The Great American Smokeout

By , SparkPeople Blogger
This Thursday many smokers across the United States will participate in the 31st annual Great American Smokeout. This event held on the third Thursday each November encourages smokers to give up their cigarettes and/or cigars for 24 hours in hopes that this will persuade them to give them up for life.

According to the American Cancer Society “more than 45 million US Americans smoke.” This vice puts a huge burden on our health care industry given that smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer in almost 90% of the cases diagnosed. It is also a leading contributor to cardiovascular disease and other lung conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) also known as emphysema or chronic bronchitis.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of all cancer deaths in the US, surpassing breast, colon, and prostate cancers combined. Each year almost 60% of those diagnosed succumb to the disease within a year. A disease, while not 100% preventable, could be averted if one is willing to give up the cigarettes in place of healthy living.

And if you think that it is too late to quit a life-long habit, know that it is never too late. Studies have shown that the sooner you quit you can greatly lower your risk for developing lung cancer, pulmonary and cardiovascular disease.

A very shocking statistic regarding teens and smoking comes from the American Lung Association. It stated that each day over 6,000 children under the age of 18 take up smoking and of that number 2,000 will become regular smokers. So please talk to your children. It is never too late to tell them of the risks that come with smoking.

If you are looking to quit and are not sure where to get help, check out the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, or even your own health care provider. Someone should able to guide you through the process.

Having lost two uncles and a friend’s mother to lung cancer, it is truly a heartbreaking scenario to have to witness. Sadly, many times the disease is too advanced after the initial diagnosis to offer much hope for a full recovery. So if you or a loved one is a smoker I challenge you to a day of smoke-free living tomorrow.

Have you ever smoked and if so, how were you able to break the habit? Have you lost a loved one or friend to this disease? Do you feel that the Great American Smokeout has had any impact on changing people’s smoking habits?