Side Effects When You Stop Smoking
If you want to quit smoking, it is best to be prepared for the possible side effects. Trying to break the smoking habit can be difficult because of the physical withdrawal your body goes through. Nicotine is an addictive substance, and as with any physical addiction, the body gets used to having it in the system and must realign itself to not having it anymore.
One of the most common reasons why people are unable to quit smoking is because it’s uncomfortable and they don’t have the support they need to stay the course. Our free, 5-session Quit Smoking Program provides you with the moral support you need to keep going until the addiction has been completely broken.
Nicotine withdrawal symptoms
Some of the most common side effects from nicotine withdrawal include:
- Headaches and irritability from the body’s craving for nicotine
- Fatigue and lack of concentration as the brain is denied the stimulant of nicotine
- Nausea, hunger, constipation, gas, and stomach pain as the digestive system expels toxins and adjusts to fewer stimulants in the system
- Sore throat, dry throat, coughing, and post-nasal drip as the body tries to rid itself of accumulated phlegm
- Feelings of anxiety, depression, restlessness, and insomnia or other sleep issues as the brain readjusts its signals and brain waves
While these symptoms are very unpleasant, they are actually a good sign! They mean that your body is trying to adjust to living without nicotine. Remember, none of these symptoms will cause you any harm. They’re just uncomfortable. Plan ahead with strategies to combat them and you’ll increase your likelihood of success.
Prepare ahead
As mentioned, our Quit Smoking Program will give you moral support from others going through the process with you as well as great strategies to keep you on track and help you succeed.
In addition, you may want to talk to your co-workers and loved ones. Let them know you want to quit smoking and ask them for support. You might also want to apologize in advance for any irritability that you may take out on them. Share with them the likely side effects and ask them to help you manage them. The more support you have the better.
Our program also evaluates nicotine replacement therapies such as the nicotine patch or gum and provides support for those who are using them. If you are going to utilize one of these treatments, there may be additional side effects. Talk to your doctor so you know what to expect.
We want you to succeed so you can live a nicotine-free life. Our smoking cessation programs are offered both in-person and virtually so that you can join us from anywhere. Visit our website today to learn more.
Relying on Herd Immunity is Not How You Want to Stay Healthy
Should you not vaccinate your children and rely on herd immunity? Many animals live in herds because living in a group makes it harder for predators to kill them. Herd immunity can also help communities withstand infectious diseases, but it comes at a cost. Those “free riders” who want the benefits of herd immunity without using a vaccine make the process of establishing herd immunity more difficult and more lengthy.
What is Herd Immunity?
Herd immunity (or community or population immunity), according to the Cleveland Clinic, means so many people in a group or area have immunity against an infectious agent that it’s tough for the infection to spread or to mutate into something for which few are immune. That immunity occurs because group members survived a past infection, were vaccinated, or acquired antibodies through a passive transfer.
How Does Herd Immunity Develop?
The best way to reach herd immunity is through vaccination. Passive immunity means you obtain antibodies from others. This happens when antibodies are passed to a fetus during pregnancy, to newborns through breast milk, or to a person through blood products with antibodies. Developing immunity after an infection risks severe short and long-term complications and possibly death.
It’s very unlikely herd immunity against COVID-19, for example, would develop without vaccines. It would require far more people to get sick, resulting in many more complications and a significant increase in deaths.
Even with vaccines, achieving herd immunity can be difficult:
- A part of the population refuses to be vaccinated
- Some won’t be vaccinated for health reasons
- Some with compromised immune systems can’t produce antibodies despite being vaccinated
- It may not be known how long vaccine-related immunity lasts, or it may be highly variable from person to person
- Vaccines may not be equally available to those in a populatio
Given all these unknowns, simply relying on herd immunity, which may never occur, to stay healthy during an outbreak is not a sensible approach.
What Have We Learned About Herd Immunity?
Vaccines provide effective protection against many deadly diseases. We don’t consider measles fatal, but about 5% of children who get it in areas without good medical care die of it. After a measles vaccine became readily available in the US, cases dropped by more than 99%.
In 2000, measles was declared eliminated in the US in 2000, but there have been outbreaks. Four years ago, 1,282 cases were confirmed in the US, the highest number since 1992. They occurred because unvaccinated people traveled to countries where it was more widespread. When they returned, it passed to others in the US who were also unvaccinated.
