Changing your health for the better #4: Be a quitter

Often we are so focused on trying to eat healthy and exercise that we forget there are other factors that have a very powerful impact on our overall health. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that roughly 45 million Americans are smokers (about 20% of the population). Whether you smoke yourself or know someone who does smoke, it is important to know the risk factors, but also that it is NEVER too late to quit. The sooner smokers quit, though, the more they can reduce their chances of getting cancer and other diseases. Within minutes of smoking the last cigarette, the body begins to restore itself.

Follow these steps to help you or a loved one halt your habit.

1. Find targeted Counseling: At smokefree.gov, you can download or request free pamphlets full of advice for specific audiences - smokers older than 50, young smokers and black smokers, for example.

2. Save on cessation products: Visit nicodermcq.com and click on the rollover offer for a non-medicated sample patch, a $7 coupon to try the real NicoDerm CQ patch and information to help you go smoke-free.