The Friday Five – November 16th is the Great American Smokeout

Follow and join the conversation with #GASO and #GreatAmericanSmokeout.

While smoking rates are on the decline and have been for decades, according to the CDC, “tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of death and disease in the United States. Cigarette smoking kills more than 480,000 Americans each year, with more than 41,000 of these deaths from exposure to secondhand smoke.” Since 1977 the American Cancer Society has held one of the most successful campaigns against tobacco use, The Great American Smokeout. Every year on the third Thursday of November, the public is reminded of the dangers of smoking and many use the date to either quit or make a plan to quit. This week’s Friday Five takes a look at smoking in 2017 and how to help yourself or someone you love put down the cigarettes for good.

The first step is Day 1! #Commit2Quit for the #GreatAmericanSmokeout on November 16th. pic.twitter.com/ceYEbQHtXQ

— Quit Tobacco (@ucanquit2) November 3, 2017

Keeping Track of Smoking Data
The Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index (@WellBeing_Index) is the world’s largest data set on well-being, with over 2.5 million surveys fielded to date. Gallup interviews 500 people every day; the result is a sample that projects to an estimated 95% of U.S. adults. Check out the organization’s articles about smoking and its relation to obesity and unhealthy eating, youth and e-cigarettes and reports of smoking rates from the states. In addition Gallup gives a snapshot each month of adult smoking percentages.

States with the most smokers
According to USA Today, the number of smokers may be more or less depending on where you live. West Virginia and Kentucky have the highest adult smoking rates while Utah comes in as the lowest. Not surprisingly, states with the highest smoking rates also have cancer death rates above the national average.

Million Hearts Initiative
The Million Hearts Initiative (@millionheartsus) was launched in 2012 by the HHS with the goal to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes by 2017.  While an estimated half a million events may have been prevented, final numbers will not be available until 2019. In the meantime, the Million Hearts Initiative began a new five-year phase called Million Hearts 2022, with a renewed focus on keeping people healthy, optimizing care, and improving outcomes for priority populations. Since tobacco smokers are at greater risk for diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels the Million Hearts initiative features tools and resources for clinicians and tobacco users that can help smokers quit and reduce their risk for heart disease and stroke.

Get your patients started on their #smokefree journey! Access helpful resources & tools at @CDCgov. https://t.co/iX4LLpIZnu pic.twitter.com/5TLlnz6DWO

— Million Hearts ® (@MillionHeartsUS) November 7, 2017

Quit for Life Program
Quitting smoking is much more likely to be successful with some support. Optum (@optum), a health services and innovation company, and the American Cancer Society (@AmericanCancer) joined forces to create The Quit For Life program, the nation’s leading tobacco-cessation program. Quir for Life is a phone-based coaching and web-based learning support service to help smokers quit. It’s offered by 26 states and more than 700 employers and health plans throughout the US. The program is free to join and to date has helped more that 1 million tobacco users make a plan to quit for good.

Benefits of Quitting Smoking Over Time
The benefits of quitting smoking happen within minutes and continue to improve your health over time. The risk of heart attack declines within 24 hours of quitting. Need more convincing? Check out this list  from the American Cancer Society.

Shortly after quitting smoking, circulation improves & lung function increases. https://t.co/gtyZFc8t3k #gaso pic.twitter.com/IgEzAyOOAC

— ACS Oregon (@ACS_OR) November 9, 2017

ICYMI – Our other Friday Fives.