Respiratory Therapists Encourage Smokers to Quit for the New Year
For Immediate Release
IRVING, TX (January 17, 2005)- With the beginning of a new year come the inevitable new year's resolutions. But if you're a smoker, here's one you ought to make - and keep - say respiratory therapists from the Americdan Association for Respiratory Care (AARC). Quit smoking, and quit for good!
“Quitting smoking reduces your risk of lung disease and infections, increases exercise tolerance, and decreases the risk of heart disease,” says AARC member Michelle Carner, RRT, CPFT, AE-C, a registered respiratory therapist and certified asthma educator from Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, VT. Kicking the habit also reduces your chances of getting a wide array of cancers – including lung cancer – and it brings immediate benefits as well, including fresher breath, easier breathing, and increased energy levels.
Of course, quitting smoking is easier said than done, particularly for people who have smoked for a lifetime, but Carner says that's not a good reason to give up and keep smoking. In fact, continues the respiratory therapist, studies show most people who successfully quit smoking do so only after attempting to quit and failing several times. So don't beat yourself up about it, and try again. “Remember that a slip is just a slip, and every attempt you make puts you one step closer to success!”
The good news is there are lots of ways to increase your odds of successful quitting. “There are many products to help overcome the cravings from nicotine,” says Carner. “Some are over-the-counter, like nicotine gums and patches, and some are prescriptions.” Which nicotine replacement therapy you use doesn't matter as much as how well you use it. “The type of therapy to use is the one you feel you are most likely to stay with as long as necessary.”
Are these products safe to use over the long haul? For the vast majority of patients, the answer is yes, says Carner. “Replacement products give the nicotine you crave without the tar and other chemicals found in cigarette smoke that cause cancer and lung disease.” She does note, however, that patients with heart problems will probably want to speak to their physician before beginning one of the therapies.
Carner says quitters can also find lots of help and support through stop smoking quitlines – special telephone numbers set up to offer assistance to smokers kicking the habit – and stop smoking programs, which are available in many communities through hospitals and groups like the American Lung Association or even your state department of health. “Many of these are either free or are low cost or covered by insurance,” says Carner.”
So what are you waiting for? “Even if you have tried many times in the past to quit, keep trying,” says Carner. “The benefits are overwhelmingly worth it.”
Respiratory Therapists (RTs) are specially trained and licensed respiratory health care professionals assisting physicians in diagnosis, treatment, and management of respiratory diseases. RTs provide care in hospitals, outpatient centers, physicians' offices, skilled nursing facilities, and patients' homes.
The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) is a not-for-profit, professional organization, consisting of 36,000 respiratory therapists, physicians, and other health care professionals. AARC is dedicated to assisting persons with respiratory diseases receive safe and effective respiratory care.
Contact:
Sherry Milligan
milligan@aarc.org
972-406-4656Go On – Be a Quitter!
According to Michelle Carner, a registered respiratory therapist and member of the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), quitting smoking is the best thing anyone can do for their overall health. Kicking the habit will:
• Reduce your risk of lung and heart disease
• Lead to easier breathing
• Make you a role model for family and friends
• Lead to cleaner teeth and fresher breath
• Give you more energy for work and play
• Reduce the risk to children who may be exposed to your secondhand smoke (kids exposed to tobacco smoke have more ear and respiratory infections, and asthma)
• Lead to fresher-smelling hair, clothes, and home
• Give you a more youthful appearance, with fewer wrinkles and healthier skin
• Save big bucks (at an average price per pack of around $4, cigarettes cost the pack-a-day smoker approximately $1,600 in a year's time)
You can find lots more about quitting smoking, including where to go to get help, on the AARC's consumer web site, YourLungHealth.org.
###
Contact:
Beth Binkley
AARC Communications Coordinator
(972) 243-2272, (972) 406-4657, Binkley@aarc.org