Herd immunity is more likely when there are effective vaccinations against diseases caused by one organism (such as smallpox or measles). It’s less likely in cases like the flu, which is caused by many different types of viruses (US flu shots protect against four viruses). Despite its limitations, flu shots prevent deaths and reduce severe complications and hospitalizations.
Did Herd Immunity Work for COVID-19?
Sweden took a different approach to the COVID-19 pandemic compared to most countries, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. It unofficially tried to achieve herd immunity in 2020 as a national strategy.
Many businesses and organizations remained open without restrictions, including restaurants, elementary and middle schools, public transportation, gyms, malls, and movie theaters. Public gatherings were limited to 50 or fewer people, and they closed high schools, universities, and museums and canceled public sporting events.
Compared to the US, the Swedes enjoyed more freedom of movement and were more able to access businesses, but the cost was high. By the end of May 2020, Sweden had almost 41,000 COVID-19 cases causing more than 4,500 deaths in a population of about 10 million.
Neighboring Norway and Finland combined had less than 600 COVID-19 deaths during that time. The architect of the country’s herd immunity plan, Anders Tegnell, admitted at a June 2020 press conference that “too many people had died too soon” as a result, though he stated they were taking the right approach.
After that initial, deadly COVID-19 wave, Swedes changed their behavior. Their excess mortality was worse than other Scandinavian countries but lower than the rest of Europe, according to Bloomberg. They quarantined when sick, worked from home, kept apart when possible, and most chose the protection of vaccines over herd immunity when they became available.
Do You Have Questions or Concerns About Vaccines?
If so, let’s start the conversation. Call the Bucks County Health Improvement Partnership at 267-291-7882 or complete our online contact form.
Relapsing as You Quit Smoking
While you’re trying to quit smoking, or even after you’ve successfully quit, you may give in to the craving for a cigarette. When this happens, some people end up feeling like they blew it and just give up and go back to smoking regularly. Try to resist that reaction. It is common to slip up, and you haven’t failed. Here in Bucks County, our Smoking Cessation program will give you the tools to successfully handle a craving.
Slip vs. relapse
It is not uncommon for a smoker who is quitting to have a cigarette or two. Even after quitting, you may find yourself in the presence of a smoker and just can’t resist sharing a cigarette. You may be stressed and think “I really need a cigarette” and you give in. This is what we call a slip.
A relapse is when you go back to smoking regularly. Sometimes a slip can lead to a relapse, especially if you smoked many cigarettes a day. Sometimes just one puff is enough to unravel all your hard effort to quit.
When this happens, it’s understandable to be disappointed, but be gentle with yourself. Quitting any habit is difficult, and overcoming nicotine addiction is especially hard.
Reclaiming your freedom
Maybe you’re lucky enough to be able to only have that one cigarette and go back to being smoke-free. If so, congratulations! But many people need a little more help to continue on their journey toward a smoke-free life.
Every incident is an opportunity to learn and grow. Look at the situation and ask yourself what may have triggered the need for the cigarette. Was it the location? The people? The events? Did you really need it, or did you just want it? What were you thinking about when you took the smoke? This self-examination can help prevent you from relapsing.
But what if you have already relapsed? Don’t worry, you now know you can quit, it is possible for you, and you can do it again. Relapsing is now part of your journey, and it’s an opportunity to learn where you still need to become stronger, what situations you need to avoid, and what support you need to prevent it from happening again.
If you haven’t tried a smoking-cessation support group, try it now to help you finish your success story. We offer a free, 5-week Quit Smoking Program to help you. You can choose between an in-person or virtual group. If you already used a support group, don’t be embarrassed to join again! You will probably be able to help others on the journey because they will be able to learn from the lessons you share. And they will be more determined to cheer you on to a final victory over nicotine.
If someone you love relapses
What if it’s not you who relapsed but someone you love? Take these lessons to heart and don’t make your loved one feel shame. Try to remind your loved one why he or she decided to quit in the first place. Discuss the benefits of being smoke-free and find a support group to help your loved one succeed.
With failure comes progress. Don’t give up, join our Quit Smoking Program to give you the support you may need, and get back to being smoke-free.
Unlike Most Myths, Those About Vaccines Cause Harm
If you are confused about vaccine safety, please know that what you hear as sound bites are often myths. We grew up with myths. George Washington as a child, chopped down a cherry tree and admitted it to his father. Atlantis was an ancient, advanced civilization that sank into the ocean. Columbus discovered America. These falsehoods may confuse, but no one died because they believed George Washington could not lie.
