For smokers everywhere take notice, today is National Smoke Out Day 2008. Since 1976, the American Cancer Society has promoted this one day of the year to bring to light the benefits of quitting smoking.

Most of us know the statistics of how much healthier and how much longer you’ll live by not smoking, but unfortunately, the problem persists.

At least 30% of all cancer deaths are linked to cigarette smoking, one of those being my grandfather. He was a pack a day smoker for over 30 years and it caught up to him. Not a pleasant site to see what he went through.

According to the latest CDC reports, there are currently 43.4 million smokers in the U.S. in 2007, a decline of 1% over 2006. That is certainly good news and suggests that educational efforts and stop smoking campaigns are having positive effects.

In fact, over 44% of all these smokers have tried quitting for at least one day in the past year. That makes it obvious that more and more people are wanting to quit smoking.

On this Great American Smokeout Day, put down the cigarettes for the day and make a new committment to finally give up this deadly habit. You’ll enjoy life so much more, not to mention so much longer.