More than a year and a half into the pandemic, a lot of us have probably picked up some habits — or maybe a few pounds — that we didn’t possess pre-pandemic.
Or maybe some of your existing habits got worse.
And now we are facing the holidays, the start of the colder and darker winter months and a new year.
Those facts might make some want to hunker down and not make any changes.
But if not now, when?
For those who still have a cigarette habit, that’s where the Great American Smokeout comes in.
Held this year on Nov. 18, the Great American Smokeout was created by the American Cancer Society in 1977 to prompt smokers to consider taking just one day off from smoking.
The idea is that after taking one day off, some might decide to forego cigarettes the next day… and then maybe the next.
You get the idea. Habits are hard to change, but taking the first step can lead to success, even if it takes some time.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more people in the United States are addicted to nicotine than to any other drug. And, as usual, with 25.2% of the adult population of West Virginia smoking, the Mountain State continues to lead the nation in this habit.
The CDC also notes that smoking is a risk factor for getting a more severe case of COVID-19.
So if you are thinking about quitting, now is a really good time to try. Luckily, there are resources available to help you, as well as an event to provide motivation.
The Great American Smokeout always falls on the Thursday before Thanksgiving. Maybe a motivating factor could be that a week after stopping, that turkey dinner will taste a little bit better because smoking dulls your taste buds.
As the American Cancer Society points out:
- 20 minutes after quitting, your heart rate and blood pressure drop. After 12 hours, carbon monoxide levels in your blood drop to normal.
- After two weeks to three months, circulation improves and lung function increases.
- After one to nine months, coughing and shortness of breath decrease. Cilia start to regain function in your lungs, increasing their ability to clean the lungs and reduce the risk of infection.
If you want to quit, there is help out there beyond the promise of a healthier body and a tastier holiday meal.
The West Virginia Tobacco Quitline changed vendors last year and services have been made more accessible. Individuals can enroll online at https://wvtobaccoquitline.com.
You will be assigned a coach who will connect you with products — the scope of which depends on your insurance situation — as well as unlimited coaching calls.
The first coaching call includes questions about the client’s smoking habits. This allows the program to be tailored to each individual.
To get started, go online or call 800-QUIT-NOW (7848-669).
Just think, if you are successful, you could choose another habit to give up for New Year’s.
And maybe by the time the next Great American Smokeout rolls around next year, you will be celebrating how your risk of coronary heart disease is half that of someone who still smokes, and your heart attack risk will have dropped dramatically.
That Thanksgiving turkey will taste really great, too.
