Tobacco Cessation

All Lutheran Health Network facilities are tobacco-free buildings. We would like each patient and visitor to know that using tobacco is harmful. Over 430,000 deaths each year are attributed to tobacco use, making tobacco the No. 1 cause of death and disease in the United States. Use of tobacco in any form causes heart disease, lung diseases such as emphysema, lung cancer and other cancers and contributes to other diseases such as circulatory problems and pneumonia. Our staff encourages you to view your hospital stay as a golden opportunity to stop using tobacco.

According to the Surgeon General:

Stopping smoking has immediate health benefits for men and women of all ages. You’ll live longer and feel better.
Former smokers live longer than those who continue to smoke.
Stopping smoking decreases the risk of heart disease, chronic lung disease, stroke and lung cancer as well as other cancers.

Nicotine Withdrawal
We recognize that tobacco users may experience difficulty getting accustomed to the smoke-free policy. Withdrawal begins shortly after your last cigarette, cigar, pipe or chew and can include symptoms such as craving, irritability, anxiety, depression, restlessness and difficulty concentrating. While symptoms vary from person to person, some people who are hospitalized do not experience withdrawal symptoms initially.

If you do have withdrawal symptoms, please let your respiratory therapist, nurse or physician know. They can talk about medications that may be helpful during your hospitalization.

Even if you do not have withdrawal symptoms but just want to quit tobacco use, Lutheran Hospital offers a Nicotine Dependence Program that is ready to help you. The staff will offer you support and assistance in making this very important life change. You can reach Lutheran’s Nicotine Dependence Program by calling (260) 435-7094 or toll-free at (800) 444-2001, ext. 7094.

Nicotine: A Powerful Addiction
If you have tried to quit smoking or other tobacco use, you know how hard it can be. It is hard because nicotine is a very addictive drug. For some people, it can be as addictive as heroin or cocaine. Quitting is hard. Usually people make two or three tries or more before finally being able to quit. Each time you try to quit, you can learn about what helps and what hurts. It is hard work and takes a lot of effort but you can quit tobacco use.

Good Reasons for Quitting
Quitting smoking or other tobacco use is one of the most important things you will ever do:

You will increase your chances of living longer and better.
Quitting will lower your chance of having a heart attack, stroke or cancer.
If you are pregnant, quitting smoking will improve your chances of having a healthy baby.
The people you live with, especially your children, will benefit from a healthier environment.
You may have extra money to spend on things other than tobacco products.

Five Keys for Quitting
Studies have shown that the following steps will help you quit using tobacco and quit for good. You have the best chances of quitting if you use them together.

1. Get Ready
Set a quit date.

Change your environment.
Get rid of ALL cigarettes, ashtrays and other tobacco related items in your home, car and place of work.
Don’t let people smoke or use tobacco in your home.
Review your past attempts to quit. Think about what worked and what did not.
Once you quit, don’t smoke or use tobacco—NOT EVEN A PUFF!

2. Get Support and Encouragement
Studies have shown that you have a better chance of being successful if you have help. You can get support in many ways:

Tell your family, friends and co-workers that you are going to quit and want their support. Ask them not to smoke or use tobacco around you or leave cigarettes out.
Talk to your healthcare provider (for example, doctor, dentist, nurse, pharmacist, psychologist or smoking/tobacco counselor).
Get individual, group or telephone counseling. The more counseling you have, the better your chances are of quitting. Programs are given at local hospitals and health centers. Call your local health department for information about programs in your area.

3. Learn New Skills and Behaviors

Try to distract yourself from urges to smoke or use tobacco. Talk to someone, go for a walk or get busy with a task.
When you first try to quit, change your routine. Use a different route to work. Drink tea instead of coffee. Eat breakfast in a different place.
Do something to reduce your stress. Take a hot bath, exercise or read a book.
Plan something enjoyable to do every day.
Drink a lot of water and other fluids.

4. Get Medication and Use It Correctly
Medications can help you stop smoking or tobacco use and decrease urges.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved six medications to help you quit smoking or tobacco use:
- Bupropion SR: Available by prescription
- Nicotine gum: Available over the counter
- Nicotine inhaler: Available by prescription
- Nicotine nasal spray: Available by prescription
- Nicotine patch: Available by prescription and over the counter
- Nicotine lozenge: Available over the counter
Always check with your health care provider for advice before taking over-the-counter medications.
All of these medications will more or less double your chances of quitting and quitting for good.
Everyone who is trying to quit may benefit from using a medication. If you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, nursing, under age 18, smoking fewer than 10 cigarettes per day or have a medical condition, talk to your doctor or other healthcare provider before taking medications.

5. Be Prepared for Relapse or Difficult Situations
Most relapses occur within the first three months after quitting. Don’t be discouraged if you start smoking or tobacco use again. Remember that most people try several times before they finally quit. Here are some difficult situations to watch for:

Alcohol. Avoid drinking alcohol. Drinking lowers your chances of success.
Other smokers or tobacco users. Being around smoking can make you want to smoke.
Weight gain. Many smokers or tobacco users will gain weight when they quit, usually less than 10 pounds. Eat a healthy diet and stay active. Don’t let weight gain distract you from your main goal of quitting. Some quit-smoking medications may help delay weight gain.
Bad mood or depression. There are a lot of ways to improve your mood other than smoking or using tobacco.
If you are having problems with any of these situations, talk to your doctor or other health care provider.

Special Situations or Conditions
Studies suggest that everyone can quit smoking or tobacco use. Your situation or condition can give you a special reason to quit.

Pregnant women/new mothers: By quitting, you protect your baby’s health and your own.
Hospitalized patients: By quitting, you reduce health problems and help healing.
Heart attack patients: By quitting, you reduce your risk of a second heart attack.
Lung, head and neck cancer patients: By quitting, you reduce your chance of a second cancer.
Parents of children and adolescents: By quitting, you protect your children and adolescents from illnesses caused by secondhand smoke.

Community Resources
In the words of Mark Twain, “Quitting smoking is easy. I’ve done it a hundred times.” You may laugh at his words but quitting smoking and tobacco use isn’t easy without a plan and support. Here are some organizations that can help you:

The Benito Juarez Cultural Center offers smoking cessation classes for adults and youth that are bilingual and bicultural by calling (260) 456-5000.
Tobacco Free Allen County offers smoking cessation classes and support groups. Call (260) 420-7484.
The Tobacco Intervention Program at Lutheran Hospital offers medically supervised, individualized services for those who have “tried everything.” Call them at (260) 435-7094 or toll-free at (800) 444-2001, ext. 7094. Financial assistance is available.
The American Lung Association will put you in touch with resources in your area. Call (800) LUNG-USA.

Internet & Telephone Resources

Action On Smoking and Health: www.ash.org
American Lung Association: www.lungusa.org
Centers for Disease Control: www.cdc.gov/tobacco
Chew Free: www.chewfree.com
Free Online Guide to Quitting: www.smokefree.gov
Indiana Tobacco Prevention Cessation Agency: www.in.gov/itpc/
National Cancer Institute: www.nci.nih.gov/cancerinfo
Quitnet: www.quitnet.org
Quit Smoking: www.quitsmoking.com
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: www.hhs.gov/diseases/index.shtml#smoking
Why Quit?: www.whyquit.com
American Cancer Society Quit Line: (800) 227-2345
Indiana State Quit Line: (800) QUIT-NOW
National Cancer Institute Smoking Quit Line: (877) 44U-QUIT. Information specialists are available to answer smoking-related questions in English or Spanish.
Ohio State Quit Line: (800) 934-4840

Quitting tobacco use is hard work but it’s worth it.
The Lutheran Health Network is here to help you.