There is no more prestigious medical journal than the New England Journal of Medicine and when they undertook a survey of over 12,000 smokers, it's something that everyone concerned about good health and quitting smoking, should pay close attention to.

Here's what the study revealed: Patterns in a group of over 12,000 people show that smokers tend to quit smoking in "clusters", whether or not they are even aware of it.

Clusters are simply groups of people, and this study shows that if someone truly desires to quit smoking, their chances increase when seeking support, rather than going it alone. Simply stated, if two or more smokers pool their time, support and resources to help each other quit smoking, their chances of success are increased.

This New England Journal of Medicine study spanned more than 30 years, proving that when a person decides to quit smoking, they have a much better chance of success, if they are involved with a network of people who share the same goal.

Quit smoking support groups can easily be found by doing a quick online search and finding a group or meeting closer to your home. In almost all situations, the people and personnel involved will be friendly and encouraging. Many of these groups have been established by hospitals, government agencies, former smokers or simply concerned citizens.

SMOKING STATISTIC: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) resulted in more than 118,000 deaths in 2001. Of these deaths, 90% were attributed to smoking.

Quitting smoking can be a daunting task if you go it alone; this is a time to lean on family, friends and support groups. Do so, and you can begin your journey to becoming a non smoker today.

Nationwide support groups are in your corner when you make the decision to quit smoking, for instance the American Cancer Society is celebrating the 33rd annual Great American Smokeout. This is a day when the entire nation encourages each other to quit smoking. This alone should give you the courage to take the first step to quit smoking, when you do your life expectancy increases (assuming no existing diseases) by a minimum of 10 years.

BRITISH RESEARCHERS STATE: It has been 50+ years since British researchers first linked smoking to lung cancer. Since that time, and by following the same group, long term effects showed that (on average) smoking decreases your life expectancy by 10 years.

It isn't easy to take the first step to quit smoking, and many are concerned about side effects such as weight loss, occasional dizzy spell, disorders in sleep patterns, etc., however these minor inconveniences should be weighed against the long-term health benefits. Those who quit smoking statistically add 10 healthful years to their lifetime, while reducing or eliminating their risk of lung cancer, emphysema, and heart disease.

When you quit smoking, not only will you eliminate smoke related disease, your outlook will improve, you'll be able to breathe more freely, feel invigorated, taste your food more fully, and the opportunity of being given a second chance at health and wellness.

We live in a society that understands the hazard of smoking, but understands some will need a helping hand to accomplish their goal. Take advantage of quit smoking support groups nationwide, when you do, you'll have taken the first step to becoming smoke-free.