- With Mayo Clinic behavioral counselor
Jennifer A. Kern, M.S., C.T.T.S.
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Jennifer A. Kern, M.S., C.T.T.S.
Jennifer A. Kern, M.S., C.T.T.S.
Jennifer Kern is a tobacco treatment specialist, certified through the Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center.
Her counseling work addresses various aspects of tobacco addiction, including the love-hate relationship many tobacco users have with their smoking or chewing, education about nicotine addiction, and effective strategies to help with quitting.
In addition, she explores the importance of getting emotional and social support when stopping tobacco use, and offers ideas and suggestions about how to ask for and give this support.
Being bilingual, she enjoys counseling in both Spanish and English. She holds a master's degree in psychology, with interests including spirituality, psychosomatic illness, depression and anxiety, maladaptive coping behaviors, and overall health behavior change.
"As a former smoker, I am personally familiar with the complexity of dealing with the 'tobacco shackles,' " she said. "I am committed to helping others conquer this addiction so they may regain their freedom and possibly even save their own lives."
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Quit smoking blog
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Nov. 26, 2008
Quitting tobacco: A blessing this holiday season
By Jennifer A. Kern, M.S., C.T.T.S.
Hallmark season returns. It's that time of year when we start to turn our attention to the hype of the holidays. In the United States, we kick off the season with a couple of distinctive fetes that are unique to our country. The 3rd and 4th Thursdays of November we celebrate the Great American Smokeout and our Thanksgiving holiday, respectively. These are days worth recognizing and honoring — particularly for those of us working in, or coping with, tobacco dependence.
The Great American Smokeout, established by the American Cancer Society, was first observed in 1977. It is a day that many smokers use to kick off their quit and say "no thanks" to tobacco. Being that Thanksgiving closely follows, I think it's particularly important and meaningful to then shift focus to giving "thanks" for all the benefits and blessings of being smoke-free.
Some of the health benefits seen within the first week of being quit that your body may be grateful for include:
- Blood pressure and heart rate drop to normal
- Levels of oxygen in the blood increase
- The chance of a heart attack decreases
- Sense of taste and smell improve (just in time for turkey!)
Other things you might be thankful for are:
- Nice smelling hair, clothing, and breath
- Having more time to spend with family and loved ones
- Breathing better and feeling more energetic
- Saving money, especially during the holiday season
What are some of the other blessings in your life that could be a result of quitting smoking?
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