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ENLARGE
Some facts about Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (COPD):
• Smoking causes COPD, a disease that damages the lungs and makes it very hard to breathe.
• COPD is estimated to affect 32 million people in the U.S. Cigarette smoking is the most common cause of COPD.
• Symptoms of COPD are shortness of breath, chronic coughing and difficulty breathing. COPD gets worse over time.
• Cigarette smoking is linked to a 10-fold increase in the risk of dying from COPD.
• About 90 percent of all deaths from COPD are attributable to smoking.
• Learn more about COPD at nic.org.
For more information on how to quit smoking, call the Colorado QuitLine at 1-800-QUIT.NOW (1-800-784-8669) or visit coquitline.org. QuitLine coaches are available Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Smoking causes COPD, a disease that damages the lungs and makes it very hard to breathe.
• COPD is estimated to affect 32 million people in the U.S. Cigarette smoking is the most common cause of COPD.
• Symptoms of COPD are shortness of breath, chronic coughing and difficulty breathing. COPD gets worse over time.
• Cigarette smoking is linked to a 10-fold increase in the risk of dying from COPD.
• About 90 percent of all deaths from COPD are attributable to smoking.
• Learn more about COPD at nic.org.
For more information on how to quit smoking, call the Colorado QuitLine at 1-800-QUIT.NOW (1-800-784-8669) or visit coquitline.org. QuitLine coaches are available Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
RIFLE, COLORADO - It was 9:00 on a Friday night when I crushed out my last cigarette for the evening.
Cigarette smoking was an addiction I'd had for nearly 30 years that had eventually grown into a two-pack-a-day habit. Sure, I knew all about the dangers of smoking, but like millions of other smokers, I just hadn't gotten around to quitting for one reason or another.
Today is the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout, when smokers from across the country will try to put down their cigarettes for at least one day.
"About 85 percent of Colorado smokers have indicated they want to quit," said Missy Ivy, Tobacco Prevention Project coordinator for Garfield County Public Health. “The Great American Smokeout is an ideal time for people who smoke to tackle the challenge."
The Great American Smokeout started in California in 1976, and encouraged nearly one million smokers to quit for a day. It went nationwide the following year and has been celebrated the third Thursday of November every year since, spreading awareness of tobacco risks and promoting smoke-free communities.
"We want to get the message out there with the hope that if people can quit for one day, it could be long-term," Ivy said.
Marty Gaither, director of respiratory therapy at Valley View Hospital in Glenwood Springs, said most of the patients he sees suffering from chronic obstructive lung disease are directly related to smoking, second-hand smoke or occupational hazards.
"It's the third leading cause of death," he said. "It affects the airways and the lungs. And the vast majority of these people are smokers. The biggest thing we see is people short of breath."
Smokers who quit for good will see improvements in their health almost immediately.
According to Ivy, research shows that within 20 minutes of quitting, a smoker's heart rate and blood pressure have dropped. Within 12 hours, the carbon monoxide levels in their blood have decreased. As soon as two weeks, their circulation and lung functions have improved. And long-term benefits of quitting include a decreased risk of cancer, heart disease and strokes and a longer life.
Last Monday, Nov. 17, I celebrated my one year anniversary of quitting smoking. I feel better, I look better and best of all, I breathe a whole lot better. I did it with the assistance of some medication I got from my doctor that I took for about three weeks, which helped tremendously.
I ate carrot sticks and celery sticks to cope with the hand-to-mouth habit and opened up shelled peanuts when I talked on the phone, which was one of my "triggers" for smoking. I substituted juice for coffee in the beginning, as it was another "trigger." I took long walks to help fight off urges.
I gained, maybe, two pounds.
Quitting smoking is hard, but it's not impossible.
And if you don't succeed on this attempt, keep trying. It's so worth it.
Cigarette smoking was an addiction I'd had for nearly 30 years that had eventually grown into a two-pack-a-day habit. Sure, I knew all about the dangers of smoking, but like millions of other smokers, I just hadn't gotten around to quitting for one reason or another.
Today is the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout, when smokers from across the country will try to put down their cigarettes for at least one day.
"About 85 percent of Colorado smokers have indicated they want to quit," said Missy Ivy, Tobacco Prevention Project coordinator for Garfield County Public Health. “The Great American Smokeout is an ideal time for people who smoke to tackle the challenge."
The Great American Smokeout started in California in 1976, and encouraged nearly one million smokers to quit for a day. It went nationwide the following year and has been celebrated the third Thursday of November every year since, spreading awareness of tobacco risks and promoting smoke-free communities.
"We want to get the message out there with the hope that if people can quit for one day, it could be long-term," Ivy said.
Marty Gaither, director of respiratory therapy at Valley View Hospital in Glenwood Springs, said most of the patients he sees suffering from chronic obstructive lung disease are directly related to smoking, second-hand smoke or occupational hazards.
"It's the third leading cause of death," he said. "It affects the airways and the lungs. And the vast majority of these people are smokers. The biggest thing we see is people short of breath."
Smokers who quit for good will see improvements in their health almost immediately.
According to Ivy, research shows that within 20 minutes of quitting, a smoker's heart rate and blood pressure have dropped. Within 12 hours, the carbon monoxide levels in their blood have decreased. As soon as two weeks, their circulation and lung functions have improved. And long-term benefits of quitting include a decreased risk of cancer, heart disease and strokes and a longer life.
Last Monday, Nov. 17, I celebrated my one year anniversary of quitting smoking. I feel better, I look better and best of all, I breathe a whole lot better. I did it with the assistance of some medication I got from my doctor that I took for about three weeks, which helped tremendously.
I ate carrot sticks and celery sticks to cope with the hand-to-mouth habit and opened up shelled peanuts when I talked on the phone, which was one of my "triggers" for smoking. I substituted juice for coffee in the beginning, as it was another "trigger." I took long walks to help fight off urges.
I gained, maybe, two pounds.
Quitting smoking is hard, but it's not impossible.
And if you don't succeed on this attempt, keep trying. It's so worth it.
