Experts agree that one of the toughest habits to break is smoking. If you have tried to stop and failed, you are not alone.
Doctors tell us that quitting smoking is the single most important thing we can do to improve our health. But those same doctors also admit, it's not easy.
"It often involves getting stop smoking medication in order, getting connected with a group or individualized quit coach and also very specific tools, things that we have available to us when the going gets tough,” said Beth Davidann of Castle Medical Center’s Wellness Center.
Experts at the wellness center recommend focusing on the four D's.
First, "Take a deep breath, use deep breathing as a way to relax in the moment. Two, we want you to drink more water and that just helps to nourish the body. Three, delay in the moment of a craving,” said Davidann.
That craving usually lasts no more than five minutes or so. The fourth D sounds rather basic. Do something else.
"You're going to improve and increase your walking or other exercise that you might be doing. Just finding something else to do instead of smoking,” said Davidann.
Davidann also emphasizes there is no "one size fits all" when it comes to a stop smoking program.
"Getting an individualized plan is so important and that can be done ideally through individual coaching. That can be done both in person as we have here at the wellness center or there's also help available on line, over the phone, the Hawaii quit line,” said Davidann.
We've all heard somebody say it - "it's just too late for me to quit."
"It's never too late to quit smoking,” said Davidann. “Again, it's the number one health behavior that can improve a person's health status and it's never too late."
