stress & tobacco use

​This month is National Stress Month! That seems appropriate with all of the stressful things going on in the world, right? And I wanted to talk about how this relates to increased amounts of tobacco consumption because, well, that's my job!

A common trigger for tobacco users is the feeling of stress, because tobacco seems to be an effective coping mechanism for the individuals who use it. What a lot of people don't know is that tobacco is actually a stimulant drug, which means that it speeds up your body's functioning, making you feel more anxious and overwhelmed that before. Stimulants also raise your heart rate, blood sugar, and blood pressure, which can contribute to the feeling of stress that you are having.

So what's the solution? We can talk about the obvious solution of quitting all day long, and if that is what you are thinking about, then you should definitely call 1-800-QUITNOW. But if that's not the route that you were hoping to take, then I have a few alternative ways to deal with stress that might be effective for you. 

• Focus on a hobby - this might sound dumb, but distracting your self in a productive way by doing something that you enjoy can be very effective.
• Indulge in physical activity - some of the most stressful events that I have encountered have felt more manageable after I went for a long run or a short walk, try it out!
• Get more sleep - if you are not sleeping between 7 and 9 hours every night, then you are not giving your body a chance to function properly. 
• Talk to someone - venting is a very effective form of stress relief for me!
• Journal - and if you have no one to vent to verbally, put it on paper and get it out of your head. 

And the number one recommendation is to avoid alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine. Let's try our best to productively manage our stress!

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