Be a quitter — help to kick the tobacco habit Published Feb. 25, 2009 By Maj. (Dr.) Colleen Kersgard 81st Medical Operations Squadron KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, BILOXI, MISS. -- You know you should quit. You want to quit. But you don't know how or you need help. The 81st Medical Operations Squadron's hematology/oncology clinic is sponsoring a "Kick the Habit" seminar targeting individuals who want to quit their addiction to nicotine, either smoking or smokeless tobacco, 1-2:30 p.m. March 27 in the clinic. Quitting tobacco can be very difficult, especially when it is part of an upbringing, part of a culture, part of daily habits or part of stress relief. It takes most people many attempts to quit, but it's possible to succeed. There are more than 45 million adults in the United States who used to smoke. The goal of this seminar is to educate participants on the benefits of quitting and provide them with the tools needed to succeed. Why should you quit? Tobacco use in any form such as cigarettes, chew, pipes and cigars is harmful to your health. Tobacco use is the most preventable cause of death in the United States and is responsible for more than 440,000 deaths per year. Most people know tobacco use causes lung cancer, but it is also a significant risk factor for cancer of the esophagus, kidney, stomach, pancreas, larynx, mouth, nose, sinuses, bladder and blood. Smoking doesn't just cause cancer -- it also causes heart disease, stroke, bronchitis and emphysema. The single most important thing people can do for their health is to quit tobacco use. Many people ask what it will take to quit. It takes a plan, support and lots of hard work. You should spend about a week identifying when, where and why you use tobacco. Write it down, then figure out what to do during that time instead, such as go for a walk, chew gum, call a friend or write in a journal. Have a plan in place so that when the craving hits and you'll know what to do until it passes. You may have to change your daily activities, routines or even your acquaintances in order to succeed. To attend the "Kick the Habit" seminar, call 376-3845.