COLUMNS

Time to kick it!

OK, so you're going to quit smoking. And why not? It's probably near the top of every smoker's list of New Year's resolutions. It's also a key element in the ongoing"Commit to be Fit" program encouraging healthy living that's active throughout most of central Ohio at the moment.

Quitting tobacco is still the best way to reduce your chances of getting cancer. Cigarette smoking accounts for nearly one-third of all the lung cancer, and is also related to cancer of the esophagus, larynx, mouth, pharynx and bladder. Smoking contributes to 20 percent of all heart disease and strokes. It is also a major cause of bronchitis and respiratory infections. Plus, poor pregnancy outcomes and low-birth-weight babies are linked to cigarette smoking in pregnant women.

The good news is that the rate of smoking has dropped dramatically since the surgeon general's first report on smoking in 1964. In that year, roughly 42 percent of adults were active smokers. Today, less than a quarter of the population smokes. The bad news is that the steep decline in smoking has begun to level off, so we suspect those who are still at it are probably pretty entrenched in the habit. More men than women smoke, and the number of high schoolers who say they use tobacco in one form or another hovers around 30 percent.

Get this: The tobacco industry claims about 2,000 new smokers every day. All under the age of 18!

Studies show that most smokers want to quit. We know that about a third of all adult smokers actually try to quit every year. But cigarettes are a tough opponent. Only about 5 percent of people who smoke every day are able to stay away from cigarettes longer than three months. The addiction to nicotine is just that strong.

So what does work? As a health expert, I know that it helps to use multiple strategies. Don't go it alone. Remember: Tobacco is a very powerful foe; you're going to need everything you've got to quit.

For example, one of the first things you can do is to let people around you know your intentions. Tell them what you need from them. If a buddy still smokes, ask him not to smoke around you, or try spending less time with him.

Perhaps strengthen the time you spend with friends who don't smoke. Let your family members know your goals. More than likely, they will want to support you, and will offer you encouragement.

Consider the use of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) to help reduce withdrawal symptoms like irritability and restlessness. The most commonly used NRT is the patch. When applied to your skin, the patch delivers low doses of nicotine into your bloodstream throughout the day. The nicotine gum, spray and inhaler are other forms of NRT on the market.

Make sure you talk to your physician and discuss strategies and medications available to assist you in the quitting process. Do everything you can to maximize your chances for success.

From my work as a health and wellness expert, I know it can be done. The Kick It! Tobacco Cessation and Intervention program has helped hundreds of people here at The James. If you need help, there are plenty of places to call. Just visit www.jamesline.com for lots of information about cancer, and about how you can finally kick the cigarette smoking habit once and for all.

If you'd like to take the Commit to be Fit pledge, go to www.10tv.com/specials/commit/pledge1.php.

Don't wait another minute. It's time to Kick It!

Franklin is a wellness and prevention specialist and the administrator of the Kick It! Tobacco Cessation and Intervention program at The James.

FROM THE EDITOR

Faculty & Staff page to run once per month

onCampus readers who are fans of the Faculty & Staff page, please take note: Because we have received fewer submissions of items for that page in recent months, we have decided to run the page just once per month. Thus, there is no Faculty & Staff page in this issue of onCampus. For the time being, the page will be scheduled to run in the first issue of each month.

Our preference would be to run that page -- historically one of our most popular -- in every issue. If you feel the same way, please submit news of your presentations, publications, service, recognitions, etc., and encourage your colleagues to join you. Submissions may be faxed to 292-1861, e-mailed to oncampus@osu.edu, or sent via campus mail in care of Mary Lindner to 1125 Kinnear Road.