Electronic cigarettes or “e-cigarettes” have been in the U.S since 2006 and are becoming a popular replacement for tobacco smoking due to smoke-free laws banning tobacco use in public places and because more people who smoke want to quit. But, are electronic cigarettes safe? What is known about electronic cigarettes and do they help people stop smoking tobacco? The answers to these questions range from, “we don’t know” to “maybe”.

Electronic cigarettes are designed to mimic smoking a tobacco product such as cigarette, cigar or pipe. They are a type of nicotine delivery system without the need to “light up”. Nicotine is the substance that the body craves when someone starts smoking tobacco causing tobacco addiction. These electronic smoking type devices have an LED light that simulates lit tobacco during puffing, while an internal heating element operated by a battery vaporizes liquid nicotine contained in a cartridge. The user exhales a vapor similar to that of smoking tobacco.

The nicotine inside electronic cigarettes comes in a variety of flavors and colors. This has been mistaken as a type of flavored drink by small children. There are reports of children becoming poisoned by drinking the flavored nicotine liquid. Studies have also shown that adolescents and teens have reported using electronic cigarettes which experts fear will lead youth to the use of traditional tobacco products.

The safety of electronic cigarettes is not clear. The components of e-cigarettes are not regulated by the FDA.  Some studies have shown that products labeled as without nicotine actually did have nicotine and studies have also identified toxins and cancer causing substances present in the vapor of e-cigarettes causing health problems like increased risk for lung infections and reduced lung capacity. The long term effects of e-cigarette use is unknown because they are new and no long term studies have been completed.

Many people use electronic cigarettes as a way to stop smoking tobacco cigarettes. While there are studies that show some people are able to stop smoking tobacco, they continue to use electronic cigarettes and have an increased risk for health problems related to e-cigarette use. Studies have also shown people who use electronic cigarettes as a way to stop smoking tobacco have a higher rate of relapse and restart tobacco use. Some people have reported dual use of both e-cigarettes and tobacco products raising the concern about the long term use and health risks of using both products.

In summary, there is much more research that needs to be completed to learn about the effects of electronic cigarette before it can be said that e-cigarettes are harmful or safe for people and if they can help people stop smoking tobacco. Initial reports suggest more harm than good. The most important message is if you don’t smoke tobacco or use electronic cigarette type products don’t start and if you do, talk to your Health Care Provider about proven methods and resources available to help you quit.

HealthNet has a Tobacco Cessation Coordinator that can help you quit smoking. We can also help with free nicotine replacement therapy, like the patch or gum if you need it. Make a FREE appointment at a HealthNet Health Center near you today! 

Post by Dan Wilson, RRT, CPFT, AE-C

This desire to quit comes with good reason. The benefits of quitting smoking seem almost endless:

• Cost – someone who smokes 1 pack a day can save more $2000 per year when they quit
• Lowered risk of tobacco related illnesses, including asthma, COPD, chronic bronchitis, several forms of cancer, heart disease, etc. (quitting smoking can add up to 10 years to someone’s life)
• More energy
• Decreasing the emission of second-hand smoke which can harm others (especially children and pets) and the environment
• Better oral hygiene
• Lower medical and dental bills
• Can serve as a healthy role model to children, grandchildren, friends, etc.

The list goes on. Despite these benefits there are still 45 million American adults who smoke. Why? Because quitting smoking is extremely difficult. Perhaps even more difficult than quitting smoking is staying quit.

Most people have heard the Mark Twain quote, “Quitting smoking is easy – I’ve done it a thousand times.”

This statement is profoundly true.

The journey of quitting smoking does not end the day a person stops smoking. It doesn’t end 2 weeks after someone quits, or 2 months, or 2 years. Quitting smoking is a lifelong journey. It’s a very complex battle of physiological, psychological, and social addictions.

However, the intent of this article is not to be discouraging, but encouraging. There is always hope! And despite the difficulties of quitting smoking, more than 48 million Americans have successfully quit!

