Parents - February 2009

your life HEALTH

and hands busy, and buy a water bottle you like. Although quitters tend to gain ten pounds on average, it’s not inevitable.

Strategize about stress. When your house is a mess or things heat up at work, you can take deep breaths rather than a smoking break. If you get bored, plan to call a friend or start a craft project with the kids. Frustrated? Vent by writing in a journal.

Research smoking-cessation aids.

You’ll need to start certain medications a week or two before your quit date. If the one you choose requires a prescription, you can ask your regular doctor—or even your child’s. A growing number of pediatricians are now trained to help parents quit, says Jonathan Klein, M.D., director of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Julius B. Richmond Center of Excellence, which focuses on protecting children from secondhand smoke.

Call 800-QUIT-NOW to get one-on-one counseling (your call will be routed to your state’s quitline), and also ask your spouse and friends to encourage you. You might think it’s better to quit secretly—after all, if you fall o the wagon, who’ll know? But recent research has found that people who have social support are actually 50 percent more likely to succeed. “Tap into as many outlets as you can, as

QUITTER MOM

Amy Meyer Marion, Iowa KIDS Andrew, year

“I quit when I was pregnant. I went back
to work part-time when my son was
4 months old. Several months later,
we had horrible flooding in our city.
It was very scary, and I bummed a
few cigarettes from my neighbor, but
then I started buying my own packs. I kept it
a secret from my husband at first because I
knew it would upset him. Smoking gives me
two minutes to myself that I wouldn’t take
otherwise—but I don’t want to do it anymore,
and I know that I shouldn’t be doing it.”

YEARS SMOKED 10, o n and off CIGARET TES PER DAY to 10 TRIGGERS Disagreements with my husband or relatives, feeling overwhelmed, being bored, needing a little break

long as they all guide you in a positive direction,” says Dawn E. Wiatrek, Ph. D., director of the American Cancer Society Quitline, which oversees several state quitlines.

As your quit day approaches, throw out everything related to smoking

in your home and car. Air out your clothes, and whiten your teeth so you’ll want to keep them looking good.

Going through this process will make quitting easier, but you should still expect the first weeks to be tough. “You’ve developed many nicotine receptors in your brain, and when they’re deprived of nicotine, they’ll

rebel by causing physical symptoms
such as irritability, insomnia, or
trouble concentrating,” says Dr. Hurt.
Increasing your daily exercise by taking
brisk walks or bike rides is one of the
best strategies for several reasons.
It will help you sleep better, boost
your mood, focus your thinking, burn
calories, and remind you of what you’re
moving toward: a healthier future.

Coming in March

• Fight cravings in the first weeks

• What to tell your kids

• Updates on our quitter moms

Get Some Extra Help

Experts say that tobacco dependency is a medical problem like high cholesterol or high blood pressure, and it should be treated like one.

THERAPY

Nicotine patch

(nonprescription)

Nicotine gum or lozenge (nonprescription)

Bupropion (Zyban or Wellbutrin, prescription pill)

Varenicline (Chantix, prescription pill)

ACTION

Provides steady dose through your skin.

Delivers nicotine through mouth membranes.

Acts on brain chemicals to lessen withdrawal symptoms and reduce the urge to smoke.

Interferes with nicotine receptors in the brain.

PROS

Avoids peaks and valleys; helps you wean gradually. Doubles success rate.

Gives immediate relief; keeps mouth busy. Doubles your chance of success.

Minimizes irritation. Can be combined with nicotine replacement. Doubles your odds for success.

Can quadruple your odds of success.

CONS

Side e ects may include irritated skin, muscle aches, insomnia, and nausea.

Possible side e ects for gum: mouth sores, racing heartbeat. For lozenge: insomnia, gas, heartburn.

Can’t be used if you have a history of eating disorders or seizures. Side effects could include dry mouth and insomnia.

Side effects may include nausea, insomnia, and, rarely, suicidal thoughts.

HOW YOU USE I T

Put a new patch on your back or arm daily starting with full strength ( 15 to 22 mg) for four weeks, then reducing, for a total of three to five months.