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January 2008
Battle of the bugs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I have a little tickle in my throat. Nothing to call in sick about — at least not yet. But I fear it’s just a matter of time before I join the chorus of coughers, sneezers, snorters and wheezers who insist that they cannot afford to miss a day of work.
Maybe they’re right. Maybe their absence would throw the company hopelessly off-track. Who am I to judge?
Lord knows I’ve come to work with colds, or worse, and received dirty looks from co-workers practically begging me to pack up my tissues and go home. But it can be a tough call to make, especially if you have no idea if you’re likely to get better or worse. This week, we tackle remedies for treating colds. But it’s clear that their effectiveness is mixed at best. There are, however, a few things you can do to keep your germs from spreading.
One is to work on your coughing and sneezing technique. If you don’t have time to reach for a tissue, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that, instead of covering your mouth with your hand, you turn your head into your upper sleeve. (If this is not self-explanatory, there is a video demonstration at www.coughsafe.com/media.html).
Also: Don’t forget to put used tissues in the waste basket, keep your hands clean and sanitize your keyboard, phone and desk frequently. And you can never go wrong with the standard old advice about plenty of rest and liquids.
On that note, I’m going to head home now. I hear a can of chicken noodle soup calling my name. Before I go, I’d love to read your tips for keeping those germs from spreading.
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Smoking: A hard habit to break
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I bought my first pair of running shoes in 1979. They were bright blue with yellow trim and cost $35, about a quarter of my weekly salary. I laced them up the minute I got home, did a few warm-up stretches and headed out the door, eager to officially declare myself a “runner.” But halfway around the block, my sprightly jog slowed to a shuffle. I felt as if my lungs were about to collapse. And I knew why.
About five years earlier, I bought my first pack of Virginia Slims. I hadn’t intended to take up smoking, but my college roommate made it look so cool. I admired her ability to blow smoke rings in rapid succession and, late one night in our dorm room, challenged myself to do the same.
So I bummed one off her, inhaled deeply, and immediately fell into a hacking fit. But practice made perfect. Many cartons later, Angie informed me I would have to start buying my own. Before I knew it, a cigarette was the first thing I craved when I rolled out of bed and the last thing I wanted before turning out the lights. Nothing deterred my desire, not even strep throat.
I grew to hate the way they zapped my energy and stunk up my clothes. But not enough to quit — until that lap around the block. I was 23, and felt 83. When I got home, I headed straight for the half-pack of cigarettes on the counter. Into the trash they went.
I ran the next day, and the next, and the next to remind myself how bad smoking made me feel. And then I ran simply because it felt good. That’s how I kicked the habit.
You gave us some great advice on how you quit smoking. This week we included some of those pearls of wisdom in our story on kicking the habit — for good.
For those who have successfully quit, how your life has changed?
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How did you quit smoking?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With each new year, millions of Americans resolve to kick the smoking habit. Cessation programs, patches and gums help many people quit for good, but they are not the only route to success. Have you battled and overcome the smoking habit? What did you try that failed — and what finally worked for you?
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