The Great American Smoke Out

The Great American Smoke Out

Communities all over the nation will take part in the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smoke out. During this event, the consequences of tobacco use will be publicized and smokers are challenged to quit using tobacco for at least 24 hours.

Smoking And Influenza

By quitting smoking now, your chances of contracting seasonal flu will be lower.  According to the CDC, some research studies show an increase in flu among smokers compared to nonsmokers.  Perhaps because smoking suppresses immune function, smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to have upper and lower respiratory tract infections.  Among those who get the flu, there is a higher death rate for smokers than for nonsmokers.

Smoking has long been recognized as being related to chronic coughs, wheezing, bronchitis and emphysema among adults, but  it also impacts asthma and chronic coughs among children who are exposed to either firsthand or secondhand smoke.

As this season of flu and respiratory illness begins, it’s a good time to take a good look at your respiratory health and what you can do now to improve it.  If you are a smoker, quitting would be a giant step toward improvement of your own health and of those around you.  Other important steps you can take to prevent getting the flu and passing it on to others include getting a flu shot.

If you’re thinking about taking part in the Great American Smoke out, congratulate yourself. You’ve taken the first step in taking control of your health.