Research continually shows that when you have a plan and some support, you increase your chances of successfully quitting smoking and staying quit.

In honor of the Great American Smokeout on Thursday, November 20, 2014, here are some practical tips for preparing to quit. 

1. Make a list of all the reasons you want to quit. Keep it in your pocket, tape it to your bathroom mirror, or place it on the refrigerator. Keep this list close to you as a constant reminder of why you’re choosing to be smoke-free.
2. Decide on a quit date. This is a very important step for most people. This allows you to pick a concrete date and to prepare each day leading up to it. Choose a date within the next 1-4 weeks.   You want to give yourself enough time to prepare, but not too much time to change your mind. Some people choose special dates such as birthdays, anniversaries or holidays to add special meaning to it.
3. Make a strategy. Decide whether you want to quit cold turkey or use a medication to help quit. While there’s no magic pill or medication that will force you to quit smoking, the FDA has approved several medications which are designed to decrease nicotine withdrawal. These medications can serve as powerful tools to help you quit. If you’re interested, talk to your doctor or Tobacco Cessation Specialist about what options are available.
4. Remove ashtrays and cigarettes from your home, car, work, etc. This can be an intimidating process, but it is absolutely necessary! If you keep even one cigarette ‘just in case’, you will likely smoke it. Don’t taunt yourself like that; just get rid of it all.
5. Stock up on substitutes. Oral substitutes like sugarless gum, cinnamon sticks, mints, hard candy, carrot or celery sticks, straws, etc. can help you transition from the hand-to-mouth habit of smoking a cigarette.
6. Rethink your routines. Smoking is generally built into a routine, such as morning coffee, after meals, while driving, hanging around certain friends who smoke, etc. Think about changing some of these routines. Drink tea instead of coffee or change the order of your morning routine. Take a different route to work and avoid certain people/situations temporarily if needed. 
7. Elicit support. Tell your trusted friends and family about your plan to quit and communicate with them how they can help you through this process. Give them warning that over the next several weeks you may be cranky. They will appreciate this forewarning.
8. Practice saying, “No thank you, I don’t smoke.” Practice this! You cannot live in a bubble the rest of your life. You will likely be offered a cigarette at some point, so be prepared to say no.  You are smoke-free and it is a great thing!

A few tips once your quit day arrives:

• Stay active – go walking, join a gym, do short bursts of exercise, etc.
• Partake in new hobbies and spend time with others who don’t smoke
• Drink lots of water
• Avoid situations where you know the urge to smoke will be strong
• Drink less alcohol or avoid it completely
• Do not smoke.  Not even one puff – you are smoke-free!

Post by Stacey Chappell

Discuss how you started smoking.  What age? What was the appeal?  Did you think of possible consequences?

I had older brothers that got me involved around age 6-8.  I started smoking casually around age 12 and was a heavy smoker by age 16 because I had older friends.  My parents were deceased at that age and I just thought it was cool.  It became a habit but I didn’t worry about anything back then.

Discuss your past attempts (if any) to quit smoking.  Why do you think they weren’t successful?

I used candy and gum.  I quit four times for a couple of years but stress easily got me started again.  This time my age, health, and money made me want to quit.

What motivated you to quit for good?  How long have you been smoke-free?

Money, health, children and grandkids.  In October I will be 3 years smoke-free.

Discuss how Healthnet’s Quit Smoking Program helped in your journey to quit for good.

The motivating process.  This program helped in various ways with all the counsel and support.

 What has been most rewarding to you about quitting?

The money I’ve saved, the improvements to my health, and just feeling better overall!

HealthNet’s Smoking Cessation Program provides nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), which helps reduce patients’ withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Unfortunately, the cost can be a real barrier, particularly for patients without insurance. In the past, we’ve partnered with the Marion County Public Health Department to provide these patients with NRT at no cost to them. In 2013, we supplied these patients with 155 boxes of patches and 60 boxes of gum, totaling $3,500. This year, the Health Department was forced to end this support, due to funding cuts. We are currently looking for other community partners who might be able to assist with this $3,500 need.

If you’d like to support HealthNet’s Smoking Cessation Program, you can make a tax deductible donation here. Check out Kathy’s success story here!

March 19 marks the 19^th annual Kick Butts Day! 

What exactly is Kick Butts Day? 

This day was marked by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids to encourage youth to take a stand against ‘Big Tobacco’.  Youth and adults nationwide are encouraged to contribute to this cause by raising awareness of tobacco companies’ deceptive marketing strategies toward youth, reaching out to elected representatives about this issue, and ultimately advocating for others to remain tobacco-free.

What’s the issue?

According to the U.S. Surgeon General, more than 600,000 middle school students and 3 million high school students smoke cigarettes.  An estimated 18% of Indiana high school students smoke, and while approximately 1,200 people die each day from a tobacco-related illness, at least twice as many young people will become regular smokers on a daily basis.

Tobacco companies are smart.  The nicotine found in tobacco is extremely addictive and once a young person becomes addicted, tobacco companies will likely have a lifelong customer.  They understand that youth and young adults are prime targets for their products, and thus pour millions of dollars per day into relentless marketing efforts.

What can you do?

Check out the official Kick Butts Day website for more information and activities you can participate in.

For more information about HealthNet’s Smoking Cessation program, please visit www.indyhealthnet.org or call a HealthNet location near you.

What is the Great American Smokeout (GASO)?

The Great American Smokeout (GASO) is a nationwide event held each year on the third Thursday of November.  The goal of GASO is to encourage people who smoke to give up their cigarettes for one day.  The hope is that they will continue to stay quit!

History of GASO

The concept of GASO began in the 1970’s when people in Randolph, Massachusetts were asked to give up cigarettes for one day and donate the money they saved to a high school scholarship.

The idea escalated from there.  In 1976, nearly 1 million people quit smoking during GASO in California alone!  Since then not only have millions of people quit smoking, but smoking bans have taken place in businesses, cities and states nationwide.

Why quit?

The human body starts recovering from any damage caused by smoking almost immediately after quitting.  Below is a chart from the American Cancer Society that shows details of how the body heals itself after one quits smoking.

How to quit?

Research shows that the chances of quitting and staying quit drastically increase when help is sought, whether it be a medication, support group, or smoking cessation program.  Below are some online resources for quitting.

Guide to Quitting Smoking

Smoke-free Countdown Clock

Cost Calculator

Smoke-free Journey

For more information on HealthNet’s FREE Tobacco Cessation Program, make an appointment at a HealthNet location near you. 

More than four in five smokers say they want to quit.  Research shows that you are twice as likely to succeed if you join a tobacco cessation program that includes ongoing support.  That’s particularly important for those living near the poverty line.

Like many, Delorus Alderman of Indianapolis started smoking at 18.  Before long, she was a two-pack-a-day smoker.

“Quit now or die”

… was the sobering message from her doctor after she was diagnosed with heart disease.  Delorus began the difficult journey to quitting.

She had help from Stacey Chappell, the smoking cessation counselor at HealthNet Southeast Health & Dental Center.  Stacey gave Delorus many practical tips that she used to prepare herself and her family.  She also received free nicotine replacement therapy patches.

Delorus asked for support from her family and her on-line “IndyMoms” group – all of which rallied around her to help her get through the tough early months.

As Delorus celebrates her second year without cigarettes, challenges remain.  Still, she finds all the reason in the world to remain a non-smoker when she thinks back to that remarkably memorable day when one of her children gave her a big hug and said how glad she was that mom didn’t smell bad anymore.

• Thinking about quitting?  When you’re ready, we’re here to help with ways to quit smoking or chewing tobacco, and resources to support you every step of the way.
• Ready to quit?  HealthNet offers FREE one-on-one tobacco cessation counseling. You’ll learn how to beat cravings and overcome weight gain. Make an appointment at the health center nearest you.
• Help someone in need quit. A small donation to HealthNet’s Health Promotions Program will enable an underserved person to have access to free tobacco cessation counseling.

