By DEBORAH A. MILES
Since the state imposed the Clean Air Act banning cigarette smoking in public establishments in July, many smokers may be thinking about one last puff, but need some help in quitting.

PEF Division 196 members at Roswell Park Cancer Institute continue to research links between tobacco smoke and several diseases and to develop smoking cessation programs for those who are ready to fight a very real addiction.

“Nicotine is why people smoke and why they like to smoke,” said Dr. Michael Cummings, a senior research scientist in the Department of Health Behavior at Roswell.

Cummings said nicotine affects certain chemicals in the brain that make a person feel good, but the price for that sensation may be high.

“It’s the tobacco and smoke that causes diseases,” he said. “If we could get people to switch from bad nicotine to clean nicotine, like with the patch or gum, we would be making progress.”

Will power the key
In order to stop smoking, Cummings said the most important thing is wanting to quit. And people must make changes in their daily routines, such as substituting a lollipop, toothpick, glass of water or even a squeeze ball for a cigarette.

“You have to be willing to tough it out,” he said. “Typically, there is severe withdrawal during the first week. There are products designed to take the edge off.”

“There are approximately 4,800 different chemicals in tobacco smoke,” said Dr. John Pauly, a senior cancer research scientist at Roswell’s Department of Immunology. “And there are 50 billion smoke particles called tobacco tar in a single puff of smoke. There are cells inside the lung that ingest these particles. The cells are called macrophanges, or “big eaters.” In the lung tissue of a smoker, these cells glow and are clearly associated with tobacco smoke. Significant numbers of these cells are never found in the lungs of non-smokers.”

Look for the signs
One of the most frightening things about lung cancer is that it is often diagnosed too late. There is no test for early detection and often people don’t experience any symptoms. Pauly said people should be aware of two major signs — blood in the sputum and any shortness of breath. “People should visit their physician annually and discuss their smoking addiction,” he said.

“Most smokers today recognize the risk to their health,” Cummings added. “But, they think they will be able to quit when ever they want. It’s amazing how many people quit smoking after they’ve had a heart attack. Sometimes it takes a guy putting an oxygen mask over their mouth.”

Check your health scale
Cummings said some people say they would rather take the risk of getting cancer from tobacco smoke because they are concerned about gaining weight.

“No one would recommend smoking for weight control. Nicotine speeds up the metabolic rate and you burn off calories at a faster rate,” he said. “When you quit smoking, your metabolism goes back to its normal set point, and you’ll gain a few pounds right away.

“The replacement products such as the patch, gum and Zyban can help prevent some of the weight gain, but people can also eat less and exercise more,” Cummings said.

Studies at Roswell link smoking with one-third of all cancers. If that’s not enough reason to quit, smoking is also blamed for increasing wrinkles, impotence and even cataracts, as it restricts blood vessels, especially in fragile places such as the eyes.

Pauly said even with all the research, it is very difficult to cure patients with advanced lung cancer. “The five-year survival rate for most lung cancers is less than 15 percent,” he said.

There are 165,000 deaths attributed to smoking throughout the country each year. In New York, however, the state-funded Smokers Quit Line has received hundreds of thousands of calls since its inception in January 2000.

Cummings directs the quit line and urges smokers to call 1-866-NY QUITS or 1-866-697-8487. Those interested should ask for a “quit kit” or visit the Web site at www.nysmokefree.com

Time to make important decisions about your benefits
Want to stop smoking (related story link)

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Features
Testifying on wasteful state spending
Contractor at fault in bridge collapse
Stop privatization dead in its tracks’
SEIU leads ‘Show Bush the Door in '04’
- PEF to show Bush the exit door
- How to help show Bush the door

Departments
President's Message: Bush must go
You Said It: Member's letters this month
Member Mobilization: Training gears up
Nurses' Station: protest-of-assignment
Legislative Update: Law buys time
Contact Update: Time clocks off limits
Nov. 19 Capitol Rally
Health Benefits: Roswell to the rescue
- HMO can help you stop smoking?
- Decide about your health benefits now
Retirees: Get HIP to health insurance
Health & Safety: Workplace books to go
PEF Membership Benefits & Travel Corp

Union Matters
PEF’s ’03 COPE All Stars shine
Keep hope alive at Bronx PC
PEF preps for battle to save OCFS jobs
PEF backs Gunther for state Assembly
Time clocks off the wall
OFCS member Dudley does write
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