Today marks the observance of the 36th Great American Smokeout.

The Great American Smokeout is a date for individuals to begin their fight in quitting tobacco products or as date to officially quit. Setting a date and making a plan to quit using tobacco products can help to increase chances of quitting for good.

Tobacco use is the most preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States. Tobacco use is linked to various types of cancer, including lung, throat, mouth, cervical and more. Tobacco use is linked to lung disease, heart attacks, strokes and numerous other illnesses. The sooner that one quits, the less likely one is to develop a smoking-related illness.

Not only is smoking dangerous to one’s health and to those around him or her, but it is expensive, too. If one pack of cigarettes costs $4 and one smokes a pack a day, then in one year’s time he or she will have spent more than $1,400. If you are a smoker and you quit now, not only will you save money, but your body will almost immediately begin to get healthier. Within 20 minutes of the last cigarette smoked, your heart rate and blood pressure begin to return to normal. After one year of being tobacco-free, your risk of coronary heart disease is half that of someone who smokes.

Tobacco products are extremely addictive and difficult to quit using. There are many resources available to help you be successful in quitting.  If you are interested in learning more about tobacco use and ways to quit you can visit www.cancer.org or www.quitlinenc.com. If you would like to speak to someone about helping you quit smoking, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW.