Quit smoking today Published Nov. 20, 2012 By Jennifer Diveley TriWest Healthcare Alliance SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- The average smoker tries to quit 20 times before succeeding. Some people are motivated to stop smoking to improve their health. Others say they stopped smoking "cold turkey" for personal reasons. Whatever the reason, the bottom line is that it's not easy to quit. You probably already know that smoking is bad for you, but did you know it can also be hurting those you love? - Exposure to secondhand smoke can cause asthma in children. - Regular exposure to secondhand smoke can trigger asthma attacks and make asthma symptoms worse. - Children younger than age 6 who are exposed regularly to secondhand smoke are at an increased risk for pneumonia and bronchitis. For smokers, smoking causes cancer, heart disease, stroke and emphysema. It also causes people to age early, creating wrinkles and yellow teeth. The first step to kicking the habit is to make a plan. You can find information, tools, and other resources to help you quit by visiting http://www.TriWest.com/tobacco. It is never too late to make the commitment to quit smoking.