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Message: Here's a great article I found at www.northwestnavigator.com: -- Quitting smoking is one the most important behavioral changes you can do to improve your health. Unfortunately, overcoming the physical and mental addiction to tobacco isn’t easy. However, many experts agree that taking this process one day at a time increases your chances of staying smoke-free. Here’s how you can get started: Pick your quit day. Make it special. Choose a day that has meaning for you. Holidays, birthdays or anniversaries are may be good choices or you could join a community-wide quit smoking day, like the Great American Smoke Out, Nov. 18. Here’s how you get ready: Make a list of your reasons for quitting. Read it out loud 10 times every night before you go to sleep. Ask friends and family to give you support. Ask other smokers to quit with you. You can encourage each other! Slowly start reducing the number of cigarettes you smoke each day. The night before your quit day, put away lighters and ashtrays. Throw away cigarettes and matches. Here’s what is going to happen: Within 24 hours of quitting cigarettes, you will begin feeling the benefits. Cold hands and feet will warm up due to better circulation. Also, pulse rate and blood pressure will go down. Your heart and lungs are beginning to heal. Here’s how you’ll feel in the long run: Your sense of smell and taste will improve. Your smoker’s hack will go away and your energy will go up. Exercise will become easier. Your risk of heart attack decreases dramatically. Here’s how to stick with it: Believe that you can make it through. Don’t worry if you feel sleepier or more irritable than usual. These feelings will pass. Cravings may be common. To combat these, keep hard candy, gum, or carrot sticks on hand. Drink lots of water and juice. Avoid places you used to smoke or visit places where smoking is prohibited. Exercise! Reward yourself. Save the money you would have spent on cigarettes and buy something special. If you slip and use tobacco, don’t give up. Many former smokers tried several times before they succeeded. http://www.northwestnavigator.com/index.php/navigator/regionalnews/extinguishing_your_tobacco_habits/
