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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1983-03-30, Page 39THE EXCUSE: "It helps me relax." THE FACTS: You're right, it does. But what you don't realize is that the need to relax is brought on by your smoking. The diehard smoker's nervous system ex- pects the regular jolts that nicotine supplies to his system. Deny the nervous system nicotine and it fights back by malting the smoker irritable, nervous and tense. So the vicious cycle starts again with the next cigarette.. Want to really relax? Quit. THE EXCUSE: "I'11 gain weight if I quit." girt Not necessari ly. Only one-third of people who quit actually gain weight. These are people who generally substitute eating to satisfy their oral cravings when they first quit. One-third lose weight - these are people who start a general physical fitness pro- gram when they stop smok- ing. And one-third do not gain or lose at all. THE EXCUSE: "The link between cigarettes and cancer hasn't really been proven." THE FACTS: You're really kidding yourself if you still cling to this old myth. The evidence linking smoking to lung cancer is overwhelm- ing. One recent report in which over 34,000 men were studied over a 20 year period showed that the ) annual death rate for lung cancer was 10 per 100,000 in non-" smokers; 104 for smokers. Even more startling were the death rates according to amounts smoked: these were 52 per 100,000 for smokers of fewer than 15 cigarettes a day, 106 for 15 to 24 cigarettes and 224 for thosewhosmoked_ more than. 25 a day. The more you smoke, the bigger the gam- ble becomes. If you smoke a pack a day, according to the results gathered in a British study, you are more than 20 times as likely to get lung cancer than if you didn't smoke at all. S king excuses: THE EXCUSE: "There are lots of people who smoke. They're not worried, so why should I be?" THE FACTS: Then why is it that more people are quit- ting than ever before? Non- smokers now form over 58% of the population over. the age of 15. A decade ago they had a slender majority of 51.6%; before' that there were more adult smokers than non-smokers. If you. quit smoking today, you're clearly in.the majority. THE EXCUSE: "I don't smoke that much so it's okay." THE FACTS: Just cutting down isn't the answer. Even smoking less than 15 cigaret- tes a day, you're five times as likely to get lung cancer than a non-smoker accor- ding to one study. Is it really worth it? It's also interesting to consider the statement from a report by The Royal College of Physicians in Lon- don, 1977 - "From the study of British Doctors, it may be calculated that the average loss of life of a smoker of 20 cigarettes per day is about five years." THE EXCUSE: "I only smoke those light, low tar cigarettes...so I'm safe." THE FACTS: Quite the op- posite. Many smokers tend to modify their smoking pat- tern according to the strength of the cigarette be- ing smoked. Since a smoker smokes for nicotine, when he switches to a low tar, low nicotine cigarette, he smokes more cigarettes, takes more puffs and inhales more deeply to compensate for the lower nicotine con- centrations in that cigarette. THE EXCUSE: "If I want to smoke, why don't people just leave me alone and let me do THE FACTS: The evidence is building that yourexhaled cigarette smoke can serious- ly affect the health of others. A recent study of married couples found that your lifespan is shortened if you are a non-smoker married to someone who smokes. What's more, the burden smokers place on society in health care costs due to smoking-related conditions is enormous, not to mention the burden smoking mothers place on unborn children. If you smoke, the chances are much greater that your children will follow your ex- ample and also become smokers. One-third of all fires in Canada are caused by smokers. And you still think you're not bothering anyone? THE EXCUSE: "I've tried to quit, I just can't." THE FACTS: Smokers who can't kick the habit are often viewed unsympathetically because of their apparent lack of willpower. "After all," others say, "you just have to make up your mind to quit, and then do it." It's not that easy. While your mind does play a big part in the quitting process, your body is another story. Most smokers have developed a physical dependency on nicotine, as shown by the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms they experience when they quit. These smokers should consult their doctors for advice. New medical aids are available to help break the actual dependency on nicotine. THE EXCUSE: "After 20 years ofmoking the damage is dune. Why quit now?" THE FACTS: This fatalistic attitude is common to many smokers who play the lung cancer lottery, but the facts are reason for optimism. Death rates among ex- smokers start to decrease about one year, after they stop smoking. Statistics also show that eventually, ex- smokers take on a low-risk rate close to that of people who have never smoked. It's never too late to quit. Doctors encouraged to set a good example The Ontario Medical Association, recognizing the dangers of smoking to smoker and innocent bystander alike, has recently instituted some policies that should have a positive un - pact on our fight against smoking. In the future, smoking will be banned at all OMA meetings. In addition, physicians will be en- couraged to 'set a good example' by enforcing 'no smoking' regulations in medical offices and by refraining from smoking during any and all professional activities. The OMA also recom- mends that physicians discourage patients from smoking while in hospital and that hospitals in turn have specific regulations to prevent non-smokers from being exposed to secondhand smoke. _. St. Joseph's Hospital in Hamilton is an excellent example of how this par- ticular policy may be in- stituted. St. Joseph's forbids smoking by visitors, staff, physicians and volunteers in patient areas, elevators and corridors. Tobacco is not sold on hospital grounds and patients are not permitted to smoke unless written per- mission is given by both the physician and by other patients in a shared room. In other words, St. Joseph's is essentially a no - smoking facility. Let's hope it is just'the first of many. Huron happenings raise interest Canadian Cancer Society Huron Unit Publicity Chairman, Ross Hamilton, reports a number of hap- penings during the fall and winter months aimed at raising the level of interest in cancer treatment and prevention. In October, November and December a radio and television campaign promoting Mastectomy Visiting Services was aired over CKNX TV and Radio using 30 second material supplied by the Canadian Cancer Society. This was followed in January with a "Non - Smoking Week" campaign and a continuing series about the problems of "Second Hand Smoke". The highlight of "Non - Smoking Week" was the appearance of Jennifer Roy on Bill Thomson's Open Line Show on FM 102 and on a TV interview the same day. Jennifer was able to directly contact a number of people in mid Western Ontario ... and her information reached an audience of more than 100,000 people from Owen Sound to Exeter. The mayors of all Huron County towns were asked to proclaim the week of January ,24, 1983 as "Non - Smoking Week" in their weekly newspapers ... and at the same time an education drive was conducted in the public and secondary schools of North Huron featuring the Society's famous "Smoking Sam" along with educational films and pamphlets. A Spring promotional campaign supporting "Daffodil Day" and the April fund raising campaign will be run on radio and television again this year ... and in all the other county media who will supply free access. The highlight of "Non -Smoking Week" was the appearance Of industrial health nurse Jennifer Roy on Bill Thomson's Open Line Show on FM 102 and oh a TV interview the same day. pert George Michle is treasurer and commemoration fund chairman of the Wingham Branch of the Canadian Cancer Society and Mrs. Bruce McCall of Brussels will be the rural campaign organizer for 1984. Other members of the Wingham Branch executive include Don Kennedy, president, Barry Reid, vice-president, Mrs. John Mann, secretary, Bill Keil and Ross Proctor, campaign, Carol Hamilton, education, Mary McLaughlin, patient services, Norm Welwood, planning, development and nominating, Bill Forsyth, publicity and Mrs. L. Montgomery, trap= sporatlon. (Photo by Joanne Buchanan) This information is brought to you with the kind co-operation of the following: "ONE STEP AHEAD ROSS SHOE SHOP ONE THE SQUARE. 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