LUFKIN, TX (KTRE) -
Thursday smokers nationwide will be
encouraged to quit during the 37th Great American Smokeout.
"Using a day to quit cold turkey
or to make a drastic effort prior to the Great American Smokeout to make the Great
American Smokeout their quit day," said Alicia Bergeron, Health Initiative
Regional Director, American Cancer Society.
Health officials say that smoking can
be linked to diabetes, respiratory diseases and various cancers and smokers can
lower their risk for these diseases by nipping their smoking habit in the bud.
"For people to quit it prolongs
their life," said Maci Herrington, Special Project Coordinator, Smoke-Free
Lufkin.
For New Year's Brett Bailey quit
smoking cold turkey, bailey says the first month or so was a challenge but says
a year of healthier habits has improved his health
"I'm definitely more energetic,
definitely more mentally alert, I have more energy and I want to do more activities,"
said Bailey.
Caleb Nelson quit using cigarettes two
years ago by using a vapping alternative.
"You still get a small amount of
nicotine to battle the cravings but you don't get any of the carcinogens no
smoke smell," said Nelson.
Officials say to stop smoking isn't
easy but it can happen, smokers just have to drop the habit at their own pace.
"Nicotine replacement therapy,
speaking with your physicians about opportunities to quite, trying to make an
effort to smoke fewer cigarettes than you currently smoke," said Bergeron.
Fewer smokers in the community means
cleaner air for everyone to share.
"Nobody wants to smell someone
else's smoke when they walk into stores or sitting in a restaurant and second hand
smoke is just as dangerous," said Herrington.
The Great American Smokeout is an
opportunity to wipe the slate clean and get smokers on a path to a healthier
life.
Smoke Free Lufkin's Drug Free All Stars will
be out at the Angelina County Health District Thursday morning to encourage
people to quit smoking.
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