|
Why Do You Smoke?
Take this QUIZ
from the American Lung Association
to gain more insight into your smoking habits.
Need Help Quitting?
|
Have you been thinking
about quitting smoking but weren't sure how to get started?
Have you tried quitting
in the past and haven't found the method that quite works
for you?
|
- Pick a good time to quit. Don't try to quit near the holiday
season or when you are under alot of stress.
- The quitting process is different for everybody. Talk to other
former smokers for support, but don't expect your experience to
be the same.
- Maintain some kind of physical activity by walking, playing
basketball or swimming. Exercise can boost your energy level and
get your mind off of your goal of staying smoke-free.
- Eat a healthy diet, drink lots of water and get enough sleep.
- Ask for help from family and friends.
Also.. check out other kinds of self-help
options available online or through local agencies.
Who is at risk?
Smoking attracts over 3,000 young people each
day and 1.7 million youths have smoked cigarettes by their 18th
birthday. A California survey* of college students reports that
20% of college student smoke cigarettes. Men are slightly more likely
than women to have smoked (21.9% of all men vs. 18.9% of all women).
Among students who smoke, 44% report trying to quit during the past
six months. Quitting is difficult because nicotine is a physically
addictive drug.
Every 10 seconds, someone dies from tobacco use,
says the World Health Organization.
What is the risk?
Scientific evidence exists linking death and disease
to tobacco use. Health risks include cardiovascular disease, chronic
coughs, reduced lung function, emphysema and cancer. Short-term
health risks include smelly clothes, bad breath, clothing burns
and loss of income spent on cigarettes. Tobacco smoke contains about
4,000 chemicals, including 200 known poisons. Tobacco smoke is harmful
to everybody's health.
"We know -- and so do the tobacco companies
-- that there are dozens of chemicals in tobacco smoke that are
carcinogens or reproductive toxicants"... Los Angeles City
Attorney James Hahn
Is Someone Else's Smoking Bothering
You?
UCI Smoking Policy: Smoking is prohibited in outdoor
areas within fifteen feet (or more depending on special circumstances)
of entrances, exits and any other locations where smoke may be brought
into a UCI facility. For more information, visit the UCI
Smoking Policy.
In 1986, the US Surgeon General reported that involuntary
smoking can cause lung cancer in healthy nonsmokers. Recent studies
confirmed that secondhand smoke causes death from heart disease.
Research also confirms the significant damage caused to infants
and children by parents who smoke, including reduced lung function,
higher rates of bronchitis and pneumonia and aggravated symptoms
in asthmatic children. Breathing healthy and clean air is your right.
Take the following steps to help:
- Let family, friends, coworkers and others know that you mind
if they smoke.
- Put stickers, buttons and signs in your home, car and office
to remind people not to smoke.
- Support legislation to restrict smoking and to set-up smoke
free areas in public places.
- Ask your doctor and dentist to eliminate smoking in their waiting
rooms and to help enforce nonsmoking regulations in all health-care
facilities.
- Propose no-smoking resolutions at organization meetings.
- Encourage management and unions where you work to establish
a policy to protect nonsmokers on the job.
- Help to promote the concept of smoke-free families in your community.
- Join a local network promoting activism around smoke-free issues.
Help on Campus...
UCI Health Education
Center provides stop-smoking kits and printed resources to help
you stop smoking.
Student Health
Services Pharmacy sells nicotine patch replacement therapy with
a physician prescription.
More Info
For free quit smoking help contact 1-866-NEW-LUNG (1-866-639-5864).
Ask your physician for information on cessation
services available through your health plan.
Contact American
Lung Association for information on local cessation support
groups and resources.
More Links and Resources
|
