Tip of the Day: Get ready to kick butt

This Thursday (Nov. 19) marks the annual Great American Smokeout, promoted by the American Cancer Society as a challenge to the nation’s 46 million smokers to give up the habit for 24 hours.

Although many employers, restaurants and other facilities have taken a hard line against smokers in the 32 years since the Smokeout’s inception in 1977, smoking continues its horrifying reign as the leading cause of preventable death in the United States.

Over the years, a lot of you have told me about your company’s successes in kicking butt at the workplace — from wellness programs to refusing to hire smokers. But I encourage you to promote this year’s challenge with activities at your workplace (target employees' spouses or children who smoke!) or in your community. Who knows? You may save one of the more than 400,00 lives that are estimated to be lost over the next year due to smoking.

A little food for thought:

* Within 30 minutes of quitting smoking, your pulse rate slows down and blood pressure drops toward normal.

* Within hours of stopping, the level of carbon monoxide in your blood drops, enabling the blood to carry more oxygen.

* Two days after quitting, nerve endings begin to recover and your sense of smell and taste begin to return.

* Within 72 hours of quitting, your lungs’ bronchial tubes expand and lung volume increases.

* Months after quitting, shortness of breath diminishes.

* In the first year, the risk of heart attack attributed to smoking declines for both men and women.

* Two to three years after quitting, the risk of heart attack attributed to smoking is virtually gone.

* After 10 years, the risk of developing cancer is about the same as for nonsmokers.

Click here for the latest from EBN on smoking cessation.