Hospital Highlights - Great American Smokeout

Quitting smoking is one of the most important steps you can take to help create a world with less cancer and more birthdays. Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the US, yet an estimated 45 million Americans still smoke. However, almost half of these smokers have tried to quit for at least one day in the past year. If you or someone you know needs help quitting, join thousands of people across the country in making Nov. 15 the day you make a plan to quit for good, during the American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout.

Research shows that if you pick a quit day in the next 30 days and stick to it, you’ll be more likely to succeed in quitting. Here are some other ways to prepare for your quit day:

• Pick the date and mark it on your calendar.

• Tell friends and family about your quit day.

• Download the Quit Clock desktop helper from http://www.cancer.org/smokeout. The Quit Clock allows you to plug your quit day into your computer, and then counts down to the selected day. Each morning, a new tip comes up to help you prepare to stop smoking.

• Stock up on oral substitutes–sugarless gum, carrot sticks, or hard candy.

Nicotine substitutes can help reduce withdrawal symptoms, but they are most effective when used as part of a plan that addresses both the physical and psychological components of quitting smoking.

Quitting is hard, but you can increase your chances of success if you get help. The American Cancer Society can tell you about the steps you can take to quit smoking and provide the resources and support that can increase your chances of quitting successfully. To learn about the available tools, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345. You can also find free tips and tools online at http://www.cancer.org/smokeout. The Society also offers applications on social networks like Facebook to help you quit or join the fight against tobacco.

Debbie Glass, CEO