 Back to Contents
January / February 2010
Volume 22, Number 1
 |
News you can use |
4,000 Reasons to Quit Smoking
There are more than 4,000 individual chemicals that have
been identified in tobacco and tobacco smoke. Among
those are more than 60 known carcinogens (cancercausing
agents). Smoking is responsible for nearly one
in five deaths in the United States.* Because cigarette
smoking and tobacco use are acquired behaviors —
activities that individuals choose to do — smoking is
the most preventable cause of premature death in our
society.
Who Smokes?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), 44.5 million U.S. adults were current
smokers in 2004 (the most recent year for which numbers
are available). Twenty-three percent of men smoke and
18.5 percent of women smoke, which equates to one out
of five people.
By race/ethnicity:
22.2 percent of Caucasians smoke;
20.2 percent of African Americans smoke;
15 percent of Hispanics smoke;
33.4 percent of Native Americans/Alaskan Natives
smoke;
and
11.3 percent of Asian Americans smoke.
Pull out all the stops
Quitting smoking has major and immediate health benefits
for people of all ages. Former smokers live longer than
continuing smokers and quitting decreases the risk of lung
cancer, other cancers, heart attack, stroke and chronic lung
disease. Fortunately, help is available for counties looking
for ways to start a smoking cessation program.
For counties that are members of TAC’s Health and
Employee Benefits Pool and are participating in Healthy
County, Personal Health Manager tools and resources are
found at Blue Access® for Members on the Blue Cross Blue
Shield of Texas Web site, www.bcbstx.com. Just log in to
Blue Access for Members and look for the Personal Health
Manager icon to get started. Employees can get individual,
online support with Ask A Life Coach and receive timely
feedback to emailed questions about smoking. Tracking
progress is also important in staying focused on goals. My
Charts and Wellness Tools, found under the Personal Health
Manager menu tab, can help employees gain more control
and awareness about their smoking cessation plan.
There are many good reasons to quit smoking. And that’s
a good reason to visit Blue Access for Members today to
take the first positive step toward quitting.
*Source: The American Cancer Society |
