitting smoking is not easy, but anyone can do it if they make up their mind to stop— and if they make a mistake and smoke a cigarette, just quit again. Here are some tips:
* Go over your reasons for wanting to quit. Focus on them.
* Get rid of all cigarettes, ashtrays, lighters, matches.
* Get busy! Do something else so you are not thinking about smoking.
* Tell friends and family so they can support you.
* Try to keep your hands and mouth busy –a lollipop or a plastic straw works for
some.
* Believe you can stop! You can do it!
