Residents of Willmar who desire to quit smoking will have an uphill battle on their hands; especially since smoking, like many learned behaviors that impact health, is deeply ingrained in the day to day activities of those affected. While all tobacco use should be stopped, this article will focus primarily on smoking cessation and some of the unique challenges it presents.

The Danger of Nicotine in Smoking

In the past, nicotine was sold as an insecticide. Nicotine is the tobacco plant’s natural defense against leaf eating insects and herbivorous mammals. However, when nicotine is absorbed by the bloodstream through contact with tissues lining the airway, it functions as a powerful stimulant. This explains why nicotine is even more addicting than cocaine and heroin. Smokeless tobacco actually delivers more of the drug, but does not carry the immediate, negative effects that are present with smoke inhalation.

The Facets of Smoking’s Addiction

There are many factors that make up an addiction to a substance; these usually fall into social, physical and psychological categories, and nicotine is no different. Smokers who live in Willmar will tell you any number of reasons why they have difficulty quitting; for some smoking at certain times of the day has become a habit. Others may report a physical reaction to the lack of nicotine in their systems; still others feel uneasy due to peer pressure exerted on them when they are not smoking.

Identifying Your Triggers

Most smokers cannot quit “cold turkey” because of the triggers that give rise to the overwhelming desire to smoke. Identifying and tracking the circumstances and feelings that accompany those urges will help in developing strategies to counteract them. Some of the tactics used can be gaining support from friends, relatives, and co-workers to negate peer pressure, replacing the physical action of lighting a cigarette with unwrapping a piece of chewing gum, and using nicotine patches or nicotine gums to alleviate withdrawal symptoms arising from chemical dependency.

Plan the Work, Work the Plan

For most of the people who smoke, it is a habit that has been in places for years and in some cases, decades. Quitting smoking is going to be a task that will require planning; residents of Willmar who are contemplating smoking cessation should develop a plan and not just say, “I’m going to quit.” The plan should include a start and end date, a list of persons to call for encouragement and accountability, and concrete preparation for dealing with the triggers that will arise while the attempt to quit is underway.

You’re Not Alone

Willmar has a nicotine support group that meets every Thursday from 5pm to 6pm at a local coffee shop; a visit to minnesotacancerresources.org will provide more information. The state of Minnesota offers QUITPLAN, which provides counseling free of charge to help residents who want to stop smoking develop a plan and a support network to assist them in quitting. The high cost of health problems related to smoking has spurred many health insurers to offer smoking cessation services to their subscribers at little or no cost.

Exercise, proper nutrition, and kicking the smoking habit will make getting healthy in Willmar a reality. While giving up tobacco will be hard work, the rewards are more than worth the effort. A smoker may have to make several attempts to succeed, but in this case, quitters are winners.