Community Corner

Kick the Habit: The Great American Smokeout

American Cancer Society encourages smokers to put the butts out.

Nov. 18 marks the 35th Great American Smokeout, a yearly effort by the American Cancer Society to encourage smokers to use the date to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day.

"By doing so, smokers will be taking an important step towards a healthier life – one that can lead to reducing cancer risk," the website states. "Quitting smoking is not easy, but it can be done. To have the best chance of quitting successfully, you need to know what you're up against, what your options are, and where to go for help."

There are local groups and resources to help smokers quit for good. For example,  in Mineola offers Smoking 101/Educational/Emotional Support. Scheduled on the last Wednesday of each month from 7 to 8 p.m. and the last Thursday of each month from 1:30 to 3 p.m., this support group helps smokers "kick the habit." The group is facilitated by Mara Bernstein, Licensed Respiratory Therapist. Interested individuals must call 663-2579 the day of a session to reserve a seat.

Find out what's happening in Mineolawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Those attending will learn about the availability of all nicotine replacement products and aids. Information about Winthrop's four-week Behavior Modification Program and Hypnosis will be provided."

The Tobacco Action Coalition of Long Island is also a great resource for smoking cessation. Funded by the NYS Department of Health's Tobacco Control Program, their mission is to "increase the acceptance of non-smoking as the social norm." They achieve this through prevention, cessation and protection.

Find out what's happening in Mineolawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Benefits of Quitting

20 minutes after quitting: Your heart rate and blood pressure drop. (Mahmud A, Feely J. Effect of Smoking on Arterial Stiffness and Pulse Pressure Amplification. Hypertension. 2003;41:183.)

12 hours after quitting: The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal. (U.S. Surgeon General's Report, 1988, p. 202)

2 weeks to 3 months after quitting: Your circulation improves and your lung function increases. (U.S. Surgeon General's Report, 1990, pp. 193, 194, 196, 285, 323)

1 to 9 months after quitting: Coughing and shortness of breath decrease; cilia (tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection. (U.S. Surgeon General's Report, 1990, pp. 285-287, 304)

1 year after quitting: The excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker's. (U.S. Surgeon General's Report, 1990, p. vi)

5 years after quitting: Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a non-smoker 5 to 15 years after quitting. (U.S. Surgeon General's Report, 1990, p. vi)

10 years after quitting: The lung cancer death rate is about half that of a person who continues smoking. The risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix, and pancreas decreases, too. (U.S. Surgeon General's Report, 1990, pp. vi, 131, 148, 152, 155, 164, 166)

15 years after quitting: The risk of coronary heart disease is the same as a non-smoker's. (U.S. Surgeon General's Report, 1990, p. vi)


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