By: Kathy Hubbard
Last Friday, the Bee ran a letter to Dear Abby that said, “I smoked four packs of non-filtered cigarettes every day. At the age of 37, I knew I wanted to quit. I set a goal to stop one month away, and on that day, cold turkey went into action. I’m almost 86 now and have had no desire to smoke again since that day. People, be brave. Be strong and follow through. I hope this will help someone else to live long. – Free in West Virginia.”
I commend Free for being able to just stop smoking. But remember what Mark Twain said: “Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I’ve done it thousands of times.”
Tomorrow, November 20, is The Great American Smokeout. It started almost fifty years ago with the concept that if you could quit for one day, you could quit forever. However, even the American Cancer Society’s website will tell you that quitting smoking isn’t easy.
They say, “It takes time. And a plan. You don’t have to stop smoking in one day. Start with one day. Let the Great American Smokeout be your day to start your journey toward a smoke-free life!”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tells us that smoking and secondhand smoke exposure cause over 480,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. It harms nearly every organ of the body and causes a multitude of diseases. Over sixteen million Americans live with a disease that was caused by smoking.
“Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of disease, death, and disability in the United States,” the CDC says. “Quitting smoking is one of the most important actions people can take to improve their health. Quitting smoking has health benefits at any age, no matter how long or how much you have smoked.”
While I’m talking about smoking, I need to add that it’s also a good time to quit any product that contains nicotine. The CDC tells us that no tobacco products are safe – that includes chewing, cigars, pipes, and e-cigarettes. Nicotine is highly addictive, toxic to developing fetuses, and poses unique dangers to youth whose brains are still developing.
So, today when I talk about quitting smoking, I’m also encouraging you to stop using any product that contains nicotine. The benefits of quitting far exceed what pleasure you may derive from the activity.
Go to www.smokefree.gov/build-your-quit-plan to start your plan to quit. They have a plan for adults and one for teens in both categories of cigarettes and vaping. You fill out the form and then you’ll get tips on how to be successful.
I also encourage you to talk to your primary care provider, or your pharmacist for tips on how to successfully quit. And finding a buddy to quit with is also very helpful.
Just think of the money you’ll save. The average pack of cigarettes in Idaho costs $8.65. On average Americans who smoke, smoke 18 cigarettes a day. If you’re average, that adds up to $2,842 a year you’re burning up.
That e-cigarette that costs between $10 to $15 each has the equivalent nicotine of twenty cigarettes. If you take ten hits a day you’re also spending somewhere north of $2,000 to harm your health.
And what about your health? ACS says that almost immediately after you quit smoking your body will start to heal. In just 20 minutes your heart rate and blood pressure will drop and in a few days the carbon monoxide level in your blood will drop to normal.
Within weeks your circulation and lung function will improve and within the first year coughing and shortness of breath will decrease. In one to two years your risk of heart attack drops dramatically, in five years your risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, and voice box is cut in half and your stroke risk decreases. In ten years, your risk of lung cancer is half that of a person who’s still smoking, and your risk of other cancers decreases. Fifteen years down the road, your risk of coronary heart disease is close to that of a nonsmoker.
My challenge to you is to make a plan to quit smoking. You’ll feel better, you’ll certainly smell better, you’ll save money, and you’ll live longer. What’s not to like?
Kathy Hubbard was a charter member of Bonner General Health Foundation. She can be reached at [email protected]. This article was written for publication in the Bonner County Daily Bee on November 19, 2025.
