Let's Clear the Air!

The American Cancer Society will host the 34th Great American Smokeout on Thursday, November 19, in its annual push to get tobacco users to quit – for at least a day. The good news is at least 40 percent of the more than 43 million American smokers have attempted to quit at least for one day during the past year, and the Great American Smokeout is the perfect opportunity to continue that success and help others create a plan to quit the habit for good.

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the U.S., contributing to many types of cancers and other illnesses related to its use. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that nearly 5,000 Mississippians die each year due to smoking-related illnesses.  Half of all Americans who continue their smoking habit will die of a smoking-related illness. Next year alone, it is predicted that tobacco will kill 6 million people globally. So, the best prevention of lung cancer and smoking-related illnesses is to stop smoking – or don’t start in the first place.

If you do smoke or use tobacco, there are many resources available to help you quit the habit for good. From counseling to planning and medications, you can find a plan that works best for you. Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi has developed the “be smoke-free” Program, which offers information and guidance on quitting tobacco. You can visit the “be smoke-free” section of our website for more information.

When you do choose to stop smoking or using tobacco, the health benefits are immediate and continue to improve over time. Here are some of the health improvements you can expect after:

20 minutes: Blood pressure drops to the level you had before your last cigarette and the temperature of your hands and feet returns to normal.  

24 hours: Your chance of a heart attack decreases.

1 to 9 months: Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath decrease: cilia regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce infection.

1 year: Chance of having a heart attack is cut in half.

5 years: Stroke risk is reduced to that of a non-smoker 5 to 15 years after quitting.

15 years: Risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker.

For more information about being tobacco-free, visit the "be smoke-free" section of our website.

You can also learn more about the Great American Smokeout from the American Cancer Society .