Page 29 - CHI ST LUKES VINTAGE HOSPITAL PATIENT GUIDE
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You Can Quit                                     Get Ready,                            Stay Smoke-free!                                   FOCUS ON HEALTH-QUIT SMOKING!
Smoking!                                         This is how to
                                                 S.T. A. R.T !                         Staying smoke-free is the most
You may                                                                                important stage of the process.
know that                                          SET                                 Here are a few tips to help you
there are health risks                             A quit date                         stick to it.
to smoking yet still find it hard                                                       •	 Remember your reasons for
to commit to quitting.                             TELL
Consider that the health risks                     Family and friends and get             quitting and think of all the
of smoking are many and the                        their support                          benefits to your health, your
benefits to quitting are worth                                                            finances, and your family.
the effort.                                        ANTICIPATE                           •	 Remind yourself that there
                                                   The challenges of quitting             is no such thing as just one
If you are preparing to quit, or even just         like dealing with temptations,         cigarette – or just one puff.
thinking about it, make a list of all the          withdrawal, and cravings             •	 Ride out the desire to smoke.
reasons you want to quit and remind                                                       It will go away, but don’t fool
yourself of your reasons daily. They can           REMOVE                                 yourself into thinking you can
inspire you to stop smoking for good!              Cigarettes and other tobacco           have just one.
Here are a few reasons you may want to             from your home‚ car‚ and work        •	 Avoid alcohol, it lowers your
add to your list:                                                                         chance of success.
                                                   TALK                                 •	 Plan a healthy diet and find
Health And Appearance:                             To your doctor or pharmacist           ways to exercise and be active.
                                                   about options for quitting
  •	 Your risks for cancer, heart attack,                                                What if you slip up?
     heart disease, stroke, cataracts and     Your Quit Day
     other diseases will decrease.                                                        Here’s the difference between
                                              When you’re ready, here are                 a slip and a relapse:
  •	 You will reduce your chances of          some tips to help you succeed:              A slip is a one-time mistake
     returning to the hospital.                                                           that’s quickly corrected,
                                                •	 Tell your support group that this      a relapse is going back to
  •	 You will breathe easier and cough less.       is the day you’ve decided to quit.
  •	 Your blood pressure will go down.                                                          smoking. You can use
  •	 Your skin will look healthier and your     •	 Do not smoke, not even	                          the slip as an excuse to
                                                   one puff!                                         go back to smoking,
     teeth will look whiter.                                                                           or you can look at
                                                •	 Keep active—exercise is a                           what went wrong
Lifestyle:                                         great way to occupy your                              then renew your
                                                   mind and body.                                        commitment
  •	 Quitting will save you money.                                                                       to quitting
  •	 You will be able to taste & smell food,    •	 Drink lots of water and juices                      for good!
                                                •	 Avoid situations where people
     flowers and other things better.                                                                                                   15
  •	 Your clothes will no longer smell.            are smoking.
                                                •	 Get plenty of rest.
Loved Ones:                                     •	 Keep your mouth busy with sugar-

  •	 You will be doing your part in                free gum or candy.
     protecting family and friends from 	
     the dangers of secondhand smoke.

  •	 If you’re not thinking about where 	
     and when to smoke, you’ll have 	
     more time to spend with loved ones
     and on things that matter.

Health risks from smoking are
preventable, so make a plan to
quit today.

Check out these resources for more
information, cancer.org and

smokefree.gov
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