World No Tobacco Day 2007: Quit, before your time runs out!

World No Tobacco Day 2007: Quit, before your time runs out!

(Ottawa) “ To mark May 31, 2007, World No Tobacco Day 2007, The Lung Association today launched its campaign urging Canadians to "Quit, before your time runs out". The campaign includes a public service announcement that will run on major media outlets, as well as a supplement in major newspapers urging Canadians to improve their lives by butting out.

"Each year, 45,000 Canadians die from tobacco-related diseases," said Nora Sobolov, President and CEO of The Lung Association, World No Tobacco Day serves to remind all Canadians - especially those who smoke - that you can quit, and you can improve not only your life but the lives of those around you".

Cigarettes, cigars and pipe smoke contain more than 4,000 dangerous chemicals, many of which are known to cause cancer. What's more, every puff a smoker takes releases these chemicals into the air and seeps into the hair, clothing and lungs of those around them. Smoking-related illnesses also place a staggering financial burden on our health care system.

Smoking is the major cause of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a serious disease that damages the lungs and makes it hard to breathe. Two major forms of the disease include Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema. Many sufferers compare COPD to having a rope tied around their chest while it gets progressively tighter. Today, COPD is responsible for four out of every 100 deaths in Canada, a figure, which is likely understated because COPD is rarely listed as the underlying cause of death.

Smoking is also the main preventable cause of lung cancer, a disease which causes the deaths of 383 Canadians every week.

"Right now between 18 and 20 out of every 100 Canadians still smokes," said Paul Thomey, Chair of the Tobacco Working Group for The Lung Association. We desperately need to get those numbers down. What better day to start the process than May 31 when smokers around the world can unite to kick the habit?"

The Lung Association reminds all Canadians to visit www.lung.ca to learn the best strategies to stop smoking. Additionally, Canadians can reach The Lung Association by calling, toll-free, 1-888-566-5864, to be connected with their provincial association for help on how to quit smoking.

Established in 1900, The Lung Association is one of Canada's oldest and most respected health charities, and the leading national organization for science-based information, research, education, support programs and advocacy on lung heath issues.