Eliminating tobacco use can help a person’s overall health. Respiratory therapists at Jamestown Regional Medical Center (JRMC) have tools to help.
This year, JRMC celebrates Quit Week from June 11-17.
JRMC offers tobacco cessation services to help people kick the habit. Tobacco cessation is available on an outpatient basis. The cost is $50 for the initial one-hour meeting and $25 for each additional half-hour follow-up meeting and includes two weeks of nicotine replacement therapy. The program is available at no cost to new and expecting moms as well as inpatients during their stay at JRMC.
“This kind of care is important because tobacco-use disorder is a chronic condition and should receive treatment just as any other chronic condition, such as hypertension or diabetes,” said Nicole Brandvold, respiratory therapy manager. “We know how challenging it can be to quit, so we have specialized training in assessing these patients, providing counseling and providing access to additional resources for them.”
Many JRMC respiratory therapists are also certified tobacco treatment specialists (TTS). Those therapists acquired the additional certification through The Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center.
After quitting tobacco, the body begins to heal itself quickly. After 20 minutes, a person’s blood pressure decreases, the heart rate returns to normal and the temperature of hands and feet increases. Within 24 hours, a person’s risk of heart attack decreases. Within 48 hours, smell and taste improve.
No single method of quitting tobacco works for everyone, which is why JRMC and North Dakota’s state program, NDQuits, offer several options. Services include free counseling, advice and support, as well as free nicotine replacement products for those who qualify.
“Our respiratory therapists are passionate about this program,” Brandvold said. “They elected to take additional training so that they could offer this care to their patients. We care so strongly about it because we see the direct effects of tobacco use on our patients. It can be a helpless feeling to watch someone struggle to breathe day after day, so if we can help prevent that from happening, we want to. Combining counseling and medications can more than double someone’s chances of successfully quitting tobacco.”
New & Expecting Moms
Quitting tobacco products is the most important decision a person can make for themselves and their baby, Brandvold said. The Maternal Tobacco Program provides five prenatal sessions to teach expecting mothers ways to modify behavior and avoid triggers. The program continues to support mothers to remain tobacco-free after delivery with six postpartum sessions. Those who are successful with the program by remaining tobacco-free will receive incentives at designated sessions.
Programs for Teens
Though not through JRMC, the North Dakota Department of Health offers resources specific to teenagers, Brandvold said. They include options for texting or live chatting with a quit coach from the organization.
Those resources include:
LEARN MORE
Learn more about tobacco cessation at JRMC, call anytime at (701) 952-4858.