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Health
Information Network promotes health care
November is National Smoke-Out Month and here's the sad news: cigarette smoking remains the leading cause of Lung Cancer, and Lung Cancer remains a leading killer of African American men and women. Here's the good news: fewer young people are starting to smoke and social pressure in the form of smoking bans in public places and prohibitions against television advertising are helping people quit. National Smoke-Out Month gives us all an opportunity to reflect on how many lives have been lost through tobacco use. The American Cancer Society estimates that over 430,000 deaths are caused by tobacco use each year. In addition to Lung Cancer, smoking also causes cancers of the mouth and throat, Emphysema and accelerates the life-threatening potential of many other conditions like Stroke, Heart Disease, Hypertension, Diabetes, and Osteoporosis. With all of the negative side effects, you would think that smokers would "just say no", but kicking the habit it not easy. Nicotine is a strong addiction comparable to cocaine or heroin. Nicotine is absorbed from tobacco smoke in the lungs and it doesn't matter whether the tobacco smoke is from cigarettes, cigars or pipes. Nicotine is also absorbed when tobacco is chewed. With regular use, levels of nicotine accumulate in the body during the day and persist overnight. So, daily smokers are exposed to the effects of nicotine 24 hours each day. Few of us are strong enough to battle this powerful addiction without a good deal of mental preparation and outside help. Over the counter stop smoking aids like the nicotine patch, mouth and nasal sprays and chewing gum have met with success for many smokers. There are also prescription drugs that curb the desire for tobacco. Even with these products, however, most tobacco users fail the first time they try to quit--and given the strength of the addiction, that's okay. The point is an attempt has been made to stop. Each successive attempt will bring the smoker closer to quitting for good. That's why National Smoke Out Month is so important. Recognizing the need to help smokers "kick the habit", National Smoke-Out Month offers an opportunity for smokers to quit in an environment of support and encouragement. Raising the awareness level about the dangers of smoking and offering a platform of support for tobacco users to quit may be just the lift a smoker needs to stop this killer habit once and for all. If you use tobacco or live with or love someone who does, reach out for help. Call the American Cancer Society or visit their web site at www.americancancer.org There, you will find all kinds of helping aids from online support groups to suggestions about quitting techniques that might be right for you. Remember, every journey to wellness begins with a first step Always visit www.journeytowellness.com for more important news about your health. Always visit www.journeytowellness.com
for more # # # # # About Journey to Wellness Journeytowellness.com
is the Internet component of the Journey To Wellness Radio programs
that provides healthcare and health literacy information through syndicated
radio programming on public radio stations and on the CNN Radio network.
Please visit our Journey to Wellness Air Times and Topics page to find out our schedule, the radio stations that carry our program, and the topics we will be covering!
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