Schools

MCC Gives Smokers Tips on Kicking the Habit

Campus to become smoke-free and college giving people advice how to quit.

Smoking won’t be allowed at McHenry County College but the college has a few tips for faculty, staff, students and visitors trying to kick the habit.

MCC is actively promoting various resources to help smokers quit in light of the college’s new tobacco-free policy taking effect Oct. 1, said Lena Kalemba, RN and MCC’s director of health and wellness.

In addition to Illinois’ stop smoking “Quitline,” which provides counseling and support to assist in smoking cessation (1-866-QUIT-YES or visit www.quityes.org), Kalemba provided the following information on smoking cessation information and clinics, which are available to students and staff at the college as well as the general public.

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  • The McHenry County Department of Health will be offering Smoking Cessation classes at Centegra Healthbridge in Crystal Lake from 6-7:30 p.m. starting Wednesday, Sept. 28. The classes are held every Wednesday night for seven weeks. The cost for the series is $25 (payable at the first class and fully refunded if all seven classes are attended). To register call 1-877-CENTEGRA.
  • Accupuncturist Janine Jozwiak will give a presentation from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 21, in Room B 166/67 at MCC, on the role of Acupuncture in Smoking Cessation. For more information contact Kalemba at 815- 455-8581.

Kalemba said the following tips, called the 4 Ds, can also help would-be former smokers make it through a craving:

Delay: If you can delay lighting up for 2 or 3 minutes, the urge may pass.

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Deep Breathing: Taking 10 slow deep breaths can help you calm yourself.  Instead of taking short, shallow breaths, be aware of how your abdomen rises as you inhale and falls when you exhale.

Drink Water: Water helps to flush nicotine totally out of your body within 72 hours as long as you do not smoke another cigarette or use nicotine gum, the patch or other such products.

Do Something Else: Find something else to do for 10 to 15 minutes. It may help the urge to pass. You may find that you get engrossed in the new activity and forget about smoking the cigarette you were craving.

 

 


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