This November, the West Virginia Medical Institute (WVMI) supports National Smoking Cessation Month. By quitting, even for one day, smokers can take an important step towards a healthier life – one that can lead to reducing cancer risk.
According to the American Cancer Society, tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the U.S., yet about 43.8 million Americans still smoke cigarettes. That is nearly one in every five adults.
Quitting is hard, but smokers can increase their chances of success with help. Organizations like the American Cancer Society offer resources and support that can increase smokers’ chances of quitting successfully.
Research shows that smokers are most successful in kicking the habit when they have support, such as telephone smoking-cessation hotlines, stop-smoking groups, online quit groups and nicotine replacement products.
Additionally, Thursday, Nov. 21 marks the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout. The event challenges people to stop using tobacco and helps people know about the many tools they can use to quit and stay quit.
WVMI, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for West Virginia, offers downloadable resources and tools on its Web site to help smokers quit. Visit http://www.qiwv.org and click on Resources and Health e-Tools to access items like the Smoking Cost Calculator and the Zombie Smokeout Mobile Game.
