- 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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Feb. 13, 2009
Protect yourself from secondhand smoke
By Jennifer A. Kern, M.S., C.T.T.S.
I frequently hear people express concern about exposure to secondhand smoke, which is sometimes referred to as ETS (environmental tobacco smoke). With 25 percent of the U.S. population smoking, it is sometimes hard to avoid secondhand smoke. What's more, there are still many people in countries around the globe who are exposed to secondhand smoke on a daily basis, due to limited smoking ordinances, if any.
Although most people are conscientious about where they light up, many smokers feel their rights have been impinged upon in recent years by legislation that has banned smoking in public places and even made it illegal in certain areas, such as on airplanes. Not all 50 states have gone entirely smoke-free, however. Some still allow smoking in places of recreation, such as bars, bowling alleys and casinos.
Here are some basic facts about secondhand smoke to be aware of:
- Secondhand smoke is the smoke that comes from burning a tobacco product. It is also the air that is exhaled by someone who is smoking cigarettes, pipes, cigars, bidis, hookahs, etc. When a non-smoker inhales secondhand smoke it is called "passive smoking."
- Secondhand smoke contains cancer-causing chemicals, like cyanide, ammonia, arsenic and carbon monoxide. In fact, smoke from the burning, unfiltered end of the cigarette has more toxins than the smoke inhaled by the smoker. It has been linked to heart attacks and a variety of cancers, including lung and breast cancer.
- Children who are exposed to secondhand smoke have a higher risk of developing pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma and allergies, in addition to getting more frequent colds and ear infections.
To control exposure to secondhand smoke:
- Protect those around you by smoking in outdoor designated places.
- Make your home and car smoke-free zones. Open windows are not enough — it can take several hours for smoke to clear from a room.
- Provide a smoking area outside for guests who may choose to smoke, or offer chewing gum, a glass of water or a snack as alternatives to smoking.
- If you are bothered by someone else's smoking, ask them politely to put it out or excuse yourself from the room.
What are other things you can do to protect yourself and others from the toxins in secondhand smoke?
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