Secondhand Smoke is No Joke [Sponsored]

Rene’ Hicks, a nationally known comedian , was diagnosed in 2001 with lung cancer. Her lungs had the characteristics of a long-time smoker, but Rene’ never smoked a day in her life. That is understandable when you consider that people who work in bars, night clubs and restaurants that allow smoking have a 30 percent higher rate of lung cancer and 30 percent higher rate of heart disease as compared to any other workers.

Secondhand smoke kills 50,000 Americans every year and is responsible for 3,400 lung cancer deaths of U.S. non-smokers annually.

The latest Surgeon General’s Report on Tobacco Smoke says secondhand smoke is lethal for everyone. According to this report exposure to tobacco smoke causes immediate damage to your body and can trigger a deadly heart or asthma attack, or damage your DNA which can lead to cancer.

Secondhand Smoke does Damage to Your Family

A recent study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology proved even 30 minutes of exposure to average levels of secondhand smoke is enough to injure blood vessels in younger, healthy non-smokers. In addition, secondhand smoke hinders the body’s natural ability to repair the injured blood vessels. The chemicals in secondhand smoke have strong and persistent consequences on the body’s vascular system.

Consider These Facts

• · Each year in the United States, and estimated 50,000 deaths are attributable to secondhand smoke breathed by nonsmokers, making it the third leading cause of preventable death
• · In Indiana alone second hand smoke kills 1,240 Hoosiers every years and is responsible for over 900 low birth weight babies born each years.
• · Infants and children who are exposed to secondhand smoke in their home have dramatically higher levels of respiratory tract infections and slower lung development
• · Many families and children remain at high risk for tobacco use and suffer disproportionately from tobacco-related illness and death
• · There is no safe level of smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke

Whatever your reason, the first step to quitting successfully is to make the commitment.

The Quit Now Indiana Contest

The Quit Now Indiana Contest is a statewide program designed to encourage Hoosiers using tobacco products to make an attempt to quit now. The contest is a promotional offer that is a part of the larger statewide Quit Now Indiana cessation campaign. The contest is a great way to plan a serious quit attempt. By starting on the official quit date, this fun promotional program gives tobacco users a new incentive to break their tobacco addiction. The Quit Now Indiana Contest is free to enter. Winners will be chosen at random for cash prizes of $2500, $1500, and $1000 provided by MDWise Hoosier Alliance and ADVANTAGE Health Solutions.

How to Enter

People may register for the contest by logging on to QuitNowIndiana.com and INShapeIndiana.org. People without internet access can pick up an entry form at various employers and local events throughout Indiana including county fairs and festivals, at the Quit Now Indiana booth during Concerts at the Lawn/White River State Park, and the Indiana State Fair.

ABOUT THE CONTEST

To Win

All entries must be received by September 30, 2011. To be eligible to win, contestants must commit to be tobacco free from October 1st through October 31st. Must be 18 years or older and a legal resident of Indiana and must have quit tobacco after May 1, 2011. The Quit Now Indiana Contest winners will be drawn at random and will be tested to make sure they are tobacco free to be eligible to claim a prize(s).

Click here to Enter to Win!