Vaccine myths are another story.Vaccine use can save lives. One study estimates that in the first five months of their use, COVID-19 vaccines saved about 139,000 lives, according to the National Institutes of Health.
The COVID-19 pandemic was a perfect storm for vaccine criticism. Before it happened, a small group publicly opposed their use. Through social media and media outlets, they found a much larger audience of Americans frustrated by and skeptical of the government’s response to the infection. As a result, many of us who never questioned vaccine use before refuse to get them. This is a bad idea for these individuals and the community. Here are some vaccine myths and the reality.
Vaccines are a personal choice.
Yes and no. If you’re conscious and mentally competent, you decide what healthcare you get and don’t get, including vaccines. However, unless there’s an exemption, some workers in the healthcare field, members of the military, and children attending childcare or school in Pennsylvania must be vaccinated.
Smoking tobacco can also be seen as a personal choice, but you’re impacting others with second-hand smoke. Widespread vaccine use prevents some diseases. If they’re not used, it helps their spread and other people are harmed, just as tobacco smoke can harm someone not smoking. It may be a personal choice, but not using vaccines impacts more people than you.
Vaccines are toxic.
Depending on the vaccine and the person, a vaccine may be toxic. But, overall, they are safe and effective. The chances of a severe adverse reaction to a vaccine are tiny. On average, of a million people who receive vaccinations, one or two individuals may suffer a severe reaction, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. If all 13 million people in Pennsylvania received a vaccination, approximately between 13 and 26 people would have a severe reaction. In comparison, your chances of dying in a vehicle accident are about one in 93
If you have any questions or doubts about the safety of a vaccine, contact your healthcare provider to discuss the chances that you may have a serious reaction or complication if you use it.
I know what is best for my child.
You may know many things that are best for your child. You know their personality, how they might respond to a situation, and their likes and dislikes. Unless your child had a specific reaction to a particular vaccination, or you’re a healthcare professional, if you think your child will have a bad reaction or complication to a vaccine, it’s a pure guess, probably based on false information. If you have concerns about your child’s use of vaccines, talk to your pediatrician.
Vaccines cause harm.
Vaccines can cause harm, but it’s extremely rare. Generally, a child receiving a vaccine has less than a one-in-a-million chance of suffering a bad reaction, and the risk of permanent harm is even smaller. You probably expose yourself and your child to far greater risks without thinking about it. Injuries due to a firearm, swimming pool, or vehicle are far more likely.
Do You Have Questions or Concerns About Vaccines?
If so, let’s start the conversation. Call the Bucks County Health Improvement Partnership at (267) 291-7882 or fill out our online contact form
Updating Healthcare Directives
It’s always a good idea to look at your estate planning and advanced healthcare directive documents every year. Things can change over a year: your health or financial situation may change, someone listed in your documents may pass away or move, or your attitudes about a particular procedure or intervention may change. So take a look every year and make sure your documents still align with your wishes.
Estate planning usually is understood to refer to your finances and your property – what is considered your “estate” when you die. You should certainly review your will and other estate decisions yearly to make sure you are leaving your wealth to the people or organizations you wish to have them.
But another important aspect of estate planning is your advanced healthcare directive, also called a “living will.” Your living will allows you to specify:
- Whether or not you want life-sustaining medical care, what kind, and under what situations
- Whether or not you want to donate your organs or tissues, if you are a candidate
- What you consider your acceptable quality of life
- What comfort care you would like provided
- Any other instructions you would like followed, regarding moral, religious, or ethical considerations
- What family member(s) or friend(s) will be responsible for carrying out these directives if you are unable to make these decisions for yourself (your medical power of attorney)
When you first created your living will, you probably went over these questions thoroughly and gave them a great deal of thought. Over the course of the year, however, you may hear of new medical technology that you do or don’t want; you may change your mind about whether or not you’ll donate your organs; you may lose a family member who was named as a medical power of attorney.
For instance, maybe you have a friend who benefited from a ventilator during Covid-19, giving your friend time to recover. If you said “no ventilators” in your living will, you may want to modify that directive, such as adding “if there is no expectation of recovery.”
You should also have another conversation with your medical power of attorney and alternate powers of attorney. It’s a good idea to have two other people mentioned in case the primary person is unavailable in an emergency or passes away before you’re able to change your living will. Discuss your preferences and make sure the people you have named still hold the same views you do and will carry out your wishes.
