HealthyLife Articles

Tag: nicotine

  • Take Small Steps To Get Started

    Healthylife® QuitWell™

    Part 3

    Close up of hands, breaking a cigarette in half.

    Taking small steps can help build confidence. Seeing the “wins” right away can show you how strong and capable of change you are. The activities in this section may not feel very exciting, but they are small on purpose. Once you get going, taking bigger steps will feel easier and you will be more successful with them.

    These activities can also help you learn more about what causes your urges and what you do without thinking. These activities can start weakening your old habits and strengthening new, healthy habits.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Balance Of Choice

    Healthylife® Weigh

    Part 1

    Dumbbells, scale, towel, fruit, BMI body mass index formula rate formula in a board.

    Learn what is pulling you toward your goal and what is holding you back. All thoughts and feelings are valid. Is your goal more important to you than the challenges to achieve it? Are you pursuing this goal just because someone said you “should” do it? If you think of something later, come back to this to add another point.

    Benefits – “Pros” vs Costs-“Cons”

    Making a change.

    Pro Example: I will have more energy.

    Con Example: I won’t be able to have sweets as often as I do now.

    Not changing.

    Pro Example: I can keep all of my current habits.

    Con Example: I could keep putting on more weight.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Kick Cigarettes Out Of Your House

    SELF-CARE CORNER

    Image of the word "Quit" spelled within a pile of tobacco with a crused cigarette.

    You know that smoking can cause health problems, including heart disease and cancer. But if you smoke inside your home, you could be hurting everyone who lives with you. Anyone who is around cigarette smoke is exposed to secondhand smoke.

    *  Secondhand smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals. Many of these have been proven to cause cancer and irritate the lungs.

    *  Secondhand smoke can trigger asthma attacks and they happen more often and with more severity in children.

    *  Children whose parents smoke have more ear infections, bronchitis and pneumonia.

    You and your family can be healthier if you don’t allow any smoking in your home. And don’t allow guests to smoke in your home or around your children. If your children regularly visit another home, such as a child care provider, make sure no one smokes in that home.

    If you need help quitting, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visitsmokefree.govfor free resources.

    Source: Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine