November 19 is the Great American Smokeout 

Roughly 42 million Americans smoke cigarettes. Are you one of them or do you have a close family member that is? Have you thought about the benefits of putting down the cigarette? If not, we're here to give you some facts and food for thought as to why it's a good decision to quit smoking and how you can help a loved one get on the right path to quitting.

Did you know that quitting smoking-even for just one day-provides many benefits such as a drop in heart rate and blood pressure as well as carbon monoxide levels in the body drop to normal?
 
Read on to learn more about the dangers of smoking and how to get help quitting.

How to Quit Smoking
By Stacy Simon, American Cancer Society

Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States. Since the release of the Surgeon General's Report on Smoking and health 50 years ago, there have been 20 million deaths due to tobacco. Almost half the deaths from 12 different types of cancer combined - including lung, voice box, throat, esophagus, and bladder cancers - are attributable to cigarette smoking alone.

In addition to cancer, smoking greatly increases the risk of debilitating long-term lung diseases like emphysema and chronic bronchitis. It also raises the risk for heart attack, stroke, blood vessel diseases, and eye diseases. Half of all smokers who keep smoking will eventually die from a smoking-related illness.


 

More Children, Teens Enticed to Smoke With Flavored Tobacco: CDC
By HealthDay            

7 out of every 10 kids who said they used tobacco have used flavored varieties, survey shows
 
Bubblegum, cotton candy, chocolate: Just a few of the tempting flavors often added to tobacco being consumed by American children and teens.
 
Now, an analysis of the 2014 National Youth Tobacco Survey finds that seven in 10 middle and high school students who used tobacco in the previous month have used at least one flavored tobacco product.
 
"Flavored tobacco products are enticing a new generation of America's youth into nicotine addiction, condemning many of them to tobacco-related disease and early death," Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in a CDC news release.




Quitting Smoking Timeline

How Your Health Improves Over Time
After You've Quit Smoking
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Commit to Quit Tobacco

Are you ready to take the first step to quit smoking?Log in to your portal today to take advantage of personalized Health Coaching and online programs to help break free from tobacco.

By contacting a health coach, you'll receive tips to help kick start the journey to a healthier you.  Call 866-695-8622 to get started today! 

Break free from tobacco and Commit to Quit by signing up for HealthAdvocate's 6-week online program that provides expert tips and resources to help you quit by November 19 on the Great American Smokeout Day!

Register today by logging into the BMA portal, clicking "Health e-360", "My Wellness", and the Get Started button. Click the Wellness icon and then the Commit to Quit Tobacco banner at the top of the page. 



Teens Copy Parents' Smoking: Study
By HealthDay  

If mom smokes, daughters are almost four times as likely to get hooked on cigarettes.

Although many teens don't often copy their parents' behavior, there's one habit they may pick up from mom or dad -- smoking.

Teens are three times more likely to smoke at least one cigarette -- and their odds of nicotine dependence are nearly twice as high -- if one of their parents is dependent on nicotine, the new study found.

And teenage daughters of women who smoke seem to be most at risk. These young girls were almost four times as likely to be dependent on nicotine if their mother was a regular smoker, the researchers said.                        

 

Health Tips: Helping a Smoker Quit: Do's and Don'ts
By American Cancer Society 

Do respect that the quitter is in charge. This is their lifestyle change and their challenge, not yours.
 
Do ask the person whether they want you to ask regularly how they're doing. Ask how they're feeling - not just whether they've stayed quit.
 
Do let the person know that it's OK to talk to you whenever they need to hear encouraging words.
 
Do help the quitter get what they need, such as hard candy to suck on, straws to chew on, and fresh veggies cut up and kept in the refrigerator.
 
Do spend time doing things with the quitter to keep their mind off smoking - go to the movies, take a walk to get past a craving (what many call a "nicotine fit"), or take a bike ride together.
 
Do try to see it from the smoker's point of view - a smoker's habit may feel like an old friend that's always been there when times were tough. It's hard to give that up.
 
Do make your home smoke free, meaning that no one can smoke in any part of the house.
 
Do remove all lighters and ash trays from your home. Remove anything that reminds them of smoking
 
Do wash clothes that smell like smoke. Clean carpets and drapes. Use air fresheners to help get rid of the tobacco smells - and don't forget the car, too.
 
Do help the quitter with a few chores, some child care, cooking - whatever will help lighten the stress of quitting.
 
Do celebrate along the way. Quitting smoking is a BIG DEAL!
 
Don't doubt the smoker's ability to quit. Your faith in them reminds them they can do it.
 
Don't judge, nag, preach, tease, or scold. This may make the smoker feel worse about him or herself. You don't want your loved one to turn to a cigarette to soothe hurt feelings.
 
Don't take the quitter's grumpiness personally during their nicotine withdrawal. Tell them that you understand the symptoms are real and remind them that they won't last forever. The symptoms usually get better in about 2 weeks.
 
Don't offer advice. Just ask how you can help with the plan or program they are using.


Millions of Smokers May Have Undiagnosed Lung Disease
By HealthDay

Millions of long-term smokers may have undiagnosed lung disease, a new study finds.
 
Fifty-five percent of those who pass lung function tests still have a respiratory impairment, researchers report.
 
But, using advanced imaging techniques along with walking and quality-of-life tests can reveal early signs of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). An incurable, progressive disease, COPD is associated with smoking and is the third-leading cause of death in the United States, the researchers added.

 

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