Cathy Acorn, program associate with Coffee County Health Department, quit smoking more than eight years ago. "I feel so much healthier and do not suffer from shortness of breath when I do something physical," said Acorn. "The cost savings for me have also been wonderful."

Cathy Acorn had a long talk with herself eight years ago about what she would be doing in the future if she didn't quit smoking. She thought about what life would be like for her four young sons and her husband.

 

"I know I did a smart thing when I quit smoking," Acorn said. "I can look forward to years of being healthy and living each day to its fullest."

 

That wasn't always the case for Acorn, a program associate with the Coffee County Health Department. She had smoked for 25 years and only quit during her pregnancies. Like clockwork, she would eventually light up again and the cycle would continue.

 

She had heard the health messages listing all the reasons to quit, including nicotine addiction and related diseases. But deep down inside, she said she always knew that in order to stop for good she had to quit on her own terms. She tried at least four to five times to quit, but a stressful situation or a weak moment would bring her back where she started.

 

In 2004, turning 40 gave Acorn many significant reasons to quit smoking. Most important of all, one of her sons was battling terminal cancer, and she said it took everything in her to stay strong for him and her family.

 

"You have to want to stop smoking," she said. "Being able to quit a habit such as smoking took a lot of willpower. I was faced with the situation that my son's health was not getting any better, and he had no control over it. On the other hand, I did. Instead of becoming as sick as he was with the possibility of cancer too, I chose to do something about it."

 

Acorn tapped into that willpower and became her own cheerleader every time she felt like reaching for a pack of cigarettes. She made a commitment like any mother would to her dying son to be healthy for him during his time of need and for her other three sons, too.

 

"Strong willpower was all I used to stop and the fact that my son needed me," she said. "It did get hard at times, but I was determined not to start again."

 

According to psychologist Kelly McGoniga, willpower is integral to being successful in reaching our goals. She said willpower is not just in your head, but it's a bodily process that, like our muscles, we can strengthen.

 

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' Office of Women's Health describes the physical benefits to a woman's body when she quits smoking. According to their research, a woman's risk of heart disease is half that of a smoker's one year after quitting. In five years, the risk of having a stroke is the same as someone who doesn't smoke. In 10 years, the risk of dying from lung cancer is half that of a smoker's. The risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas also decreases. After 15 years of not smoking, the risk of heart disease is the same as someone who doesn't smoke.

 

Acorn said she can feel health benefits after eight years of no tobacco use. The taste of food is more satisfying and her lung capacity has improved.

 

"I can take a deep breath and fill my lungs with fresh air instead of smoke, and it feels wonderful," she said. "Everyone is different and we need to take a look at the big picture and the long-term effects of this disease."

 

She said her family, friends and co-workers at the Coffee County Health Department said she even looks younger.

 

"It ages you," Acorn said. "My advice to those who smoke is to take a look in a mirror and picture yourself five years,10 years or even 15 years from now and what do you think you will see in the mirror?"

 

Acorn said a recent anti-smoking television commercial perfectly described how she felt about being able to quit.

 

"I can relate to the man who is sitting at a restaurant and his friends are going out to smoke but he decides not to, and a small band appears on the table in front of him celebrating his victory," said Acorn. "I knew that smoking was not what I needed in my life if I wanted to be in the best health for my family 10 and 30 years down the road."

 

Although her young son died of cancer, she said she knows he is proud that she finally quit smoking for her own health.

 

"By being healthy, I can spend quality time with my family knowing that they have their mother and wife with them hopefully for a long time."
 

-Story by Connie F. Smith, DPH Communications