Lawrence Memorial Hospital is a major sponsor of WellCommons.

Mark Twain once said “giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I’ve done it thousands of times.” Like Mark Twain, many people trying to quit using tobacco in any form may have multiple quit attempts before permanent success.

The important thing is never give up trying. Each time you try to quit and are not successful, you will learn something that can be applied to your next quit attempt. For the majority of those trying to quit, eventually success happens. Most then say it was the best thing that they ever did. Be persistent, patient and forgive yourself if you backslide.

Also of prime importance for success is information and support. Just quitting cold turkey may not be the most effective way to remain tobacco free. Take the time to put a quit plan in place and employ any and all assistance available. This may include counseling, on-going support, over-the-counter nicotine replacement products, and even prescription medications.

Talk with your healthcare provider to determine if you might be a candidate for medications to help you quit. Many medications take two to three weeks to work so make an appointment well in advance of your proposed quit date. Visit the Lawrence Memorial Hospital website at lmh.org and use the interactive tool in the Quitting Smoking link of the Health Library section (under Wellness Resources tab).

In recognition of the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout this Thursday, representatives from Lawrence Memorial Hospital will be at the LMH Health Spot area of the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont Street, from 4 to 7 pm, to support those wishing to quit. A smoking cessation trained nurse and pharmacists will be available to provide advice, support and information to help tobacco users quit. This event is free and no appointment is necessary; just drop by.

For those unable to attend, the Kansas Tobacco Quitline provides free coaching to help smokers create an individualized plan to quit tobacco and fight cravings. Reach them at KSquit.org or 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

There are many benefits to quitting tobacco. According to the Centers for Disease Control (cdc.gov), quitters may:

Reduce their risk of coronary heart disease. One year after quitting smoking, the risk drops to half that of a smoker’s.

Decrease their risk of lung cancer. Ten years after quitting, the death rate from lung cancer is half that of a smoker’s.

Reduce their risk of a stroke. Within 5-15 years of quitting, stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker.

Save money. A pack-a-day smoker can save around $150 a month (almost $2,000 a year).

Here are nine tips to get started:

1. Think about your reasons for quitting and record them. Whenever a craving hits, focus on these reasons.
2. Pick a quit day and stick to it. Avoid days that will potentially be high stress
3. Throw out all cigarettes, ashtrays, lighters and other smoking-related items
4. Replace your toothbrush, wash your clothes and clean your car or house.
5. When a craving hits, take deep breaths, distract yourself and drink water.
6. Exercise! Not only can this help control cravings, but exercise also helps to fight any weight gain.
7. Avoid situations where you are tempted to smoke – bars, parties or a workplace smoking area.
8. Frequently rehearse in your mind what you will do if tempted to smoke again.
9. Repeat frequently: “I will never take another puff from a cigarette ever again.”

Aynsley Anderson, MA, RN, is Community Education Coordinator at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, which is a major sponsor of WellCommons. She can be reached at aynsley.anderson@lmh.org.