American Cancer Society’s annual Great American Smokeout is today
Do you smoke? Want to quit? Want to help a friend quit? Today is the day to get serious. It is the American Cancer Society’s 33rd annual Great American Smokeout. The ACS has great information on their Web site with topics such as ”reasons to quit,” “guide to quitting” and “plan your quit day.” Check it out or mail the link to a smoker-friend. (You can even download a “Craving Stopper” button, pictured at right, that pulls up a match game to occupy your mind.)
The ACS quitline at 800-227-2345 has counseled 380,000 smokers over the past eight years.
Personally, I have never taken a puff of a cigarette. The smell, touch, and even sight, of tobacco nauseates me. It may be that my father smoked for years, finally quitting, but dying of lung cancer. But I know it is a really hard habit to quit for many. Over the years I have heard excuses like, “It is my only enjoyment,” or, “You have to die of something.” Strangely, though, I never heard it from lung cancer or emphysema victims. It is worth it to quit.
Find out what will happen to your body if you stop smoking right now at Healthbolt.
What do you think? Have you quit? Have any tips or words of encouragement?
Like this blog? You’ll love the special holiday offers from James Hubbard’s My Family Doctor, the magazine written by health-care providers.
Tags: smoking
November 20th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Today is also my birthday! I like that it’s also the smokeout day! I think every doctor feels that smoking is the number 1 preventable cause of disease and death.
Thanks for posting this!
November 20th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Happy Birthday, Dr. J.
Hope it has been a good one.
November 20th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
No smoking! I like it and agree with you! Thanks for this!
November 20th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Thanks for the reminder, Dr. Hubbard. I don’t seem to see as much about the SmokeOut as I did in the past.
For anyone wanting to improve his or her health and longevity, quitting smoking is perhaps the single most important step.
And think of the money saved. A pack must be $4-5 now, more in some states.
Happy birthday, Dr. J!
-Steve
November 20th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Mark, No smoking is right
November 20th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Dr. Parker, I amost missed it also.
I agree, that if you wanted to get healthy and smoke, quitting is priority #1