TAKE ACTION
FEBRUARY 2022
Quit tobacco for good
Tobacco use is one of the leading causes of disease, disability and death in the United States.1 It’s a major risk factor for lung cancer, mouth cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, stroke and erectile dysfunction.
Even if you only smoke, chew or vape occasionally, you should quit. Light smoking can shorten your life. People who averaged one cigarette per day over their entire lives were 64% more likely to die earlier than people who’d never smoked, a study found.2 And your health will start to improve immediately. You’ll also notice improvements in your financial well-being — cigarettes can cost an average of $10.45 a pack.3 Think what you could do with all that extra money! If you’ve tried to quit before but weren’t successful, it’s time to try again.
1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health effects of cigarette smoking; Smoking and Reproduction.
2WebMD. Can you get away with social smoking?
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Tips to quit tobacco
Get ready
List your reasons for quitting and post them so they’re visible. Set a quit date within the next two weeks. Clear your home, car and office of cigarettes, chew, lighters, ashtrays, pipes and vape pens. And don’t let people use tobacco in these places.
Line up support
Tell friends and family you’re going to quit. Consider counseling. Join “quitter” social media groups. Or find support groups in your community.
Relax and distract
Stay busy. Drink plenty of water. Change your routine. Do something to reduce stress: listen to music, exercise, dance. Plan something enjoyable to do every day.
Make it easy on yourself
Ask your health care provider or the Tobacco Cessation Program about quit aides you can use. This may include the nicotine patch, nicotine gum or nicotine nasal spray. Avoid drinking alcohol. Focus on why you’re quitting. And if you slip, remember there’s no reason to feel ashamed. Just try again. Your life is worth it!
Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Resources for you
The Costco Tobacco Cessation Program can help you create a plan for quitting tobacco that works for you. To learn more and enroll in the program, visit Costcobenefits.com and click “Quit Tobacco” under Health & Wellness.
The Costco Tobacco Cessation Program can help you create a plan for quitting tobacco that works for you. To learn more and enroll in the program, visit Costcobenefits.com and click “Quit Tobacco” under Health & Wellness.
The Costco Tobacco Cessation Program can help you create a plan for quitting tobacco that works for you. To learn more and enroll in the program, visit Costcobenefits.com and click “Quit Tobacco” under Health & Wellness.