Tag Archives: tobacco

Should Menthol Flavoring in Cigarettes be Banned?

There is a bill before Congress right now that would ban some flavor additives in cigarettes: mint, clove, and vanilla. These flavorings are under fire because they’re seen as appealing to young people. One flavor that isn’t on the list? Menthol. According to government estimates, menthol is a pretty popular cigarette flavoring among certain groups of smokers. More than seventy-five percent of black smokers choose menthol cigarettes. That translates into nearly thirty percent of the entire cigarette market. Some members of the American Medical Association — including some who served as government health secretaries under several administrations — are opposing … Continue reading →

March 28th is Kick Butts Day!

The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids is gearing up for Kick Butts Day on Wednesday, March 28th. Kick Butts Day is a chance for kids to stand up, speak out, and take control of the fight against tobacco. For eleven years, Kick Butts Day has united children of all ages in the fight against tobacco. How can you and your friends and family celebrate Kick Butts Day? Here are some ideas: Start at the Kick Butts Day website. Get some information about what tobacco does to your body and learn what events are going on in your area. If you’re … Continue reading →

The FDA May Get The Power To Regulate Tobacco

A bipartisan group led by Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts and U.S. Representatives Henry Waxman of California and Tom Davis of Virginia hope to give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the power to regulate tobacco. This joint effort from the House and Senate is supported by the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, and many more organizations around the country. If this legislation is approved, here’s some idea of what would change. The 1996 FDA Rule on youth access to tobacco and tobacco advertising would return. This rule bans tobacco … Continue reading →

Financial Reasons to Quit Smoking

Maybe you don’t think your continued good health is a good enough reason to quit smoking. Let’s look at some of the financial costs that come with smoking! Job security. Some rather large companies are starting to think twice about hiring smokers. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, more than six thousand companies across the nation are refusing to hire smokers. Among the smoke free companies: Alaska Airlines and the Union Pacific. Higher insurance costs. Expect to pay at least twice as much as a non-smoker if you’re looking for life insurance. For health insurance, the difference isn’t as … Continue reading →

Ten Reasons to Quit Smoking Today

Do it for your family. Your parents, your siblings, your spouse, your children. Do you really want to put them through the torture of seeing your health fail from smoking? Do it for the health of your family and your friends. Secondhand smoke kills approximately three thousand nonsmokers every year. If you like your friends, stop contributing to their chance of developing lung cancer with your cigarette smoke. Have you had a heart attack? I hope it was fun! Smoking increases your risk of having another one. Have you had cancer? Smoking increases your risk of developing a second type … Continue reading →

Helping Someone You Love Quit Smoking

Sometimes, the hardest part of quitting smoking isn’t deciding to stop — it’s sticking with it. If someone you love has decided to quit smoking, there are certain things you can do to help make it a success. Celebrate the quit date. Help get rid of all cigarettes and ash trays in the house and car — changing the environment will help remove the temptation to light up. Tell the rest of the family and all your friends that your loved one is quitting. Ask for their support — ask that they not smoke around you, or leave cigarettes and … Continue reading →

After Your Last Cigarette

If you were to smoke your last cigarette right now, your body would begin to change within just twenty minutes! The Centers for Disease Control offer these interesting facts about your body’s changes after you quit smoking. Just twenty minutes after your last cigarette, your heart rate drops. Within twelve hours after quitting, the carbon monoxide levels in your blood drop to normal. When carbon monoxide gets into the body from smoking (and other sources), it combines with chemicals in your blood — preventing the blood from bringing oxygen to cells, tissues, and organs. So after just twelve hours, your … Continue reading →