Great American Smokeout: It's never too late to quit

The average adult takes 15 to 20 breaths a minute — more than 20,000 per day, according to the American Lung Association. Healthy lungs are important to deliver clean air to our bodies' organs and tissues, which convert oxygen into fuel to support vital body functions. When a smoker lights up, it affects not only the health of the lungs, but also the body structures that depend on the lungs for oxygen.

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death, claiming the lives of more than 440,000 adults in America each year, along with an estimated 50,000 deaths from secondhand smoke exposure.

Closer to home, 1,400 Montanans die from tobacco related illnesses each year. According to the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, smoking addiction costs Montana $582 million annually — $277 million in excess medical costs and $305 million in lost productivity.

In addition to lung cancer, smoking can lead to a variety of respiratory complications and chronic diseases including asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, coronary heart disease, stroke, pneumonia, peripheral artery disease and cancer of the mouth and throat, bladder, stomach, cervix, kidneys and pancreas. A smoker's lifespan is about 14 years shorter than a nonsmoker's. Smokers suffer from other conditions, including slow-healing wounds, infertility and peptic ulcer disease. More than 8 million people in the United States have at least one serious illness caused by smoking.

The 37th Great American Smokeout is observed on Nov. 15. This day is a reminder of good news for smokers: It is never too late to quit. Smokers can gain health benefits by giving up the habit, whether you're an occasional smoker or have a lifelong, pack-a-day habit.

In addition to lowering your risk of cancer, emphysema, stroke and heart attack, quitting also decreases your likelihood of cataracts and premature skin wrinkling. Other benefits include more energy, better sleep, improved sense of smell and taste, and healthier skin.

Montana quit line expands nicotine replacement therapies

Kicking the habit isn't easy, but there are resources to help, such as the Montana Quit Line. Through this free service, you will be guided into a program that will best fit your individual needs. The Montana Quit Line offers specialized counseling for a broad spectrum of tobacco users, including pregnant smokers, teen tobacco users and spit tobacco users.

The Montana Tobacco Quit Line is now offering nicotine replacement therapy for callers who are ready to work on quitting tobacco and may need extra help combating cravings during the initial quitting period. Two weeks of free, short-acting nicotine products, the nicotine gum and lozenges, are now available to augment the use of the nicotine patch or the prescription medication buproprion to provide extra help in overcoming cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

When people call the Montana Tobacco Quit Line, the Quit coaches will discuss these options and if NRT is appropriate. They will provide education to make sure the individual understands how to effectively use these short-acting nicotine products in combination with other forms of medications. Quit coaches help the caller develop a personalized quit plan, discuss medication options and provide ongoing support.

Benefits from quitting are almost immediate

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as soon as you quit, a series of changes in your body occur almost instantaneously, and the benefits continue the longer you remain a nonsmoker.

• 20 minutes after quitting: Heart rate drops.
• 12 hours after quitting: Carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
• Two weeks to three months after quitting: Heart attack risk begins to drop. Lung function begins to improve.
• One to nine months after quitting: Coughing and shortness of breath decrease.
• One year after quitting: Added risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker's.
• Five years after quitting: Stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker.
• 10 years after quitting: Lung cancer death rate is about half that of a smoker's. Risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas decreases.
• 15 years after quitting: Risk of coronary heart disease is back to that of a nonsmoker's.

Studies have shown that quitting at about age 30 reduces the chance of dying from smoking-related diseases by more than 90 percent, by age 50 reduces their risk of dying prematurely by 50 percent. Even people who quit at age 60 or older can live longer than those who continue to smoke.

The Great American Smokeout provides a great opportunity to make your plan to quit. The Montana Quit Line can help you pick a quit date that is best for you. The Quit Line is open seven days a week and can be reached by calling toll-free (800) QUIT-NOW (784-8669). The service is free, and so is the call. Make the call today.