Thursday, November 1, 2018

Great American Smokeout - Stop Smoking for good

Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States

The Great American Smokeout happens every year on November 17th and is promoted by the American Cancer Society. Did you know that smoking causes more than 480,000 deaths every year, which is about 1 in 5 deaths. Not only that, but more than 16 million Americans live with a smoking-related disease. Many Americans that still smoke come from all walks of life but it is more prevalent in specific groups of people due to different circumstances. It is important that we all come together and support those who want to quit smoking for good. Long term affects from smoking are:

  • constant coughing (smokers cough) 
  • heart disease
  • high cholesterol
  • yellow fingers & fingernails
  • loss of appetite
  • wrinkly skin
  • anxiety & irritability
  • higher risk of lung cancer

Smoking causes more deaths each year than HIV, illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, and firearm-related incidents combined. This statistic is alarming considering the amount of people in the US who still smoke has significantly gone down over the past few decades. 

If you are ready to quit, there are lots of resources online to assist you! There is even an app you can download too to help you and several phone numbers you can call if you want to talk to someone straight away. For more information on the Great American Smokeout, smoking statistics and information/help on how to quit go to:
Great American Smokeout Information
Tips from Former Smokers
Tobacco Usage Statistics
Smokefree.gov