Health
Make a no-smoking pledge stick
GLASGOW — One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to quit smoking, most likely because it can take a few tries to complete.
Research has shown that it may take four or five times to completely break the habit.
Smoking is probably the most effective and easiest way to administer nicotine to the system because it gets to the brain within seconds.
Once the drug enters the brain, it activates regions that in turn trigger the release of dopamine, associated with pleasure.
Once the brain gets used to the pleasure stimulus, the habit can be extremely hard to break.
Robin Mahlow, a physician at the Family Medicine clinic at T.J. Samson Community Hospital, said the most important thing to remember is not to give up.
“Have a positive attitude, pick a quit date in the future and tell all your friends and family so you can have support,” Mahlow said.
“People can also use supplemental items like patches, pills or gum and there’s also a hot line at 1-800-Quit-Now that I encourage every one to call. The biggest thing is to not get discouraged. It may take a few tries to finally quit, but keep trying.”
Norman Edelman, American Lung Association chief medical officer, said that not everyone will have the same experience when they quit.
“Some may feel tired or even easily excitable,” he said. “Others may feel lightheaded, nervous or irritable and experience headaches in addition to craving tobacco or sweets. Know these feelings are normal and may last for several weeks, but eventually, they will pass.
- Health
-
-
HEALTH CARE 101: A consumer primer on Obama’s bill
It took lawmakers a year to shape President Barack Obama’s health care bill. If it finally passes Congress, it’ll take the better part of a decade to write the user manual for consumers and doctors, employers and insurance companies.
-
Women lose big in ‘get fit’ challenge
GET FIT for Ladies challenged 22 women to shape up and slim down during the Fall Biggest Loser Challenge of 2009.
-
‘In the pink’ for breast cancer awareness
The second annual Barren County High School “Pink Out” was Feb. 2 at the BCHS gymnasium.
-
Health officials work to make state smoke-free one community at a time
While some counties in Kentucky are smoke-free, Joyce Adkins and the other health educators at the Barren River District Health Department, don’t think it’s enough.
-
January is Glaucoma Awareness Month
Approximately 3 million Americans age 40 and over have glaucoma. Half are unaware of their disease.
-
Group raises diabetes awareness
Among the approximately 170 entrants for the annual Glasgow Christmas Parade on Saturday night was No. 143 — “Cruisin’ for a Cure” from Bowling Green, a group working to raise awareness and funding for Juvenile Diabetes and “fighting to find a cure.”
-
Local wound center helps healing
T.J. Samson Community Wound Care Center may be the best-kept secret in Glasgow, according to Vivian Franklin, RN coordinator for wound care at the facility.
-
Area health care workers recognized at banquet
The Kentucky Association of Health Care Facilities (KAHCF), the trade association representing long term care facilities throughout the Commonwealth, had its annual meeting Nov. 10-12 at the Louisville Galt House.
-
Early detection is improving breast cancer survival rates
Nearly 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, according to the National Cancer Institute, and one in eight women will be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetimes.
-
More than skin deep
Tyra Coffman knows people are going to stare at her when goes out into the world. She has lived with that fact for many years.
- More Health Headlines
-
HEALTH CARE 101: A consumer primer on Obama’s bill


