How It Started I began smoking in 1972 at the age of 16 — as I was a rebellious teenager who fell into peer pressure. I went into the military straight out of high school. It fueled the habit because while serving my country, I saw atrocities that no person should see. Smoking helped me […]
How It Started I started smoking around the age of 20 while in college because those in my social group all smoked. I had a lot of late nights and was also working at a restaurant at the time. Everyone in the restaurant smoked, so it just seemed natural. I went on to smoke for […]
I started smoking at 15. Back when I was in high school, there were designated smoking areas. It wasn’t taboo like it is today. An Introduction to Quit with WakeMed Fast forward years later, and I got a hernia. During the process of trying to get it repaired, they told me I had to be […]
Joslyn Eatmon smoked religiously for 40 years. With the help of Quit With WakeMed, she will have been free of cigarettes for an entire year. Here is her testimony: “I smoked for 40 years and started as a teenager by sneaking my parents’ cigarettes. I was hooked by the time I was 19. Once employed, […]
For many years, smoking was promoted as healthy or glamorous. Today, we understand that there are zero good reasons to smoke. Smoking ages us. It puts us (and those around us) at risk for disease. Smoking is increasingly expensive. There is a social stigma attached to smoking that did not previously exist. Despite the warnings […]
Have you ever read a “choose your own adventure” book? As a child, it was fun to me to be able to see how one choice played out versus another. “If Leonardo takes a train to the castle, turn to page 95. If Leonardo decides to walk to the castle, turn to page 57.” Choosing […]
Quitting smoking – or the use of any form of tobacco for that matter – is never easy. For decades, people have tried quitting on their own with minimal success. Fortunately, over the years – researchers have identified new tools and techniques designed to help people quit. This is great news for those who are […]
Traditional cigarette smoking is a risk factor for poor postoperative outcomes with preoperative abstinence reducing this risk. Smoking cessation is one component of the Enhanced Recovery After Cardiac Surgery (ERAS) multi-modality approach to preoperative optimization. The current guidelines recommend cessation (quitting smoking) four weeks prior to a scheduled operation. Smoking as a Major Risk Factor […]
From the 1930s to the 1950s, the mentality around smoking and tobacco use was different with advertising campaigns designed to build up the cigarette as a cultural icon of sophistication. Years later (and after countless scientific research and studies), we know better. Today, we know that there are zero good reasons to smoke. Despite the […]
Are you or someone you know a smoker? Have you given any thought as to how smoking impacts your life or the lives of those you love? This week the American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout – an event that challenges people to stop using tobacco products – took place, and we encourage all smokers and […]
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