Caring For Your Life

Governor Rell is supporting an increase in the cigarette tax to $3 per pack, up from $2 per pack. While the powers that be have not come to full agreement on the budgetary line items, when the state budget finally passes it looks like folks may be paying more  for cigarettes. The current price is already high and whether you think this proposed tax is fair or not won’t matter much.  Your currently paying close to $8 per pack and it soon may be more. Smoking 1 pack per day costs about $56 per week  and $2920 per year out of your pocket!  That is a lot of dollars! I would prefer a vacation!

Maybe it’s time to say ” enough is enough”  and kick the habit. It will save you money and quite  possibly save your life! Did you know that cigarette smoking is the single most avoidable cause of early death and disability in the U.S.? A few facts:Cigarettes have more than 4000 chemicals in them, many of which cause cancer;the average male smoker loses and average of 13.2 years off their life and female smokers, 14.5 years  and not all smoking results in death, 8.6 million people suffer from chronic disease due to current or former smoking. Fairly scary stuff!

So quitting, yes, it is hard, but you can do it!  I can personally attest to this  success as an ex-smoker. People quit smoking successfully every day. Are you ready to quit?

Smokers tell us that 50% of the job of quitting smoking is the DECISION to quit.  Think of the reasons why you smoke and the reasons to quit and write them down. Pay attention to why and when you smoke. What could you do instead? How about reasons to quit , make it personal. Also, get some help. Talk to your doctor or join a smoking cessation class. The tools are available to help you quit, the choice is yours. Make the decision to quit, today, and set a quit date! It will surely save you money and  could also save your life!

The the coffee is ground, the timer is set and the coffee pot is ready for brewing bright and early tomorrow morning.  I can not wait to smell the aromatic coffee.  Coffee has received a lot of attention as a potent dietary antioxidant.  Coffee has more antioxidant capacity than cocoa, and green, black or herbal tea.  It contains several components, the largest being a dietary polyphenol called chlorogenic acid that helps improve oxidative stress, and is therefore beneficial to the immune system.   So for now, run with the good news, and ENJOY your morning coffee!

Got up – got out of bed – dragged a comb across my head …and went outside to meet my neighbor. Hopped in her car and went to the Edge to go to the 5:45am spin class.  We had made a reservation so we knew we would get a bike. We were joined by about 25 other folks who looked like regulars.  Emma, the tattooed, shapely spin instructor starts the music.  The room is dark, the sun has not risen and all bikes have a rider.  Everyone is spinning away. I am still half asleep, spinning  but am starting to move. The music is loud and weird.  “What band is this?” I ask. “Butthole Surfers” replys Emma with an edgy  smirk. You have got to be kidding me, who would name their band that and why am I up at this ridiculous hour spinning with all these other crazy people in the dark listening to alternative rock? I am way too old for this.  It is going to be a long day.  We keep spinning along while Emma gives us commands, directions and encouragement.  The music keeps us moving from catchy “I want Candy”  by Bow Wow Wow  ending with  familiar tunes from Barry Manilow and Johnny Cash. An hour has come and gone, the sun is up and I am wide awake and feel pretty good.  Time to shower and get to my 8am meeting! That was a great class and what is even better is that I am SO  done with my workout!

It is done.  I am now a fan of morning workouts. I worked out this morning at Cross Fit  in Milford from 6:30 – 7:30am and now it is done!  I feel good!  I always thought I was a fan of after work work-outs but life keeps getting in the way.  By the time I get out of work and run a  few errands…I have missed the last Cross Fit work out , can not seem to get my car to drive to the Milford Edge and come up with yet another excuse not to go for a walk or ride my bike.  Truth is, by this point of the day, I am hungry, tired, cranky and I  just want to go home and relax….and so I do.  

SO  late this summer, I  had an epiphany!  Morning Workouts!  Why?  Because  I am not quite awake enough to figure out why not and so I go…. kind of like the Beetles… ”Woke up, got out of bed dragged a comb across my head, found my way downstairs and drank a cup, and looking up, I noticed I was late……Ah”  off to 5:45am spin class at the Edge tomorrow with my neighbor.

Welcome to Caring for Your Life, the new blog by members of the Bridgeport Hospital healthcare team! Meet our bloggers:

Respiratory therapist Gretchen May-Fendo, coordinator of our Outpatient Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program and Quit Smart smoking cessation program, and a certified Reiki master

Registered dietitian Suzanne Quintner, manager of our Cardiac Rehabilitation & Wellness Programs, including Project Heart Smart, a series of classes to reduce heart disease risks

Andrea Valenti, our Clinical Nutrition Manager, responsible for overseeing the dietary needs of our patients

“Caring for Your Life” is Bridgeport Hospital’s slogan. It refers to the fact that we care for people throughout their lives, from birth through their golden years. It also means that our goal if to keep you healthy, or restore you to health as quickly as possible if you’re ill or injured, so you can keep living and enjoying life the way you want to.

Our bloggers will share their views and insights on a number of health-related issues. We thank you for your interest, we hope our posts will be informative, and we welcome your comments!