American Cancer
Society Urges Smokers
to Quit for the Day, Perhaps for Good
The American Cancer Society urges millions of smokers across the country to give up their cigarettes for the day and perhaps a lifetime for the 34th American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout®, Thursday, Nov. 19.
The American Cancer Society offers the following tips to help smokers get through the day, or any day, without cigarettes.
· Prepare for life as a nonsmoker by removing all cigarette-related material (ashtrays, cigarettes and cigarette butts, matches you use for lighting up, etc.) from your home and office - it will help avoid temptation.
· Smoking urges are worst in the first two weeks. After that they are most likely to recur in situations associated with smoking (e.g., after dinner or in the car).
· Urges last a few minutes at most, so practice the four Ds:
o DEEP breaths
o DO something else to get your mind off the craving (call a friend; go for a walk
chew on a carrot stick)
o DRINK lots of water throughout the day (especially during a craving).
o DELAY reaching for a cigarette; the urge will pass
· Try to avoid situations that encourage smoking. If you can't, practice telling people you've just quit or that you're a non-smoker.
· Change your routines. If you always light up when you have a coffee, drink tea or juice instead. If you always smoked while watching the evening news, read the paper.
· Use the many tools available. Nicotine patches, gum, and lozenges are available over the counter; a nicotine nasal spray and inhaler and a smoking-cessation medication are available by prescription; and toll-free help lines, such as 1-800-NO-BUTTS, and even online support are available.
· Some smokers have to try several methods before they succeed in quitting, so keep trying until you find what works for you.
And, just think, if you quit on the 19th, 12 months from now you can celebrate a year of improved health on the 35th anniversary of the Great American Smokeout® as well as every year thereafter.
