CANADIANS ENCOURAGED TO SCORE THEIR QUITTING GOAL

Hockey Legend, Steve Larmer, Wants to Help You Build Your Offensive Line against Smoking

CALGARY, Nov. 24 /CNW/ - Steve Larmer, former Chicago Blackhawk and member of Team Canada, is encouraging Canadians to face-off against smoking. 

As a former smoker, Larmer knows firsthand that, in the world of sports, smoking lowers physical endurance and can keep athletes on-the-bench more often than their non-smoking counterparts. So starting November 24, Larmer is helping Canadians understand the impact smoking can have on their game and is encouraging them to beat the addiction for good.  

Who:	Steve Larmer - former Chicago Blackhawk and member of Team Canada
	Dr. Ted Jablonski - Family Physician, Foothill's Primary Care Network
What:	To encourage Canadians to quit smoking and to visit www.itscanadastime.com for information about quit smoking options and supports
When:	November 25, 2010 for interviews by request
Where:	Calgary, Alberta - available for in-person and telephone interviews

Why Larmer is Speaking Out  
Steve Larmer had an amazing hockey career.  He won the 1983 Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie and was a prominent player for the 1991 Team Canada - Canada Cup team.  Larmer smoked throughout his playing career, believing it helped him deal with the stress and pressure of being a high performance hockey player.

"I started smoking as a junior and as I continued to advance, smoking became my crutch to help me cope as a professional athlete," says Larmer who had a 20-year addiction to cigarettes, averaging a pack a day.  "Following my playing career, I had new priorities in my life that motivated me to quit, including providing my daughter with a healthier home. I thought because I was an athlete I had the mental toughness to quit cold turkey, but it took me several attempts before I got the support and guidance I needed to help me finally kick the addiction."

In high-energy sports like hockey, players need to capitalize on their aerobic power to allow them to keep pace with the game.  According to research, athletes who smoke experience a decrease in muscle strength and flexibility compared to non-smoking athletes.¹  Additionally, smoking causes a shortness of breath, which can make aerobic activity challenging.²

Athletes and Sports-Fans Alike Can Quit
Whether a professional athlete, like Larmer, a recreational sports enthusiast or simply a fan; quitting smoking can have immediate and long-term health benefits.  In fact, within seven days of quitting smoking, oxygen concentration in the lungs increases, prolonging exhaustion time.³ 

Quitting smoking is the single most important thing a person can do for their overall health.⁴  While 70 per cent of smokers would like to quit, only five per cent are able to do so cold turkey.⁵  "Even the benefits of exercise are offset by smoking. Muscle strength is weak, endurance is limited and heart-rates sky-rocket - imagine the impact that has on someone's game," says Dr. Ted Jablonski, Family Physician, Foothill's Primary Care Network.  "Like sports training, quitting smoking is not easy, and for many Canadians it can take several attempts. However, by building on those past experiences and speaking with your doctor about a plan that's right for you - anyone can pass that finish line and quit smoking for good."

About It's Canada's Time to Quit
It's Canada's Time to Quit is a website and collection of informative tools and resource materials for smokers who have decided to quit. The materials will help motivate smokers throughout their journey to becoming smoke-free. Putting together a quit plan and setting a quit date are important steps to ensure success throughout the quit journey. Speaking with a doctor or other healthcare professional about the options that are best for the individual is an integral part of this process. For more information, visit www.itscanadastime.com.

References:

¹ Kumar P.R, Kumar N.V. Effect of cigarette smoking on muscle strength of flexibility of athletes. Indian J Exp Biol. 1998Nov;36(11):1144-6.

² Act Now BC.  How does tobacco affect athletic performance?  http://www.actnowbc.ca/families/how_does_tobacco_affect_athletic_performance.  Accessed November 2010.

³ Hashizume, K., et al.  Effects of abstinence from cigarette smoking on the cardiorespiratory capacity. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. February 2000 - Volume 32 - Issue 2 - p 386.

⁴ The Canadian Lung Association.  Smoking and Tobacco: Benefits of Quitting Smoking.  http://lung.ca/protect-protegez/tobacco-tabagisme/quitting-cesser/benefits-bienfaits_e.php.  Accessed November 2010.

⁵ Hughes, J.  New Treatments for Smoking Cessation.  CA Cancer J Clin.  200; 50: 143-151. http://caonline.amcancersoc.org/cgi/reprint/50/3/143 . Accessed November 2010.

For further information:

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