Mother's Day A Great Day to Quit Smoking

ALBANY, NY (05/08/2009)(readMedia)-- The American Lung Association in New York today reminded mothers across New York State that Mother's Day is a great day to quit smoking. In New York, an estimated 1.2 million women, or 16.5 percent of the smokers in the state, are women.

"On the day we celebrate moms for who they are and all they do, it is important for moms to remember the significant role they play in influencing the choices their kids make regarding tobacco use," said Deborah Carioto, President of the American Lung Association in New York. "Tobacco remains the leading preventable cause of death in New York State, so quitting smoking is the best gift mom can give to her loved ones and if you're a smoker, the best give you can give to your mom."

Tragically, smoking leads to approximately 11,100 women smoking deaths in New York per year. In the United States, one in five adult women currently smoke, putting them at risk for heart attacks, strokes, lung cancer, emphysema and other life-threatening illnesses. Moreover, lung cancer is the leading cancer killer among women, and smoking is attributable for 90 percent of these deaths.

"Mothers who give up smoking improve the likelihood that their children will grow up to be tobacco-free and lead much longer and much healthier lives," added Carioto.

Unfortunately, tobacco use among women remains a serious problem: more than 20 million women currently smoke, an estimated 173,000 women die every year from smoking, and more than 86,000 kids have already lost their mom to smoking.

The best way for New Yorkers who smoke to celebrate Mother's Day is by quitting today. One easy way to start down that path is to pick up the phone and call the New York State Smokers' Quitline at 1-866-NYQUITS (1-866-697-8487).