Georgians toss the cigarettes for the “Great American Smokeout”
Thinking of kicking the habit? Here are some ways that might help:
- Try nicotine replacement therapy
- Reach out to telephone and online based support and counseling
- Find a smoking cessation program and support group
- Georgians can call the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line at 1-877-270-STOP (7867) or 1-877-2NO-FUME (877-266-3863). It's free and available 24/7
Below is a timeline of the benefits of quitting:
- 20 minutes: Your heart rate and blood pressure drop.
- 12 hours: The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
- 2 weeks to 3 months: circulation improves and lung function increases.
- 1 to 9 months: Coughing and shortness of breath decrease; cilia start to regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to clean the lungs and reduce infection.
- 1 year: The excess risk of coronary heart disease is reduced by half
- 5 years: Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and bladder are cut in half. Stroke risk can fall to that of a non-smoker after 2-5 years.
- 10 years: The risk of dying from lung cancer is about half that of a person who is still smoking. The risk of cancer of the larynx (voice box) and pancreas decreases.
- 15 years: The risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker's.
*Source: American Cancer Society
No butts, please.
It’s time for Georgians to toss those cigarettes for the “Great American Smokeout.”
The American Cancer Society's annual campaign, held the third Thursday of November, encourages people to quit for the day - and preferably - for good.
“Some people take it as just a challenge to quit that day,” said Evelyn Barella, a spokeswoman for the Atlanta-based ACS. “We hope that what they will do is plan to quit for good. Or, at least this will serve as a reminder that they should quit.”
Tobacco use leads to heart disease, cancer, diabetes and premature death.
Perhaps people are getting the message. Smoking rates have dropped significantly in the last few decades.
In Georgia, for instance,the adult smoking rate dropped to 17.4 percent in 2014 from 18.8 percent in 2013. Even more significant, the smoking rate has dropped to 16.4 percent among young adults ages 18 to 24. However, more than 50,000 middle and high school students in Georgia say they use e-cigarettes and twice as many say they have tried them.
"Every year in Georgia, more than 12,000 people die from smoking related illnesses," said Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D., commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health said in a statement. "People who stop smoking greatly reduce their risk for disease and early death. The health benefits are greater for people who stop at earlier ages, but there are benefits at any age. You are never too old to quit."
About the Author
Shelia has worked at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for more than 30 years. Previously, she worked at The Lexington Herald-Leader and The Louisville Defender. Her beat is a bit of a mixed bag that includes religion and spirituality, culture and trends, race and aging. She earned degrees from Spelman College and Northwestern University.