Updating your documents yearly will ensure that your wishes will be fulfilled, if you are ever unable to speak for yourself.
What Is Nicotine Replacement Therapy?
If you are a smoker and you want to stop smoking, we at BCHIP applaud your decision. Smoking and other nicotine use cause a wide variety of serious health problems throughout the body. The statistics are sobering:
- Cigarette smoking increases risk of death from all causes in both men and women
- Smoking is a factor in many different types of cancer
- It increases risk of developing lung cancer 25 times and causes 90% of lung cancer deaths
- Smokers are 12 to 13 times more likely to die of COPD
- Smoking increases risk of coronary heart disease and stroke, the two leading causes of death in the U.S., by 2 to 4 times
- It damages blood vessels, increasing the risk of blood clots that can reduce blood flow to the brain, legs, and skin
- Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body
- Smoking can reduce fertility and cause low birthweight, miscarriage, birth defects, ectopic pregnancy, and stillbirth
- Smoking has been found to affect bone health in women
- Smoking damages teeth and gums and can cause tooth loss
- It can damage your vision and increase risks of blindness, cataracts, and macular degeneration
- Smokers are 30%-40% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes and are more likely to experience complications from the diabetes
Besides these very serious health risks, smoking discolors teeth, causes bad breath, and leaves your clothes smelling like smoke. It can also trigger asthma or other problems in those you love who frequently breathe in second-hand smoke.
So there are many very strong reasons to quit smoking, but because nicotine is addictive, it is extremely difficult to break the habit.
There is also an emotional component to cigarette smoking that needs to be addressed. It helps to have a support system like our free Quit Smoking / Tobacco Cessation Program that will help you stay on track and successfully quit. Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is available for those who qualify. This five-session program is available both in-person and virtually.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
NRT supplies low doses of nicotine in order to cut down on cravings for nicotine, lessen physical withdrawal symptoms, and help the person more easily quit. It is especially helpful for those who smoke heavily. The more nicotine coursing through your system, the more difficult it is to overcome the addiction, and many people need the help of NRT to successfully break the habit.
NRT does not contain many of the toxins found in cigarettes or other nicotine products. NRT comes in many forms, including gum, inhalers, lozenges, nasal spray, and skin patches. Patches and gum seem to be the most effective because people are more likely to use them properly. Discuss with your doctor which form may be best for you and what dosage you may need.
Nicotine use can cause side effects, and NRT is no exception. Since the nicotine dosage is low, the chances of side effects are small, but you may experience headaches, nausea or other digestive problems, and difficulty sleeping (usually with the patch, and usually only the first few days).
It is very important NOT to smoke while using NRT. The combined nicotine level could be quite high, causing increased toxins in your body.
NRT is not enough
As mentioned, there is an emotional component to smoking addiction that needs to be addressed in order to successfully kick the habit. Our program will provide you with proven techniques as well as emotional support and mutual encouragement as you face this challenge with others. Visit us at bchip.org/quit-smoking-programs today for more details and to register.
When Family Members Won’t Get Vaccinated
During the last two years, we have seen many Bucks County families divided over Covid vaccination status. Suppose you’re immuno-compromised and you feel unsafe around people who have not received a vaccination or who may have any kind of cold or illness. You have the right to advocate for yourself within your family, and you may decide not to see certain family members for the time being.
Short of serious health concerns, however, try to handle this difference of opinion as you would handle most other strongly-held differences, such as religion or politics: with respect and patience.
One-on-one conversations are preferable, so the other person does not feel ambushed. You will also have more control over the situation because if you want to be calm and patient but someone else who holds your opinion is more hot-headed, the conversation can actually be counter-productive.
That said, if you know the conversation is likely to get heated or emotional, ask a level-headed person whom you both respect to moderate. If it begins to get intense, take a break.
Try to maintain neutral, non-aggressive, and non-accusative body language, tone of voice, and word choice. Don’t say things like “You obviously don’t care about others.” Ask, rather, “What thoughts do you have about how your decision impacts others?” That may still be a difficult question to hear, but it assumes the other person has thought about it, which is a respectful assumption, and it opens up the opportunity for the other person to explain his thoughts on the matter.
Try to explain your position without being preachy. Stick to what you see as the facts and ask your family member to do the same. Facts should be supported by reliable sources. Try not to dominate the conversation. If necessary, set a timer to give each person five minutes of uninterrupted talking, and take turns.