The final entry of our four-part blog series that has been full of introductions brings you an inside look at HealthNet’s Health Promotions!  A team that helps patients stay on the right track AFTER they leave the doctor’s office.
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Meet – Health Promotions

Community health centers are successful because of the fact that they are multi-service centers.  From a centralized location within a neighborhood, they offer family medicine, dental, podiatry, optometry, behavioral health, and much, much more.  Health promotions staff help to complete the wrap-around services provided by our community health centers.  The team includes a dietician, a smoking cessation counselor, prenatal educators, and a health education manager, but their reach goes beyond those areas.

Here are the four things you need to know about Health Promotions:

1. Health Promotions assisted more than 6,000 people in Indianapolis through community events, tobacco cessation and nutrition counseling, prenatal classes and patient outreach programs.
   What cannot be captured is the amount of people who learn life-changing lessons from the one-on-one counseling, classes, health screenings and numerous brochures, packets, and posters at community health fairs that help to drive home these lessons that our providers want our patients to understand.
2. Success stories from Health Promotions may seem simple to you and I, but the lessons are long-lasting with our patients.
   Learn from Delorus Alderman, a patient who quit smoking with the help of our Tobacco Cessation Counselor.  Or, read about our pilot walking programthat helps neighbors on the southeast side of Indy come together to support each other’s journey to become more fit.  These are only two of plenty of small but great successes by our patients who would not have had a chance without our Health Promo team.
3. Patient outreach programs bring back patients, patients who would normally skip appointments.
   It is really hard, most of the time, for our patients to (a) find a ride to our centers and (b) find the time to make it to an appointment.  It is a choice between saving money or saving health.  Our health promotions team along with health center staff do a GREAT job of getting patients to appointments.  They key in on certain incentives to make it a worthwhile trip.
4. You can be a part of promoting healthy lifestyle and be a part of HealthNet’s wrap-around care!
   
   • Promote our health education and other classes that are on the web!
   • Check our Facebook page for ongoing events and spread the word!
   • Small donations aimed at Health Promotions can be a BIG help!

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Want to learn more about what all goes on for Health Promotions?
Have a suggestion for great wrap-around care?
Comment below.

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Here are some healthy ideas for celebrating this fun holiday:

1. Walk the parade route. The parade kicks off at North and Pennsylvania streets at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 17, and ends at Vermont and Meridian streets.
2. Go green. Skip the car and walk or ride bikes to the day’s destinations whenever possible. Our friends at SustainIndy and the IBJ can help you get started! 
3. Eat greens today. Leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach and Romaine lettuce pack in vitamins, iron and fiber. Or, try adding broccoli snap peas or cabbage to potato, rice or noodle dishes.
4. Skip the sweet treats slathered in green frosting. For a healthier green treat, try lime gelatin or add mint flavoring to sugar free vanilla pudding, along with a few drops of green food coloring.
5. Enjoy some healthy St. Patrick’s Day fun with your kids!
6. Don’t leave your health to the luck of the Irish. HealthNet’s Health Promotions offers FREE one-on-one nutrition counseling and FREE personal coaching on how to quit smoking. Make an appointment at the health center nearest you.
7. Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by making Indy a healthier place to live! Last year, HealthNet’s Health Promotions program assisted more than 6,000 in our community with services like free cervical cancer screenings, nutrition and tobacco cessation counseling, and childbirth classes. With your help, they can do even more.

BUT!! Don’t forget FOUR great things about our Health Promotions team!

