No disrespect, Dad, but smoking doesn’t make you look ‘cool’

  • Published
  • By Patti Schwab-Holloway
  • 349th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE,Calif. --  My dad had a stroke a few years ago. Unfortunately, he recovered just wonderfully. That isn't a typo, I wrote "unfortunately" because when Dad was in the hospital -- making deals with God -- he promised to "try and quit smoking," which lasted almost six weeks. Once he was feeling better, he went right back to smoking.

I care about my father, so I had to ask, "Dad, why did you start smoking again?" His reply was simple: "Because people who smoke look cool."

No disrespect to my pops, but he's just wrong. People who smoke look stupid, unattractive and gross.

Every year I try and write something to promote the "Great American Smokeout" to help people on the road to quitting. The annual GAS is held the third Thursday in November, encouraging Americans to stop smoking.

The event challenges people to quit smoking cigarettes for 24 hours, hoping their decision will stick. I know one thing for sure, the decision to quit smoking is, but having national support certainly won't hurt.

I know how hard it is to quit. I come from a family of smokers and I have quit myself, several times.

Even though the official GAS has come and gone, any day is a great day to quit smoking. These tips can help you be more successful:

-Don't smoke, not even one puff.

-Keep active, try walking, exercising, doing other activities or hobbies.

-Drink lots of water and juices.

-Use a nicotine replacement method

-Attend stop-smoking classes or follow a self-help plan.

-Avoid situations where the urge to smoke is strong.

-Reduce or avoid alcohol.

-Change routines. Use a different route to go to work, drink tea instead of coffee, eat breakfast in a different place or eat different foods.

Nicotine withdrawal has two parts: physical and mental. Smoking becomes linked to many day-to-day activities like eating, reading, watching television, even drinking coffee.

Each activity can be a major trigger and it takes real effort to unlink smoking from these activities.

For me, it was talking on the phone, even with nicotine replacement, the urge to smoke can still be strong.

Be aware of triggers and find distractions, like replacing that morning smoke with a stretching routine.

Think of the rewards of not smoking. The first one that comes to mind is the money saved. A carton of cigarettes is about $50. Multiply that cost by one year and that is more than $2,500! For a couple who smokes that can be $5,000 -- a down payment on a first home.

The American Cancer Society touts other rewards for quitting:

· After 20 minutes, blood pressure, pulse and carbon-monoxide levels drop to normal.

· After 48 hours, sense of smell and taste are enhanced and nerve endings start to re-grow.

· After two to 12 weeks, circulation improves and lung function increases by up to 30 percent.

· After one to nine months, coughing, sinus congestion and shortness of breath decrease. Cilia function returns to the lungs.

· After one year, risk of heart disease is half that of a smoker.

· After five years, risk of lung cancer is half that of a smoker.

· After 15 years, life expectancy is equal to that of a nonsmoker.

New research on quitting suggests that in addition to medications, nicotine replacement and exercise are very helpful.

For more information on how to quit, visit www.cancer.org or ask your doctor.

Why not make today your 'quit day'?