Make a plan to give up smoking

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November 19, 2009

Anonymous Pharos-Tribune Thu Nov 19, 2009, 08:44 AM EST

OK, so maybe today isn’t the perfect day to quit smoking. For years, the experts were preaching that any day was a good day to quit, and they had annual campaigns encouraging people to give up the habit.

The campaigns raised awareness, and they led many smokers eventually to give up the habit.

Now, though, the experts are beginning to recognize that to be successful in quitting, many smokers need to do some planning. Most of us can’t just toss away that pack of cigarettes never to light up again.

Today is the annual Great American Smokeout, and the American Cancer Society says it’s a great day to make plans to quit. It says smokers who prepare to quit by lining up nicotine replacement therapy and planning how they will deal with cravings greatly increase their likelihood of success.

Check out the cancer society’s Web site for downloadable desktop helpers such as the quit clock, which allows users to pick a quit day within 30 days then counts down to the selected day with tips for each day, and the craving stopper, which helps smokers beat cravings through a fun distraction.

So what are you waiting for?

Quitting smoking is one of the most important steps anyone can take toward better health. That decision alone can lead to a lower cancer risk and a longer life.

Smokers who quit at age 35 gain an average of eight years of life expectancy. Those who quit at 55 gain about five years, and even long-term smokers who quit at 65 gain three years.

If you haven’t already plotted out your strategy to quit, today would be a great day to start.

Need help?

For help in kicking the habit, check out the Great American Smokeout Web site at www.cancer.org/GreatAmericans. Smokers who want to quit can also call the American Cancer Society Quit For Life program at 800-227-2345 for tips that can help them in going smoke free.

Tobacco facts

• Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the U.S.

• Every year, cigarette smoking accounts for about 443,000 premature deaths — 49,400 of those among nonsmokers.

• Thirty percent of cancer deaths, including 87 percent of lung cancer deaths, can be attributed to tobacco.

• Smoking accounts for $193 billion in health care expenditures and productivity losses.

• Great progress is being made in reducing tobacco use in the U.S., with adult smoking rates in 2007 declining to 19.8 percent.

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Make a plan to give up smoking

Indiana was among 10 states granted a waiver last week from requirements of the No Child Left Behind law. Do you believe that was a good move?

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