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Health 1st to offer ways to quit
smoking
For more information on smoking cessation
classes, visit the Wellness Wednesday booth from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct.
17 in the Children’s Hospital lobby.
Fewer smokers and places to smoke has prompted many to quit. Yet,
smoking maintains a powerful hold on some people. These people could
benefit from some means of support, such as nicotine replacement
products, counseling and the encouragement of friends and family
members.
Certain drugs, such as Chantix and Wellbutrin, have proven effective
for people who have failed at other cessation methods. Wellbutrin acts
as a mild anti-depressant, and has been helpful to some people, but its
side effects aren’t tolerable to many users.
Chantix, one of the newer therapies on the market, targets the area of
the brain that nicotine seems to stimulate, then turns off the
addictive trigger. Successful Chantix therapy takes up to three months
for many smokers before their desire to smoke completely evaporates.
However Chantix is expensive and has some uncomfortable side effects,
such as nausea. Those who prefer to quit the old fashioned way should
not be discouraged if they are not successful. It can take up to 14
attempts before someone is able to quite smoking.
MUSC employees who smoke and have decided to quit can take advantage of
several resources.
- Free smoking cessation classes will be offered from Nov. 6
- 29. A series of six classes will be offered by Robert Mallin, M.D.
Contact health1st@musc.edu to obtain a flyer and register for this
class.
- A free information session on smoking cessation will be
held Nov. 13. Prevention Partners with the S.C. Employee Insurance
Program will present information to employees about programs available
through insurance programs. E-mail health1st@musc.edu to obtain a
registration form.
- qSmokers and ex-smokers will be available to provide
information about stopping smoking Oct. 17. Employees are encouraged to
drop by during this time.
The American Cancer Society suggests a few helpful quit tips: pick a
quit date and mark it on a calendar; tell friends and family the date
you have chosen; stock up on sugarless gum, carrot sticks and hard
candy (especially mentholated or cinnamon candies); decide on a plan in
advance. Be aware of triggers like the telephone, cocktails or after
meals. Identify alternative activities and responses to triggers—i.e.,
brush your teeth immediately after a meal; keep your hands busy (rub a
smooth stone, or play with a rubber band) while you’re on the phone.
Smoking is a social habit. If your companion or friends smoke, gain
their support and ask them not to smoke around you. This could help
them, and it would help you quit smoking.
While some successful quitters have said they kept a pack of cigarettes
around to reduce the panic, others advise that it is best to commit and
get rid of all cigarettes, lighters, ashtrays and other items related
to smoking.
Keep active, try walking, exercising, or doing other activities. Drink
a lot of water and juices. Depending on your strategy; reduce or avoid
alcohol.
If using nicotine replacement therapy, it should be associated with a
strict cessation plan that will reduce the nicotine replacement as
opposed to increasing it over time. If a smoking cessation class would
be helpful, sign up now and establish a support system.
Editor's note: The preceding
column was brought to you on behalf of Health 1st. Striving to bring
various topics and representing numerous employee wellness
organizations and committees on campus, this weekly column seeks to
provide MUSC, MUHA and UMA employees with current and helpful
information concerning all aspects of health.
Friday, Oct. 12, 2007
Catalyst Online is published weekly,
updated
as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public
Relations
for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of
South
Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at
792-4107
or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to
Catalyst
Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to
catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island
Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.
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