Go into your conversation with the mindset of creating peace and making progress in your understanding of each other’s position. You may both find common ground and even come closer together in your views.
In the end, family is family. Do whatever you can to maintain that mutual love and respect that all family members deserve. You can’t control other people’s actions, but you can control your own. For your part, try to maintain that sense of family bond. Even if there is tension for a time, try to keep lines of communication open so your relationship can continue moving forward and eventually move past this difference.
Whom to Leave in Charge of Your Care: Choosing your Medical Power of Attorney in Bucks County, PA
An estimated 75% of all Americans will at some point be in a medical situation in which they cannot communicate their wishes. While it isn’t pleasant to think about and the conversation may be awkward, it’s important to take time to develop an advanced medical care plan, including a medical power of attorney, in case an accident or unexpected health condition leaves you suddenly unable to make decisions for your own healthcare. Having someone to advocate for you and your wishes is critical when you can’t advocate for yourself.
PA Law and health care decisions
Pennsylvania does have a standard hierarchy of authority that it follows if an adult is unable to make health decisions and has not named a healthcare agent. Healthcare providers will turn to others for guidance on your care in the following order:
- Your spouse
- An adult child
- Either of your parents
- An adult sibling
- An adult grandchild
- A close friend
If the prior person is not available (for instance, if you have no spouse) medical personnel will go to the next available person for guidance (in this case, your adult child).
But what if you have more than one child, or your spouse or children have different views on healthcare than you do? Naming your medical power of attorney solves this problem.
What a medical power of attorney does
A medical power of attorney goes by a number of titles: healthcare power of attorney, durable power of attorney for healthcare, and healthcare proxy. These titles all designate a person who will make healthcare decisions when a doctor determines the patient cannot make decisions for himself. This may include when the patient is in a coma, is taking necessary medication that impairs judgment, or is suffering from cognitive decline or dementia.
Those decisions may include:
- Consent or refusal of medical treatment
- Choosing medical personnel – doctors, therapists, etc.
- Admission and discharge from medical facilities – hospital, nursing home care, etc.
- Access to medical records
- End-of-life decisions, donation of organs
Choosing your medical power of attorney
It can be difficult to choose your healthcare proxy, especially when you have children who are all close to you and to each other. You don’t want feelings hurt, but you do want to choose one person to make the final decisions.
Choose someone who is available, lives nearby, and is levelheaded. You want someone who has similar views as yours and who will follow your wishes. If you want to be kept alive using all measures, then knowing you have chosen a loved one who holds that same belief could be comforting. But you should also choose someone who will not take the power upon himself or herself and exclude family members.
Whomever you choose, it is important to have at least two other people who are alternates. It is not uncommon for people to simply designate a spouse as power of attorney and then become widowed. Without an alternative person designated, you will be without a voice if something happens to you before you get to designate a new proxy.
For your own peace of mind and to ensure that your wishes are fulfilled, take the time to choose a medical power of attorney and two alternates, and make sure all your children and close relatives have a copy of this information. It will be a comfort to you and all your loved ones if the day comes when a medical power of attorney is needed.
Should I Vaccinate My Child? – We Can Help
Here in Bucks County, PA, and all over the world, childhood vaccinations have saved countless children from suffering and death due to severe childhood diseases. The cases of measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, polio, whooping cough, and other serious childhood infections have practically disappeared, thanks to these childhood vaccines and improved healthcare.
However, some people have come to the conclusion that since the diseases are now quite rare, the shots are no longer necessary. Because of this, the illnesses are making a resurgence in some areas. For instance, while measles was declared eradicated from the U.S. in the year 2000 by the W.H.O., since 2010, hundreds of cases a year have occurred, with more than 1200 in 2019.
Parents should talk to their children’s doctors about the necessity of childhood vaccinations. The most important childhood vaccines have been in service for decades, and throughout that time, medical teams have been continuously monitoring and improving them. These include:
- DTaP, which protects against diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), and tetanus
- MMR, which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella
- Hib, which protects against a type of bacterial influenza occurring mostly in infants and young children
- IPV, which protects against polio
The recommended childhood vaccine schedule is designed to provide immunization when the child’s immune system can best support the action of the vaccine. However, this can be adjusted as necessary, specific to your child’s needs, with the consultation of your doctor. For instance, if your child is ill during the time when a vaccine would normally be administered, the CDC recommends delaying the vaccine until your child’s immune system is again working robustly.
