When it comes to students smoking, Ohio State is on board to help prevent students from doing so.
OSU is getting involved with the American Cancer Society and JamesCare for Life to help students quit smoking.
The American Cancer Society sponsors the Great American Smokeout on the third Thursday of November.
The purpose of the Great American Smokeout is to have current smokers give up smoking for the day and to motivate them to quit smoking for good, said Kathy Vesha, program manager for JamesCare for Life, a collection of support groups for health issues within the OSU Medical Center. This is the 29th Annual Event.
JamesCare for Life sponsored "Surviving the Holidays Smoke Free" yesterday evening. A massage therapist spoke at the event about stress reduction and past smokers answered questions in a panel discussion about which quitting methods worked for them.
"Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women in the United States and 87 percent of those deaths are from smoking," Vesha said.
Cancer accounts for only half of the deaths related to smoking. Heart disease, aneurysms, bronchitis, emphysema and stroke are also caused by smoking, in addition to an increased severity of pneumonia and asthma, according to the American Cancer Society.
The JamesCare for Life offers steps to quit smoking. Vesha suggests anyone wanting to quit smoking should commit to kick the habit and talk to their doctor about methods and medications.
Vesha said to set a quitting date and to keep a smoking log. She also said that during the process, people trying to quit should have support from their family and friends and should prepare for difficult times while trying to quit and that the last step is rewarding yourself for quitting, Vesha said.
Lisa Borelli, program specialist in the Office of Human Resources at OSU, suggests counseling to help prevent relapse and the use of relaxation exercises and behavioral therapy techniques.
"I also think exercise and a social support system are important," Borelli said, "I have read that peer pressure, negative mood states and conflicts with loved ones are often triggers for relapse."
Borelli said people should read about all the benefits from stopping smoking and build on those positive areas.
There are many health benefits after you quit smoking. Twenty minutes after you quit, a smoker's blood pressure drops to a level close to that before the last cigarette and the temperature of their hands and feet increases to normal. After eight hours, the carbon monoxide level in their blood drops to normal. Two weeks to three months after quitting, your circulation improves and your lung function increases up to 30 percent. Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a non-smoker five to 15 years after quitting.
For more information on quitting smoking you can visit the American Cancer Web site at
www.cancer.org or by phone at (800) ACS-2345 or talk to you doctor or physician.
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