WEDNESDAY, Nov. 15, 2006 (HealthDay News) -- While every day is a great day to quit smoking, millions of Americans are expected to take part in the 30th anniversary of the American Cancer Society's "Great American Smokeout" this Thursday, Nov. 16.
For three decades, the third Thursday in November has been designated as a day for smokers across the United States to kick the habit.
An estimated 45.4 million Americans are addicted to nicotine, according to the American Cancer Society, and about one in four adults and one in five teens in the United States are current smokers. Unless more is done to help them quit, 10 million to 20 million current smokers will eventually die from tobacco-related diseases.
Research shows that people are more likely to successfully kick the habit if they have some means of support, such as nicotine replacement therapy, prescription medication and/or counseling. However, only about 22 percent of current smokers report using any of those therapies during their last attempt to quit. That points to the need for increased support to help more people quit, the ACS said.
Kicking the habit isn't easy, but there are huge benefits:
- People who quit, regardless of age, live longer than people who continue to smoke, the ACS says.
- Quitting smoking reduces the risk of lung cancer, other cancers, heart attack, stroke and chronic lung disease.
- Women who stop smoking before pregnancy or during the first three to four months of pregnancy reduce their risk of having a low birth weight baby to that of a woman who never smoked.
More information
To learn more about the Great American Smokeout or about how to quit smoking, go to the American Cancer Society.
