Hot Topic: Kick the Habit
It’s one of the toughest habits to break: smoking. But it is possible and thousands make the decision every day to put down their cigarettes and start living healthier. The Great American Smokeout is November 20. Could it be your time to quit?
According to the American Lung Association (ALA), lung cancer is the leading cancer killer in both men and women in the United States. In fact, lung cancer causes more deaths each year than the next three most common cancers combined (colon, breast and prostate). In addition, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) affects 12 million Americans and is the fourth leading cause of death in our country.
But knowing the statistics may not make it any easier to stop smoking. For that, you need help. The ALA offers the following tips for quitting smoking:
* Join a stop-smoking program like Freedom From Smoking® from the American Lung Association. The program gives lots of ideas on how to quit and stay quit. Groups are a way to meet other people who want to stop smoking.
* Pick a good time to quit. Don't try to quit when you're under a lot of stress or around a holiday.
* Be aware that smokers have different experiences when they quit. They may feel sleepy or very excited, lightheaded, nervous or irritable. Or they might crave tobacco or sweets or have headaches.
* Be sure to get some exercise every day. For example, walking is a great way to reduce the stress of quitting. Exercise is a big boost toward feeling better, improving spirits, and keeping trim.
* Get plenty of sleep, eat a balanced diet and drink lots of water.
* Ask family, friends and co-workers to help. Having someone to take a walk with or just listen can give a needed boost.
There are lots of benefits to stopping smoking. The very minute you kick the habit, your health begins to improve and continues to improve over time. Cigarettes are also expensive. You will notice significant savings in your wallet when you put down your cigarettes. And quitting smoking will also help those around you. Every year, secondhand smoke is responsible for breathing problems, heart disease, lung infections, asthmas, and lung cancer deaths in non-smokers.
Many people try several times to quit before they are successful and that could happen to you. But try not to get discouraged. There are a lot of free resources out there than can help you accomplish your goal:
* 1-877-270-STOP, the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line, is a tobacco quit line that offers counseling, motivation, and problems-solving advice
* smokefree.gov and smokefreeyou.org are web sites dedicated to helping people quit smoking.
* 1-800-QUIT-NOW, is a free, phone-based service with educational materials and coaches that can help you quit smoking or chewing tobacco.
WWW Address: http://www.gachd.org/hot-topic/kick_the_habit.php