New interactive resources available to help smokers quit

Southfield — The American Cancer Society will celebrate the 31st anniversary of the Great American Smokeout on Thursday, November 15. With exactly half of the United States now protected by smoke-free laws, and a variety of cessation resources available, there has never been a better time to quit smoking and enjoy the health benefits.

On November 15, Americans who smoke and want to quit to are urged to call the American Cancer Society’s Quitline®, a clinically proven, free telephone-based counseling program, at 1-800-ACS-2345, or to log on to www.cancer.org/greatamericans, to embark on a personal plan to quit.

“The American Cancer Society is here to help smokers who want to quit, and we have an abundance of resources to assist. We urge smokers to learn more about quitting and make a plan to begin a smoke-free life by calling the Society’s Quitline at 1-800-ACS-2345,‰ said Megan Holt, Community Program Representative.

The Society’s Quitline is a clinically proven, free telephone-based counseling program that is available in 12 states and the District of Columbia as well as in more than 75 businesses and health plans nationwide. Quitline staff have provided support to more than 280,000 smokers since its inception in 2000. Studies have shown that more than 40 percent of people who were contacted six months after completing the Quitline program remained smoke-free, which puts the Society’s quit rates among the highest in the industry.

The Great American Smokeout Website        (www.cancer.org/great

americans) will feature new desktop helpers, including a Quit Clock and a Craving Stopper. These tools were  available beginning Nov. 1 and can be downloaded to a computer desktop to help smokers pick a quit day, prepare for quitting, and offer support during and after quitting. In addition, the site will continue to provide tips, tools, and resources, as well as the successful Quitline call back feature, which allows smokers to submit a short form to be directly contacted by a trained specialist who will provide assistance during a quit attempt.

According to the U.S. Surgeon General in 1990, people who quit smoking, regardless of age, live longer than people who continue to smoke, and quitting smoking substantially decreases the risk of lung, laryngeal, esophageal, oral, pancreatic, bladder  and cervical cancers.

In addition to encouraging smokers to make a plan to quit, the Great American Smokeout is a day for Americans to join the American Cancer Society and its sister advocacy organization, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) in their efforts to advocate for smoke-free laws in communities nationwide. The combination of smoke-free communities and smoking cessation support is critical to helping smokers quit and stay tobacco-free.

“With exactly half of the country now protected by smoke-free laws, the lifesaving results of comprehensive tobacco control efforts in the United States are clear,” added Holt. “By continuing efforts to reduce exposure to toxic secondhand smoke, and helping more Americans quit smoking, we will continue to make progress against cancer.”

The American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout grew out of a 1971 event in Randolph, Mass., in which Arthur P. Mullaney asked people to give up cigarettes for a day and donate the money they would have spent on cigarettes to a high school scholarship fund. In 1974, Lynn R. Smith, editor of the Monticello Times in Minnesota, spearheaded the state’s first D-Day, or Don’t Smoke Day. The idea caught on, and on Nov. 18, 1976, the California Division of the American Cancer Society succeeded in getting nearly one million smokers to quit for the day. That California event marked the first Great American Smokeout, which went nationwide the next year.

The Great American Smokeout is part of the American Cancer Society Great American Health Challenge, a year-round initiative that encourages Americans to adopt healthy lifestyles to reduce their risk of cancer. More information on the Great American Health Challenge is available at www.cancer.org/great-americans or by calling 1-800-ACS-2345.

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.

Smoking hazards of special concern to women, children

59% of children face second-hand smoke at home

Cigarette smoking kills about 178,000 women each year in the U.S.  Smoking shaves an average of 14.5 years off the lives of female smokers, yet nearly one in five women 18 and older still light up. 

Each puff of cigarette smoke exposes users to 2,500 chemicals and cancer-causing agents, including nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide. Smoking causes 87% of lung cancer deaths and increases the risk of developing cervical and other cancers. Smokers are more likely to experience heart attack, stroke, emphysema, bronchitis, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, cataracts, and infertility than non-smokers are. 

Pregnant women who smoke put their babies at a higher risk for preterm birth, low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome, poor lung function, asthma and bronchitis. The harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke are also passed through breast milk to babies.

About 59 percent of American children ages 4–11 are exposed to secondhand smoke at home. Studies have shown that children (especially infants) of parents who smoke have more lung illnesses, such as bronchitis and pneumonia, and can develop asthma. And because smoking parents are more likely to cough and spread germs, their children are more likely to develop chest illnesses. Exposure to tobacco smoke also increases the risk of heart disease.

Smokers who quit can stop or reverse the damage caused by cigarettes. In the days and months after you quit, your heart rate and blood pressure drop to healthier levels, and your breathing, circulation, and sense of smell and taste may improve. Heart attack risk decreases by 50% within the first year after quitting, and the chances of developing lung cancer, heart disease, and other ailments fall to nearly that of a nonsmoker in the first few years.

If you are thinking about quitting, talk to your doctor about methods that may help you succeed.

Nicotine withdrawal and cravings stop 70% to 90% of smokers from quitting. Using nicotine replacement products, such as patches, gum, nasal spray, inhalers, and lozenges, can help satisfy urges. Your doctor may also prescribe medications such as bupropion or varenicline to help you stop smoking. Using one or a combination of these methods can double your chances of quitting. 

Smokers can call 800-QUIT-NOW, a free national smoking cessation hotline, to speak with trained counselors who will help develop individualized quit plans. Your doctor will also have information on support groups, such as Nicotine Anonymous, and other local smoking cessation resources. 

Set a quit date when you will throw away all your cigarettes and clean your clothes to get rid of the smoky smell. You may want to schedule your quit date for November 15, 2007, to coincide with the Great American Smokeout. Keep busy on your quit day—exercise, go to the movies, take a long walk, etc.—get plenty of water, and ask your friends and family to help you stay on track. 

It takes most smokers several tries to finally quit for good. If your first attempt is not successful, don’t get discouraged. Get some help and get back on track.