Health and Wellness Tips
Tips to Help You Stop Smoking
- Make a list of your reasons to quit smoking and say them often to yourself.
- Set a quit date and tell everyone you are going to quit smoking and ask
for their help and support.
- Keep a supply of healthy low calorie snacks readily available.
- Increase your exercise. If able, increase your walking. Remember, with
any increase in exercise you should pace yourself to avoid overexertion.
- Make specific plans for what you'll do when the urge to smoke occurs.
For example, take a deep breath, get up and walk around, call a friend for
help, keep your hands busy. Remember, the urge to smoke passes in just
a few minutes whether or not you smoke.
- Remove all cigarettes, ashtrays, matches and lighters from your home,
workplace and car.
- Ask your physician whether using a nicotine replacement product is right
for you. Ask for his or her support in helping you to stop smoking.
- Contact local health organizations, who offer programs and materials
on smoking cessation, for their assistance and support.
Becoming a former smoker is hard work. But, it can be done! You can join millions of adults who have become and remain former smokers.
Consider This
-
In the years since we first learned about the effects of smoking, one fact has remained very clear: Smoking is by far the leading risk factor for lung cancer. To stop smoking at any age lowers the risk of lung cancer.
- Smoking is one of our most serious—and deadly—forms of chemical dependency.
- Just knowing that smoking can be deadly isn't enough to produce change. Smokers have to build up their own courage and commitment to reshape their lives without cigarettes.
- To quit smoking is difficult, but it can be done and will be worth the effort.
- From all that we have come to know about cigarettes, choosing not to smoke (or quitting, if you currently smoke) is one of the most important single lifestyle changes any of us can make to protect our health and well-being.
- Your body is really quite amazing. If a person stops smoking before lung cancer develops, the lung tissue slowly returns to normal.
- To quit smoking is a choice that 's worth your careful thought.
Smoking cessation programs are available throughout the local and regional areas. For specific dates, times, and costs, call contact numbers and/or go to the websites listed below.
Program |
Contact Number |
American Lung Association (www.lungusa.org)
|
1-800-LUNG-USA |
Freedom From Smoking (www.freedomfromsmoking.org)
|
|
American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org) |
1-215-712-3290 (Bux-Mont Office) |
Pennsylvania's FREE QUITLINE |
1-877-724-1090 |
Revised 5/01, 12/03, 7/04
Original 2/96
