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Column: Never too late to quit smoking

This year, National Non-Smoking Week ran from Jan. 19 to Jan. 25. This is an important event for our community because the incidence of smoking in Northern Ontario is higher than the rest of the province.
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With National Non-Smoking Week just gone by, now is the time for smokers to consider the many reasons they have to butt out – for good. Supplied photo.

This year, National Non-Smoking Week ran from Jan. 19 to Jan. 25. This is an important event for our community because the incidence of smoking in Northern Ontario is higher than the rest of the province. 


As I prepared to write this column, I interviewed members of the Lung Disease Support Group Inc. in Sudbury to learn about their experiences with quitting smoking.

The smoking histories of those people interviewed lasted from 18 to 40 years. The number of years quit varied from six to 32. The vast majority had multiple quit attempts over several years, before they were ultimately successful.

Some used nicotine-replacement therapies (the patch, gum, lozenges, inhalers or spray), others used medications like Zyban and Champix. Others used acupuncture or hypnosis.


Some used exercise and others changed their daily routines. Some went cold turkey — whatever works.

Let me offer some words of advice when it comes to the method you select. Nicotine replacement therapies and medications are available in various dosages because they need to be individualized. Therapy works best when combined with a health professional. Smoking cessation counsellors have hints and tricks borne of their experience.

Reasons for quitting varied. Many quit because of their health. Breathing was becoming more difficult and exercise tolerance was decreasing.

One lady quit to support her husband who had to quit. Another felt surrounded by people with lung disease and wanted to stay healthy to raise her children. One gentleman lost a friend to lung disease.

For some, cigarettes became a considerable (and unwanted) expense.

Everyone was emphatic that they quit when they themselves felt ready — they had made up their own minds. External pressure often irritated them. The decision must come from within.

How did they feel after quitting?

Their breathing was easier. They could do more. Food tasted better. Sense of smell improved.

A few continued to have cravings. One woman said she missed grabbing a cigarette when she was upset or angry — and she had quit 30 years ago.

I would like to share an interesting story. Years ago, a client in the Community Asthma Clinic was monitoring the air outflow from his lungs. Generally, these flows are lower in the morning and increase over the course of the day.

However, if the air quality at work is poor, flows may plateau or even decrease. I knew the gentleman was a mechanic. When I checked his graph, I noticed his flows increased while he was at work, but dropped in the evening. The reason: He could not smoke at work. With this evidence, the gentleman quit smoking.

Smokers may question the worthiness of stopping after 30 or 40 years. To them I say that research demonstrates it really is.


Most importantly, tomorrow is the first day of the rest of your life.

Karen Zalan is a retired physical therapist who worked in pulmonary rehabilitation and asthma education.


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