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Quit Smoking

Have You Planned to Quit Smoking?
You can still keep that New Year's resolution - even if you think you're slipping up.

Giving up smoking is the second most common New Year’s resolution. (Losing weight is the most popular.) Unfortunately, this resolution is one of the hardest to keep since nicotine - one of more than the 4,000 chemicals found in the smoke of cigarettes, cigars and pipes - is highly addictive. Most smokers find quitting a challenge because they have become addicted to nicotine.

Many benefits accompany the cessation of smoking:

You will lower your risk of having a heart attack, stroke, cancer, bronchitis and pneumonia.
The people you live with, especially your children, will be healthier.
Your skin will look younger, longer.
If you are pregnant, you will increase your chances of having a healthy baby.
You will have more money to spend on other things (perhaps your RRSP).

Tips To Help You Succeed

Make a list of the personal benefits of quitting and post it somewhere where you can read it every morning.
Commit to a quit date. You may want to align this with a special event like a child’s birthday or the start of a new job.
Recognize your personal triggers. For example, if you like to smoke while drinking your coffee, buy some sunflower seeds or another healthy snack, and occupy yourself with these instead. Remember that breaking the habits you associate with smoking will help you break the smoking habit as well.
If you get the urge to smoke, try the four Ds: delay, distract, deep breathing, and drink water.
Do something healthy for yourself every day. Perhaps go for a long walk and/or invest in home fitness equipment.
Enlist the support of friends and family.
Keep mints and/or chewing gum in your pocket to use if you feel a strong urge to smoke.
Record your successes and falls from grace in a journal. Note the situations that cause you to light up and those that help you to overcome the urge to smoke.
Invest in a smoking cessation aid such as Nicoderm®, Nicorette®, or Smoke Away.
Attend a London Drugs smoking cessation clinic for advice and support. (Please check with the pharmacist or our website, www.ldhealth.com, for dates of upcoming clinics.)