1. Nutrition & Diet – Our Clinical Dietician is here to help people learn how eat healthy, lose weight, control their cholesterol and SO MUCH MORE!  It is hard for anyone to eat healthy but even HARDER when you don’t have many choices.  Eating healthy on a budget is Karen’s strong suit. She will make sure you get on the road to success.
2. Tobacco Cessation – QUIT SMOKING!! We have a VERY persistent Tobacco Cessation Counselor who will exhaust every strategy in the book to find a way for her patients to stop smoking.  (Read a success story in a previous post).  It really all boils down to the individual’s commitment to quit, but Stacey will make sure that you have every tool possible to keep from lighting up again!
3. Pregnancy & Childbirth – Newly pregnant?  Whether it is a patient’s first pregnancy or FOURTH, all who participate in our childbirth or breastfeeding classes will benefit in some way. Our 5-week childbirth classes surround patients with others who are sharing the same experience.  Expectant moms learn helpful tips during their pregnancy and take a tour of the Methodist Hospital Labor and Delivery unit. Carlene makes it her job to help our patients be prepared for this new stage in their life.
4. Community Outreach – Whether it is a Health Fair or piloting a new walking program (more to come), our Health Promotions team is always thinking of great ways to engage our patients in preventive care.  It is our job to help patients take ownership of their own health, because their lives are busy and at times VERY stressful. Illness can only increase stress and cause greater difficulty in treatment.

In the middle of all of this “MADNESS,” we want to recognize the great work done by our Health Promotions team.  Who also needs YOUR help! All pregnancy classes, smoking counseling, and nutrition help are free to our community.  A quick donation can go a long way in order for our team to continue and INCREASE their success in the most underserved areas of our community.

Consider a $25 gift to Health Promotions to keep them in our centers and increasing the health of our neighborhoods!

In the technical sense of the word, I have ALWAYS been a smoker, but I didn’t actively start smoking until I was 18.

Like many have done in the past, Delorus Alderman started smoking at the age of 18.  It was part of the culture at that time.  There weren’t any laws banning smoking ANYWHERE.  There was a smoking “hole” at her school where all you needed was a note giving permission.  Her parents did it, her friends did it, and it was just something that was accepted.  Before long, she was smoking two packs a day without even blinking an eye.

She continued at this pace, until she heard the words come right out of her doctor’s mouth, “Quit now or die.” It was a simple, sobering statement after it was discovered that Delorus had congestive heart failure, and on January 2, 2010, Delorus began her difficult journey to quitting.

With help from HealthNet’s smoking cessation counselor, Stacey Chappell, Delorus has overcome many obstacles on her road to no smoking.  Stacey gave her many practical tips that she used to prepare herself and her family.  Delorus used NRT patches; however, she was unable to us Chantix due to other health issues.  “Stacey gave me my life back, and I try to tell her how amazing she is every time I talk to her.”

Delorus gained inspiration from her husband, Jerry, who quit smoking in 2002.  But with inspiration also came some resentment.  Jerry made it look easy, and this oftentimes discouraged Delorus. “He took a class, read a book, and just walked away from the cigarettes.  But, he was my biggest supporter, even when I wasn’t the happiest camper!” She had tried to quit several times in the past, but ended with no avail.  Now, she could not even tell people that she was trying to quit because she didn’t think she could be successful.

"Stacey gave me back my life..."

Blessed with a supportive husband and family, Delorus sought peer support from others who were going through the same thing.  She asked for support from her online “MomsLikeMe” group – all of whom rallied around her, using creative strategies and tough love to help her get through those hard months.  Her kids would bring her hard candy and gum. Her youngest daughter came up with a great idea – a jar for collecting cigarette money, a visualization of her success.  And Jerry was there, whispering words of encouragement and support along the way.  Her online group stuck with her, emailing with her at all hours of the day and the night.  Making herself accountable to these folks spring boarded Delorus to success.

As Delorus enters her first year without cigarettes in a very long time, challenges still remain.  Cravings are strong.  Family members and friends still smoke.  However, Delorus finds inspiration in a thought she had when reflecting on becoming a non-smoker – “My mom was 8 years older than I am now when she passed away from congestive heart failure.  She was a smoker; so, I felt like if I kept smoking, then I was bailing on my kids.”

You can help others and yourself to quit smoking.  Contact our tobacco cessation counselor or look up the health center location near you.

Add a comment below if you or a loved one has had a success story, and feel free to post any questions you have about our program!