Make a no-smoking pledge stick

By AMBER DILLEY
Glasgow Daily Times

GLASGOW January 06, 2009 11:58 am

— One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to quit smoking, most likely because it can take a few tries to complete.
Research has shown that it may take four or five times to completely break the habit.
Smoking is probably the most effective and easiest way to administer nicotine to the system because it gets to the brain within seconds.
Once the drug enters the brain, it activates regions that in turn trigger the release of dopamine, associated with pleasure.
Once the brain gets used to the pleasure stimulus, the habit can be extremely hard to break.
Robin Mahlow, a physician at the Family Medicine clinic at T.J. Samson Community Hospital, said the most important thing to remember is not to give up.
“Have a positive attitude, pick a quit date in the future and tell all your friends and family so you can have support,” Mahlow said.
“People can also use supplemental items like patches, pills or gum and there’s also a hot line at 1-800-Quit-Now that I encourage every one to call. The biggest thing is to not get discouraged. It may take a few tries to finally quit, but keep trying.”
Norman Edelman, American Lung Association chief medical officer, said that not everyone will have the same experience when they quit.
“Some may feel tired or even easily excitable,” he said. “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.

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