Mayo kicks off annual smokeout

Residents looking to kick their tobacco habit can take heart — they’ll have a lot of company if they choose to quit this week.

The Great American Smokeout is held every year on the third Thursday of November — Nov. 17 this year — to help people quit their tobacco use for at least one day, in hopes they will quit forever. More people quit smoking and chewing on this day than any other day of the year.

If the Great American Smokeout isn’t incentive enough to quit, then the Tobacco Cessation Program at Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin can help. The Tobacco Cessation Program will be holding an open house on Nov. 17 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Patient Education and Resource Center in recognition of the Great American Smokeout, located across from Customer Service. The open house will include free carbon monoxide screening and information about how to quit. It is open to the public.

More than 10 million Americans take the Great American Smokeout challenge during the one day event and quit smoking and chewing for the day, and many of those people go a step further and quit for good.

 What is the Tobacco Cessation Program

The Tobacco Cessation Clinic at Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin is staffed by physicians, counselors and pharmacists experienced in treating tobacco addiction. Patients can be referred to the program by a physician who provides their health care or can be self-referred.

Treatment is tailored to each patient’s needs and always includes individual counseling, medication therapy and follow-up care. A typical program includes:

Individual consultation and counseling — In-depth assessment of a patient’s tobacco use and development of a treatment plan; assistance with, understanding and changing nicotine-dependence behaviors.

Relapse prevention — Regular telephone follow-up for advice and encouragement for six months after completing the initial program. Additional face-to-face follow-up counseling is available.

Prescription therapy — Medication can be prescribed to help quit tobacco use and ease symptoms of withdrawal. Medications may include: Nicotine patches, Nicotine gum, Chantix (tablet), Bupropion (tablet), Nicotine nasal spray, Nicotine inhaler and Nicotine lozenge.

For information about quitting tobacco use or to schedule an appointment with the Tobacco Cessation Program call 507-434-1429 or 888-609-4065 (toll-free).

SportsPlus

Mower County

Austin Area Foundation announces community funded grants to a record 22 local nonprofit organizations

Mower County

Photos: Holiday revelers face the cold for Hometown Christmas

Albert Lea

Albert Lea theater to present ‘White Christmas’

Mower County

Nativity display open for another year

Mower County

In Your Community: Duplicate Bridge

Mower County

In Your Community: Mower County Senior Center

Crime, Courts & Emergencies

Convictions: Nov. 18-25

Mower County

MnDOT hosts public meetings in December to help guide Minnesota State Rail Plan

News

Female racing pioneer ‘Motorcycle Mary’ McGee dies a day before documentary on her is released

Business

Local stores have a lot to offer during the holiday season

News

Dementia research and support to continue in Minnesota after Congress passes legislation

Mower County

Cold snap continues into this weekend

Mower County

County submits first project to FEMA for reimbursement related to June flooding

Crime, Courts & Emergencies

APD investigating crash into house, possible stolen vehicle

Business

86th annual profit sharing held at Hormel plant

Mower County

Celebrating Miracles: Display documenting Eucharistic miracles coming to Austin

News

Tim Walz accepts turkey presentation as he eases back into his duties as Minnesota’s governor

Business

Joseph Company receives construction industry award

Mower County

Zonta begins annual anti-violence campaign

News

Judge halts cannabis license lottery that is precursor to Minnesota marijuana retail launch

News

Lawsuit challenges Minnesota abortion access in federal court

News

Netanyahu says he supports proposed ceasefire with Lebanon’s Hezbollah

News

Biden proposes Medicare and Medicaid cover costly weight-loss drugs for millions of obese Americans

News

Repealing no-fault divorce has so far stalled across the US. Some worry that’ll change under Trump