Are you hurting those you love?

  • Published
  • By Jennifer Diveley
  • TriWest Healthcare Alliance
The average smoker tries to quit 20 times before succeeding. Some people are motivated to stop smoking to improve their health. Others say they stopped smoking "cold turkey" for personal reasons. Whatever the reason, the bottom line is that it's not easy to quit!

You probably already know that smoking is bad for you, but did you know it can also be hurting those you love?

· Exposure to secondhand smoke can cause asthma in children.
· Regular exposure to secondhand smoke can trigger asthma attacks and make asthma symptoms worse.
· Children younger than age 6 who are exposed regularly to secondhand smoke are at an increased risk for pneumonia and bronchitis.

As for you, smoking causes cancer, heart disease, stroke and emphysema. It also causes you to age early, creating wrinkles and turning your teeth yellow.

November 15: The Great American Smokeout
Thursday, Nov. 15 is the annual Great American Smokeout. Do you think you can quit for just one day?

If you participate in the Great American Smokeout, you'll be joining thousands of other smokers across the nation who made the promise to quit for the day. If you have tried to stop smoking in the past, but have been unsuccessful in your effort, you are not alone.

Ready to try and kick the habit? The first step is to make a plan. You can find information, tools, and other resources to help you quit by visiting TriWest.com/tobacco.

never too late to quit smoking. Make a commitment to yourself and to your loved ones today.