Giving up can save lives Published Nov. 17, 2011 By Senior Airman Rae Perry 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Giving up our security blanket or favorite stuffed animal when we were younger was hard, but as we grow older we sometimes forms habits that are equally as challenging to let go. "It is important for military members to quit [smoking] because smoking affects everybody," said Tech. Sgt. Celeste Spears, 4th Medical Group nutritional medicine NCOIC. "From the statistics that we see, over 50,000 people die from exposure to second-hand smoke alone." The base Health and Wellness Center (HAWC), in conjunction with the Medical Group's primary care managers, offer several methods to aid active duty Airmen and their families in quitting the use of tobacco products. Three assistance programs are: Quit Coach from the American Lung Association (ALA), Freedom from Smoking Online and Quit Tobacco: Make Everyone Proud, online. "The main [program] that we use is through the ALA, which is called the lung help-line." Spears explained. "This is a program where someone can call a 1-800 number and talk to a certified respiratory therapist, which can give and discuss coping mechanisms or what can do to help quit smoking." According to the ALA website, smoking is the number one cause of death in the United States and it can cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease which effects the lungs and heart. "[Smoking] affects our fitness assessment areas," Spears said. "If you smoke, it can definitely affect your cardiovascular health and give you a poor score on the fitness assessment." Besides improving fitness scores, changes related to quitting can take effect in as little as 20 minutes. For the human body to fully recover from the effects of smoking, it takes about 15 years. In those years, the risk of having a heart attack or a stroke drops along with the risk of developing different types of cancer. If you or someone you know is interested in quitting the use of a tobacco product, contact the HAWC found on the second floor of the Fitness Center. "The first thing that they really need to do is to call the HAWC so we can determine their goals," Spears said. "Some want to quit cold turkey or do not want to take medications, so depending on what they need; we direct them to the proper channel to get them the help that they need." The HAWC holds an annual "Great American Smoke Out" 5k to encourage people to step away from their tobacco products for a day to promote a healthier lifestyle. For more information about quitting, call the HAWC at 722-0407, or visit any of the following web pages: http://www.lungusa.org/ http://www.ffsonline.org/ http://www.ucanquit2.org/