National Non-Smoking Week January 15-21, 2012.

The beginning of a New Year motivates individuals to make resolutions. Typically resolutions are made that will positively influence one’s health and well being. Often, one of these is to quit smoking and for those who do succeed, it will have a positive impact on their health status.

Smoking tobacco is the most preventable cause of lung cancer and is the primary cause of early and avoidable death and disease. Effects of quitting are almost immediate as your body starts to clear the toxins from cigarette smoke. One year after quitting, the risk of having a heart attack is reduced by 50 per cent relative to those who continue to smoke. In addition, it also reduces the risk of lung and other forms of cancer, stroke, and chronic lung disease.

National Non-Smoking week has been observed for more than 30 years; the goal is to educate the public about the dangers of smoking, preventing those who do not smoke from starting, assisting those who may want to quit, promote the rights of individuals to breathe clean air, and striving to achieve a smoke-free society. Over the past decade, tobacco-control strategies have been implemented at the federal, provincial and municipal levels. These strategies have helped to reduce the smoking rate in Canada by more than 30%. Many free programs and quit-smoking clinics are available across the province, and numerous campaigns have been launched in schools and communities with the specific goal of reducing tobacco use in youth. A variety of resources are available to help those who want to quit smoking and can be accessed through your primary healthcare provider, pharmacist, the Public Health Unit, Canadian Cancer Society, The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Health Canada, or via the internet. The Canadian Cancer Society offers a Smokers' Helpline 1-877-513-5333 which provides support, advice and information to people across Ontario. Smokers' Helpline Quit Specialists are available to answer questions about quitting, discuss the options available for quitting and provide support and a listening ear to people trying to quit. Service is provided free-of-charge from anywhere in Ontario.

If your New Year’s resolution was to quit smoking, congratulations! You have made a wise decision. With the right combination of planning, determination and support you will be able to stop smoking for good! Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do to improve your health.