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Resolve to Quit Smoking in 2011

Freedom From Smoking® group classes start January 19

Your Parrish Medical Center care partners want to help you resolve to quit smoking in 2011. The American Lung Association’s Freedom from Smoking® group clinics will be offered at PMC’s main campus, 951 N. Washington Ave., Titusville, every Wednesday from January 19 to February 23, 2011. The six-week series of classes will be held from noon to 1 p.m. in the third floor Women’s Center conference room (accessible from the main entrance elevators). To register, call 321-268-6287. Classes are free and open to the public.

Group clinics have helped hundreds of thousands quit smoking; it’s considered the gold standard for smoking cessation programs. This six-session program is done in a group setting, since the support of others is a beneficial component of the quitting process. The group sessions are led by an expert who understands how hard it is for smokers to quit. Freedom From Smoking classes help individuals learn about:
· Medicines that can help you stop smoking
· Lifestyle changes that make quitting easier
· Preparing for Quit Day
· Managing stress
· Avoiding weight gain
· Developing a new self-image
· How to stay smoke-free for good

Even if you have tried to quit smoking before but didn't succeed, try again. It takes most people several tries before they can quit for good. Call 321-268-6287 to register.

Quit Smoking Quick Tips for Success The American Lung Association reports that every year in the U.S. over 392,000 people die from tobacco-caused disease, making it the leading cause of preventable death. Another 50,000 people die from exposure to secondhand smoke. Following are seven Quick Tips for Success to quit smoking for New Year’s from the American Lung Association.

Did you or someone you love resolve to quit smoking for New Year’s? The American Lung Association is here to help you keep that resolution. January is the perfect time for a fresh start, and with today’s economic challenges, quitting smoking is not only good for your health, it’s good for your wallet. At current prices, when a pack-a-day smoker quits, it’s like getting a $2,000 bonus—tax free—every year! Having a solid plan can be the key. Here are seven tips for success and resources that have helped thousands give up smoking for good:
  1. Talk to your doctor about the different over-the-counter and prescription medications and various types of treatments available to help you quit smoking.
  2. Look into the different options available to help smokers quit. Visit www.lungusa.org for tools like our Freedom From Smoking® Online.
  3. Take time to plan. Pick your quit date a few weeks ahead of time and mark it on the calendar. If you can, pick a day that isn’t stressful, such as after the holidays. As your Quit Day approaches, gather the medications and tools you need and map out how you’re going to handle situations that make you want to smoke.
  4. Get some exercise every day. Walking is a great way to reduce the stress of quitting. Exercise is proven to not only combat weight gain, but also improves mood and energy levels.
  5. Eat a balanced diet; drink lots of water and get plenty of sleep.
  6. Ask family, friends and co-workers for their help and support. Having someone to take a walk with or just listen can give a needed boost.
  7. You don’t have to quit alone. Help is available. Consider joining a stop-smoking program like Freedom From Smoking® offered by the American Lung Association.
For even more help, call Lung HelpLine at 1-800-LUNG-USA. American Lung Association nurses and respiratory therapists can provide expert advice on quitting smoking.

“Be aware that smokers have different experiences when they quit,” says Norman Edelman, M.D. American Lung Association Chief Medical Officer. “Some may feel tired or even easily excitable. Others may feel lightheaded, nervous or irritable and experience headaches in addition to craving tobacco or sweets. Know these feelings are normal and may last for several weeks, but eventually they will pass.”

And perfect for today’s busy world is Freedom From Smoking® Online (http://www.ffsonline.org/), which provides added support for your journey to stop smoking.

“Quitting smoking is one of the most important things you can do for your health,” adds Dr. Edelman. “The earlier you quit the better, but it’s important to remember that it’s never too late to quit. The American Lung Association offers the best tools and resources available.”