If your child is immunocompromised, talk to your doctor about the best steps to take for each of the vaccines. Your doctor may recommend a delay of one or another type of shot until your child is stronger.
Most childhood vaccines have few if any complications. Occasionally a vaccine may cause a sore arm, redness, crankiness, or a low-grade fever. Your doctor will inform you of what to expect and what symptoms may be of concern, necessitating a call to the doctor’s office.
The likelihood of a serious reaction to these long-standing and proven childhood vaccines is minute, while the complications from the diseases themselves are severe. Only just a few generations ago, most families experienced the sorrow of losing a child to one of these devastating diseases.
We at BCHIP are here to help you make an informed decision to protect your children and other children from these serious illnesses. If you do not have a doctor for your child, contact us to answer any questions and help direct you to an excellent doctor in your area.
When a Loved One Won’t Stop Smoking
If you have a loved one who can’t or won’t stop smoking, you’re both in a difficult position, but it’s not hopeless. Smoking is an addiction, not unlike alcohol or other substance abuse. The addiction makes it very difficult for the addicted person to realize he has a problem in the first place, want to quit, and successfully kick the habit.
Just as with other addictions, your loved one has to first admit he has a problem. Once he recognizes that his smoking is a problem, he needs a successful plan and a supportive team in order to successfully quit.
You may have very valid objections to his smoking: you may have a baby, a compromised immune system, or allergies, or you just think it’s a gross habit. But these are your objections. The smoker needs to find his own internal motivations to outweigh the pleasure or benefits he experiences from smoking.
For instance, some people smoke to help calm down and manage stress. Others may have started smoking as an act of rebellion or “growing up” or to fit in with a group, and although they may have outgrown those reasons, subconsciously the memories remain. But ultimately, they still smoke because their bodies are now addicted. It will take not only willpower but possibly some medical intervention to help your loved one quit, if and when he decides to quit.
Helping your loved one want to quit
The decision to quit smoking is highly personal. Don’t shame, preach, tease, or shun your loved one because of his choice. If you have children or your own health issues, you have the right to insist that your loved one not smoke in your presence or the children’s presence, but you cannot demand that he change his lifestyle.
Believe in your loved one and always bear in mind that people who cannot stop smoking have both a physical and emotional addiction to it. If, for instance, your husband started smoking at age 15 as a sign of rebellion against overly-strict parents, your nagging will reinforce that negative subconscious memory and make him dig his psychological heels in even deeper. So try to be sensitive to these issues.
Try to talk to him calmly about it. Ask him if he sees smoking as a problem. Ask him what he thinks about all the medical evidence showing that smoking is a major factor in heart disease, stroke, cancer, lung disease, and premature aging. Ask him why he still smokes. Seek first to understand.
If you start by understanding where he’s coming from, you will then be able to present your concerns and objections in a more loving and less offending matter. You can tell him that, even if he is not concerned about the medical issues for himself, you’re sure he wouldn’t want his children to get tar in their lungs from his cigarette smoke, and he certainly wouldn’t want them to pick up the habit and risk their own health, just because they see their dad smoking. Tell him what a great example he would set for them if they see their father stop doing something that he enjoys out of love for them.
Tell him you want to have him with you for many years to come, as a living human being and not just a photo on the mantelpiece. Tell him you know he is strong and can quit if he wants to, and you’re there to help him when he’s ready. If you are sincere, this will give him a boost of confidence, and it puts the ball in his court to decide when he’s ready.
Finally, you may want to enlist the help of his physician. Cold statistics are not as convincing as a doctor in a white coat standing in front of him telling him, “Here’s your health condition, and this is where you’re heading if you don’t quit smoking. It won’t be pretty, and it will be very painful, a lot more painful than the temporary discomfort of quitting.”
If your loved one admits he would like to quit but there are certain situations in which he enjoys a cigarette, for instance, with his morning coffee and when he relaxes after work, ask him if he’d be willing to reduce his smoking to just those two times. An incremental cessation, though more difficult for some people, might work for him. Many people have successfully resisted the urge to smoke during the day by saying, “I’ll hold out until my evening cigarette.” Decreasing gradually can make it easier to quit eventually.
At BCHIP, we have an excellent, free smoking cessation program that has helped countless people overcome the habit. When your loved one seems open to a calm conversation about it, you can look through our program together, promise him he has your support, and ask him to talk to one of our experts to help him take the first steps towards a smoke-free life.
