Assistance available to quit smoking
THE VILLAGES — As the New Year approaches, some residents are creating their resolution lists, and “quit smoking” could be their top goal.
Local health department officials remind residents about smoking-cessation programs and tips that can help them carry through with this resolution.
Smokers need to have a plan for quitting smoking, said Kimberly Alfrey, tobacco prevention specialist for Sumter County. Smokers should talk to their physicians and discuss how they plan to quit, such as cold turkey or with nicotine-replacement therapy.
“Some nicotine-replacement therapies could affect their medications they already take, that’s why it’s important for them to have that talk with their doctor,” Alfrey said.
Tobacco-cessation programs see an influx of participants around New Year’s Eve, she said. One tip that could help people stick with a smoke-free lifestyle is to consider when they smoke and how much, she said.
If people can determine the reasons why they smoke, they can be more successful in quitting with the help of nicotine-replacement or behavior-modification classes, Alfrey said.
Sumter County’s tobacco prevention programs include Freedom From Smoking Classes, which are on a scheduled basis. The initial supply of nicotine patches is included with this program, she said. For more information on this class, contact Dina Martinez at 793-2701, ext. 223.
Florida Quitline, 1-877-822-6669, is offering free nicotine-replacement products such as patches, gum and lozenges. Florida Quitline is a toll-free call and it has trained counselors available 24 hours a day.
Not only is start of a new year a factor in motivating people to quit, but cigarette taxes have greatly increased, too, said Melaine Chin, of the Lake County Health Department’s Tobacco Prevention Program. A generic brand of cigarettes can cost anywhere between $5 to $6.50 per pack, Chin said.
Chin encourages residents to seek help when they choose to quit, because it can be a tough habit to break.
Lake County’s tobacco-prevention programs include school and community presentations, encouragement through cessation referral, as well as support and Youth Tobacco Citation Class, she said.
“We would like everyone to start working toward a tobacco-free society,” Chin said.
Once smokers put out their cigarettes, their blood pressure improves within 20 minutes, Alfrey said. Within eight hours the carbon monoxide levels lower in their lungs, she said. Shortness of breath will begin to decrease anywhere between 30 days to nine months after quitting smoking, Alfrey said.
It can take about 15 years for internal organs, such as heart and lungs, to begin repairing, she said.
“It’s never too late to quit,” Alfrey said. “People will start feeling more energized and overall healthy. Some people just might need to get help through the cessation process.”
Katie Backman is a reporter with the Daily Sun. She can be reached at 753-1119, ext. 9264, or katie.backman@thevillagesmedia.com.
