Quit-smoking action plan
Learning Center
What are superbugs?
Superbugs are strains of bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi that are resistant to most antibiotics and other medications. These superbugs can cause pneumonia, urinary tract infections and skin infections. To protect yourself from harmful germs, wash your hands often with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. You can help slow the spread of drug-resistant bacteria by taking antibiotics properly and only when needed.
Quit smoking: Line up support
The more support you have, the more likely you are to stop smoking. Tell your family, friends and co-workers that you are going to quit smoking. Ask them to check in to see how you're doing. Ask friends who smoke not to smoke around you or offer you a cigarette. Ask them to be patient with your changes in mood. Also consider joining a support group in person or online.
Quit smoking: Ask for help
Don't be afraid to ask your doctor for help to stop smoking. Treatments that can lessen cravings include nicotine replacement, which can be administered with a skin patch, lozenges, gum, inhalers or nasal sprays. Non-nicotine medication can also help reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms by mimicking how nicotine functions in your body.
Quit smoking: Put it on paper
Consider what you don't like about smoking and why you want to quit smoking. Do you want to feel better? Are you worried about health consequences, such as lung cancer and heart disease? Set a good example for your kids? Rid yourself of that lingering smoke smell on your hair, skin and clothes? Write it all down and carry the list with you. Each time you go to pick up a cigarette or other tobacco product, read your list and remind yourself why you want to quit.
Hay fever: How to avoid triggers
If you have hay fever, the best thing you can do is to take steps to lessen your exposure to allergens, such as pollen and mold spores: 1. Close doors and windows during pollen season. 2. Use air conditioning in your house and car. 3. Avoid outdoor activity in the early morning, when pollen counts are highest, and also on high pollen-count days. 4. Use a dehumidifier to reduce indoor humidity. 5. Use a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter in your bedroom.
Self-tanners: Are they safe?
Sunless tanning products, also called self-tanners, can give your skin a tanned look without exposing you to harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. The active ingredient in most sunless tanners is the color additive dihydroxyacetone (DHA). DHA reacts with dead cells in the skin's surface layer to temporarily darken your skin. The coloring gradually fades within a few days. Caution: Most self-tanners don't contain sunscreen. If you spend time outdoors, sunscreen is essential.
Bad breath? Drink more water
If your morning breath seems to last all day, you may not be drinking enough water. Keeping your mouth moist helps wash away food particles and bacteria, which helps keep bad breath at bay. Chewing gum (preferably sugarless) or sucking on candy (again, sugarless) can help, too. If you have chronic dry mouth, your dentist or doctor may recommend an artificial saliva preparation or an oral medication that stimulates the flow of saliva.
Shopping for shades?
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can damage your eyes, not just your skin. Choose sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays. Opt for wraparound sunglasses or closefitting sunglasses with wide lenses that protect your eyes from every angle. Keep in mind that the color of the lenses and the degree of darkness the sunglasses provide have nothing to do with the sunglasses' ability to block UV rays.
Skip booze for better sleep
Alcohol depresses the central nervous system and acts as a sedative. It may help you fall asleep, but it prevents deeper stages of sleep and often causes you to wake up in the middle of the night. If you have trouble falling or staying asleep, say no thanks to the after-dinner drinks.
Applying sunscreen? Don't be stingy
Most people use sunscreen too sparingly. If you use sunscreen generously and frequently, a bottle of sunscreen shouldn't last long. Generally, a liberal application is 1 ounce (30 milliliters) — the amount in a shot glass — to cover exposed parts of the body. You might need to apply more, depending on your body size. If you have a 4-ounce (118-milliliter) bottle, you'll use about one-fourth of it during one application.
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