Get Healthy: Make the new year tobacco free

This column appears in the Nevada Appeal Wednesday health pages. It addresses topics related to the health of our community.

Twenty percent of adults in Nevada said they smoke, but of those, 40 percent say they have considered quitting or would like to take action to quit smoking. The new year brings a chance to act on the desire to quit. Why not make your health a priority this year and resolve to quit smoking?

Quitting smoking can be challenging and may require multiple attempts, but you can quit, and it's important to keep trying. Don't give up! Almost 50 million smokers in the United States have successfully quit, and you can, too. Did you know that quitting smoking:

• lowers the risk for lung cancer and other types of cancer.

• reduces the risk for heart disease and stroke.

• reduces coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath and cuts your risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), one of the leading causes of death in the United States.

• helps protect the health of your children, family, and friends who are exposed to secondhand smoke.

So you've decided you want to quit. Start by exploring the many effective quitting methods available, such as the tobacco cessation (Quit) Class offered at no cost at Carson City Health and Human Services. CCHHS tobacco cessation classes use the American Lung Association's Freedom from Smoking curriculum. Cindy Hannah, a tobacco treatment specialist, is the facilitator and has experience guiding and encouraging those who wish to quit. CCHHS classes have seen 80 percent of participants reduce their use of cigarettes and 36 percent have actually quit. The Freedom from Smoking classes are starting up again this month. Please call Cindy Hannah at 887-2190 to register.

There are other steps you can take to quit. Talk to your doctor or health care provider about quitting, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW, or visit www.smokefree.gov for free information and support. Set a quit date and change your environment (e.g., get rid of all cigarettes and ashtrays in your home, car, and place of work and don't let people smoke in your presence). Distract yourself from urges to smoke. Talk to someone, go for a walk, or keep busy. When you first try to quit, it may help to change your routine. Use a different route to work. Eat breakfast in a different place. Do something to reduce your stress.

Get support and encouragement. Tell your family, friends and coworkers that you are going to quit and want their support. Ask them not to smoke around you or leave cigarettes out where you can see them.

Regardless of how you decide to quit, whether you use medicines, counseling or simply stop smoking now, the most important thing is to try and stick to it.

For more information about other Health Department services, check out our website at www.gethealthycarsoncity.org or visit us at www.facebook.com/cchhs.