This week is National Non-Smoking Week (January 18th-January 22nd). The Ontario Lung Association is encouraging for smokers to cut back and quit. Smoking is the cause of many diseases including cancer and pulmonary lung disease.
The regional manager of London’s Ontario Lung Association, Lori Pallen, says that majority of smokers are between the ages of 21 and 34. Many people start smoking because family or friends smoke.
This week, the Lung Association is helping smokers quit by providing services to provide support. Some of the services provided include a workbook, “Journey to Quit”, a help line, and a smoking sensation program.
To help quit, some tips recommended by Pallen are:
– drink lots of water
– eat fruits that are high in fibre
– listen to music or watch a movie to distract you from the craving
– get a lot of sleep
– keep a journal to find out what your psychological and physical triggers are
– exercise – exercising provides the same euphoric feeling that smoking a cigarette does
More information about National Non-Smoking Week can be found here, and more information about services provided by the Lung Association can be found here.
