by Jacques Von Lunen, Special to The Oregonian
Saturday August 01, 2009, 6:48 AM
Smokers with pets may be more motivated to put out their butts forever.Not to pat ourselves on the back too hard, but it turns out the kind of information we provided in a January article about the effects of secondhand smoke on pets may save some human lives, too.
A study published by the American Veterinary Medical Association today found that pet owners who are informed about the burden their smoking poses for their pets are more likely to quit. The study, conducted by the Henry Ford Health System's Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, surveyed 3,293 adult pet owners.
Within that survey group, 21 percent currently smoked and 27 percent lived with a smoker.
Presented with the facts about secondhand smoke and pets, many of the pet owners said they were ready to change their habits:
• 28 percent of smokers said they would try to quit.
• 8.7 percent of smokers would ask other smokers in their house to quit.
• 16.4 percent of non-smokers who live with a smoker would ask their housemate to quit and 24.2 percent would ask them to only smoke outdoors.
• 40 percent of smokers said they wanted to receive information on quitting and the effects of secondhand smoke.
Maybe living with an animal has even more health benefits than we already knew about.
-- Jacques Von Lunen; pets@jvonlunen.com
Saturday August 01, 2009, 6:48 AM
Smokers with pets may be more motivated to put out their butts forever.Not to pat ourselves on the back too hard, but it turns out the kind of information we provided in a January article about the effects of secondhand smoke on pets may save some human lives, too.
A study published by the American Veterinary Medical Association today found that pet owners who are informed about the burden their smoking poses for their pets are more likely to quit. The study, conducted by the Henry Ford Health System's Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, surveyed 3,293 adult pet owners.
Within that survey group, 21 percent currently smoked and 27 percent lived with a smoker.
Presented with the facts about secondhand smoke and pets, many of the pet owners said they were ready to change their habits:
• 28 percent of smokers said they would try to quit.
• 8.7 percent of smokers would ask other smokers in their house to quit.
• 16.4 percent of non-smokers who live with a smoker would ask their housemate to quit and 24.2 percent would ask them to only smoke outdoors.
• 40 percent of smokers said they wanted to receive information on quitting and the effects of secondhand smoke.
Maybe living with an animal has even more health benefits than we already knew about.
-- Jacques Von Lunen; pets@jvonlunen.com
"I would tell people I know this or that, but I don't know it either. You know." I had the knowledge, I just didn't know how to apply it to myself. I lacked true Wisdom. I am taking time these days to put anything new I learn into use on myself or in my life first. I also am applying old knowledge to myself. It is making major changes in my life. Thanks to the 1-800-Quit-Now people, this and other Web sites on Quitting I am gaining Widsom not just knowledge.