Tips to help quit during ‘Great American Smokeout’
Celebrate more birthdays with the American Cancer Society by quitting smoking during this year’s Great American Smokeout on Thursday. If you or someone you love is looking to “kick the habit” this year, here are some helpful tips on how to break free from a smoking addiction.
Don’t keep it a secret. Include your friends and family in your quitting process; they can offer much-needed support. You’re not alone. More and more people are trying to break free from cigarettes and there are lots of support options available. Many communities, employers, and health care organizations have free or low-cost counseling and support available to help you quit. Call your American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 to find out what’s available in your area. Consider using medication to help you quit. There are prescriptions and over-the-counter medications that can help you deal with withdrawal symptoms or even help to reduce the urge to smoke. You’ll want to talk to your doctor first, but some medicine could help. Dump the memories. Clear the places where you usually smoke of anything that reminds you of cigarettes, such as lighters, ashtrays or matches. Also ask other smokers not to smoke around you, and clean your house and car thoroughly to remove the smell of cigarettes. Avoid places where smokers gather. Go to the movies or other places where smoking is not allowed. Stay calm and stay busy. You may feel some nervous energy but it can be countered by physical and mental activities. Take long strolls and deep breaths of fresh air, and find things to keep your hands busy, like crossword puzzles or yard work. There are a lot of leaves on the ground at this time of year. Talk to your doctor. Before you begin any plan for quitting smoking you should check with your doctor to see what might be the best approach for you. Remember, quitting smoking is very personal and there isn’t one perfect method. When the urge to smoke strikes, do something else. If you feel a craving for a cigarette coming on, take a deep breath, count to 10 and then do something else. Call a supportive friend. Do brief exercises such as push-ups, walking up a flight of stairs, or touching your toes. Anything that will take your mind off your cravings. One will hurt. Many people fall into the trap of thinking that if they only have one cigarette it’s okay. But even that one smoke can get you back in the habit of smoking full time. Keeping a supply of oral substitutes like carrots, apples, raisins, or gum handy can help. Water, water everywhere. Drink lots of fluids to help curb cravings. Water is the best for this, and you’ll want to pass up on coffee and alcohol if they trigger your desire to smoke.
It’s not easy to quit smoking. Studies have indicated that cigarettes are more addictive than heroin, and the first three weeks after you quit are said to be the most difficult. If you stumble along the way to giving up smoking, don’t punish yourself. Just try again. The key is to stick with it. You can quit. The American Cancer Society can help. Contact your American Cancer Society 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-227-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.
“It is never too late to quit smoking,” said Jessica Keegan, cancer screening coordinator at St. Charles Health System, which offers free lung cancer screenings to those who are eligible. “Health benefits start immediately: Within 20 minutes of quitting, your heart rate and blood pressure drops, in 12 hours the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal and in two weeks to three months your circulation improves and your lung function increases.”
The American Cancer Society created the trademarked concept for and held its first Great American Smokeout in 1976 as a way to inspire and encourage smokers to quit for a day. One million people quit smoking for a day at the 1976 event in California. The Great American Smokeout encourages smokers to commit to making a long-term plan to quit smoking for good.
