| Smokeout offers smokers a day to quit |
By: Melissa Kaelin
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Posted: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 11:27 pm
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 Public health officials are urging local residents to stop smoking during the Great American Smokeout, which occurs today.
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By MELISSA KAELIN
mkaelin@owatonna.com
OWATONNA — Public health officials are asking smokers to put out their butts today, as part of the Great American Smokeout.
Every year, the American Cancer Society encourages smokers to quit smoking for a day in the hope that they may quit for good. Minnesota holds a personal claim to the campaign, which started 33 years ago in the state.
In 1974, Lynn Smith, a newspaper editor from Monticello, Minn., and a former smoker was the first to organize a specific day where smokers were encouraged to quit smoking for their health. Called “D-Day” or “Don’t Smoke Day,” the first event saw about 300 smokers take the pledge to stop smoking. Smith printed their names on the front page of the Monticello Times.
“It must have been tough for the people who tried to quit smoking on that first Don’t Smoke Day”, said Dee Ann Pettyjohn, director of Steele County Public Health. “They didn’t have the resources and support available to them that we have today. Now, everyone in Minnesota can get help to quit smoking.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most smokers make more than one attempt to quit before they succeed. Smokers who get help to quit are much more likely to succeed.
“Smoking is the single greatest preventable cause of death in the U.S. More than 440,000 people die from smoking each year,” said Jane Nyquist, an educator for Steele County Public Health, in an e-mail.
“Risks for smoking related cancers and cardiovascular disease are two very dangerous risks,” said Nyquist. She said there are also children and family are also at risk when it comes to secondhand smoke, and falling asleep with a lit cigarette poses an additional risk of fire. “Making your home smoke-free may be one of the most important things you can do for the health of your family,” said Nyquist. “Any family member can develop health problems related to secondhand smoke. Children are especially sensitive.”
Nyquist said with the studies done on secondhand smoke and the risks of smoking in general, the benefits from quitting smoking are clear. They not only improve an individual’s health in the short-term, but the individual is healthier in the long term as well.
“Health benefits start immediately,” said Nyquist. “Blood pressure and heart rate drop 20 minutes after quitting.”
Most health insurance plans provide quit smoking services for their members at no cost under preventive care. This can include a Quit Line number smokers can call to get one-on-one help from a trained smoking cessation counselor. There may also be co-pays for quit smoking medication.
Another service available, called QUITPLAN, provides free help to quit smoking to anyone who lives, works or goes to school in Minnesota. The service includes a hotline at 1-888-354-PLAN that offers counseling and free nicotine patches, lozenges or gum to eligible callers. The Web site at www.quitplan.com also offers quitting tools and activities, as well as forums where people can connect with others who are trying to quit.
Melissa Kaelin can be reached at 444-2372.
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Member Opinions:
By: katokid88 on 11/19/09
need to quit smoking? or at least find a healthier, less stinky, less offending way to get your fix? two words... ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE! i got one online and its the most wonderful thing ever! i no longer smoke cigarettes, i still feel as if im smoking, i dont stink, its healthier. cost quite a bit to start, but is a great investment long term, been going on three months, havent bought any cigarettes, and only spent 150$ on my ecig. im not gonna try to sell it on here, (im not even selling it) but contact me ( i think you can do it through this site) and ill let you know the cheapest place online to get them.
By: BigBen7 on 11/19/09
kato--what is an electronic cigarette?
By: atlascollapsed on 11/19/09
I didn't quit because of my health. I quit because I didnt want to contribute my tax dollar to fund a program that subsidizes a family of 5 making up to $78K a years health insurance. The lovely SCHIP program. If I could get a pack of cigarettes for nothing but the cost and the sales tax I'd probably start again.
By: katokid88 on 11/19/09
an electronic cigarette contains 3 parts ( the one i use anyway...great reviews) a battery, atomizer, and cartridge. the battery is rechargable, the one i use comes with a portable charger box that holds and charges it on the go, just charge the box on your computer via usb cord. the atomizer makes the "juice" into a smoke like vapor. the juice contains nicotine, water, flavor, and some have said other things, but its controversial. mostly nicotine and water. read up on ejuice reviews for your own personal knowledge. the one i use has a refillable cartridge, you either drip the juice into the cartridge, or into the atomizer. you inhale while pushing a button (with manual battery) or just inhale (with automatic batter) you blow out smoke just like a real cig except its oderless, and waaaay healthier. it takes a few days to get used to the difference, but the physical habit is supported becuase it is very simialar to smoking a real cig and the chemical addiction is supported because you still get the nicotine via vapor.
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