4 - Healthy New Year | Cottage Grove Sentinel | January 25, 2017
HEALTHY NEW YEAR | BREAKING BAD HABITS
Quit Smoking
E
ach year more
than 160 million
Americans make
New Year’s
resolutions. The
American Lung
Association reports
that quitting
smoking is the most
common resolution.
And according to the
Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, there are 50
million more former smokers
than current smokers. Those
successful quitters have uti-
lized high levels of determina-
tion and developed a quit plan
to kick the habit. Engage in
some of these helpful tips to be
smoke-free for the New Year.
EFFECTIVE QUIT PLAN
Many smokers who decide
to use the cold turkey method
— giving up cigarettes all at
once — often fail. Quitting
cold turkey will cause nicotine
withdrawal symptoms that
may include insomnia, irrita-
bility, poor concentration and
headaches.
If you think these withdraw-
als are too much for you, there
are still effective ways to go
about quitting. According to
the CDC, a quit plan should
include:
• Picking a quit date. Plan to
cut down on your level of nico-
tine so you can meet your goal.
© FOTOLIA
• A support group. Telling
family and friends about your
decision will give them reason
to help keep you motivated.
• A list of reasons. Make a
physical list of the reasons you
want to quit smoking. Put this
list in places where you tend to
smoke more.
FREE RESOURCES
A support system is crucial
in a fight against nicotine with-
drawal. The CDC has listed a
few helpful resources to use
when you’re up against a crav-
ing. 1-800-QUIT-NOW is a
great service to offer coaching,
assist in a quit plan and pro-
vide you educational materials.
Smokefree TXT is a text mes-
sage service that will give you
advice and motivation. Get in
the habit of sending this ser-
craving without the dangerous
chemicals that come from
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
burning cigarettes.
There are many different
Consult with your doctor to
medications available to assist determine which product will
in quitting smoking. The down- work best for you. There are
side to some over-the-counter other prescription medications
medicines is that you will still
available that you can choose.
rely on nicotine. Products such Talk to your doctor about the
as patches or gums will release risks and benefits of each
levels of nicotine in your
before you begin your journey
bloodstream to relieve the
to become smoke-free.
vice a text when you feel a
craving come on.