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Medical Centers Ban Smoking
11/18/09 - 05:11 PM
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Thousands of Americans are expected to stop smoking Thursday as part of the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smoke-Out.  But, area medical centers are taking it a step further.  Gulf Coast Medical Center, Bay Medical Center, and Healthsouth will ban smoking on their campuses beginning Thursday.  It’s part of an effort to help people like Bay Medical employee Lisa Ward quit.

“I didn’t like the way it smelled, I didn’t like the way it tasted, I didn’t like the way it made me feel tired and it cost money,” said Ward, “Smoking is not popular anymore.  It’s kind of almost embarrassing to say you’re a smoker.  It’s nice now I can say I’m a non-smoker.”

Ward had help from classes offered by Bay Medical Center, but it wasn’t an easy road. 

“I started going to the classes and it took quite a while, I weaned myself off,” she said, “Some people are able to do it cold turkey, I wasn’t it took me several months.”

While trying to quit, she still had cravings.  It’s something medical centers are preparing for as they ban smoking permanently from their property.

“Even people that already have problems with smoking,” said Dr. Michael Moyses, an oncologist, “it’s very difficult for them to stop knowing the consequences of it so it’s very challenging.”

Bay Medical is offering individually-wrapped aids like nicorette for visitors and patients to stop cravings.

“When the cravings hit they will pass if you don’t smoke, so if you busy yourself with some kind of activity it helps,” said Ward,“Just try over and over and every time you fall off the wagon just try again because it doesn’t happen overnight.”

For more help on quitting, click here.