News

Respiratory Issues and Vaping

A recent story from Winter Park, Florida, has hit some national press. Tragically, a young man died following six years of him being sick and having two organ transplants. His doctors believe his death was partially due to vaping. His mother is now sharing the story of how her son began vaping in high school. She had talked to her son several times about his use of vaping products, but that did not stop his use. That is because the nicotine in vaping products has a high nicotine level. The reality is that one vape may have the equivalent of 5,000 cigarettes!   

Her son was a healthy college cheerleader and cellist who came home feeling ill. He went to the hospital and was diagnosed with pneumonia in both his lungs. This began a six-year battle that included double lung transplants. He then had to have a kidney transplant. His body ended up rejecting the organs after two years of battling infections and complications. His mother shared that he never complained. 

His mother said that he was happy. He said if there’s anything he could have ever changed, it would have been that he would have never vaped to begin with. His mother adds, “Don’t let this story die.  There are still millions of middle school and high school kids who are vaping, and no one, no one should have to go through the journey that our family has gone through, and that our son has gone through.”

It is March, and there is a tremendous amount of respiratory illnesses hitting our schools this winter. Youth who vape are compromised just like smokers are and are more susceptible to respiratory illness. Parents need to be mindful of this and do all they can to keep their children healthy. If you hear them wheezing, if they are dragging, or if they have a fever, don’t ignore it.

2025-03-18T08:44:31-04:00March 18th, 2025|Advocacy, Uncategorized|

Lenten Resolutions: Your Comprehensive Guide to Quitting Smoking, Vaping, and Nicotine Use

By Iyaad Hasan, DNP, MBA, APRN, CTTS

Why Lent is the Perfect Time to Quit

Lent is a time of self-discipline, spiritual growth, and breaking bad habits. Whether you are fasting or simply looking for a fresh start, this month provides the perfect opportunity to quit smoking, vaping, or using nicotine products.

Quitting is not just about willpower—it’s about having the right tools, mindset, and support. This guide will walk you through everything you need to succeed, from preparing your body to managing cravings and preventing relapse. Below is a link that you can download to begin your tobacco and nicotine free life.

2025-03-18T08:44:38-04:00March 5th, 2025|Advocacy, Uncategorized|

Ramadan Resolutions: Your Comprehensive Guide to Quitting Smoking, Vaping, and Nicotine Use

By Iyaad Hasan, DNP, MBA, APRN, CTTS

Why Ramadan is the Perfect Time to Quit

Ramadan is a time of self-discipline, spiritual growth, and breaking bad habits. Whether you are fasting or simply looking for a fresh start, this month provides the perfect opportunity to quit smoking, vaping, or using nicotine products.

Quitting is not just about willpower—it’s about having the right tools, mindset, and support. This guide will walk you through everything you need to succeed, from preparing your body to managing cravings and preventing relapse. Below is a link that you can download to begin your tobacco and nicotine free life.

2025-03-18T08:44:46-04:00March 5th, 2025|Advocacy, Uncategorized|

Oral Nicotine: What You Need to Know

By Iyaad Hasan, DNP, MBA, APRN, CTTS

Oral nicotine products—such as nicotine pouches, lozenges, and gums—are becoming increasingly popular, particularly among teens and young adults. While they are often marketed as “tobacco-free” alternatives to smoking or vaping, they still pose significant health risks.

Why Oral Nicotine is Harmful

Even though oral nicotine products don’t contain tobacco leaf, they still deliver highly addictive nicotine, which can:

  • Increase heart rate and blood pressure, putting strain on the cardiovascular system.
  • Damage oral health, leading to gum irritation, enamel erosion, and increased risk of oral cancer.
  • Affect brain development in teens, impacting memory, learning, and impulse control.
  • Cause nicotine addiction, which can lead to dependency on other nicotine products.

Signs Someone May Be Using Oral Nicotine

If you suspect your child, student, or colleague is using oral nicotine, look for these signs:

  • White pouches, tins, or lozenges in their pockets, backpacks, or desks.
  • Frequent lip or cheek movements, as users often tuck pouches inside their mouths.
  • Sudden changes in behavior, such as increased anxiety, restlessness, or irritability (nicotine withdrawal).
  • Strong minty, fruity, or sweet smells, since many nicotine pouches come in flavored varieties.
  • Gum irritation, mouth sores, or excessive thirst, common side effects of prolonged use.

Best Treatment Options for Quitting

Quitting nicotine can be challenging, but there are effective strategies to help:

  • Behavioral Support: Counseling, quitline services, and support groups can help users develop coping strategies.
  • Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT): If needed, FDA-approved options like patches or nicotine gum can help reduce withdrawal symptoms.
  • Medication: Prescription medications like varenicline (Chantix) or bupropion (Zyban) can assist with quitting.
  • Lifestyle Changes: Regular exercise, hydration, and mindfulness techniques can help manage cravings and stress.

If you or someone you know is struggling with nicotine addiction, reach out to The Breathing Association for support and expert guidance on quitting for good. https://breathingassociation.org/start-your-journey/

2025-03-18T08:44:52-04:00February 27th, 2025|Advocacy, Uncategorized|

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! It is 2025, and I have been busy being interviewed about “Quitting in the New Year.” The question I’m always asked is, “What are the best tips to quit?”

This happens every year because everyone wants a new start in a new year and for smoking or vaping, quitting is the most important thing they can do for their health.  The other reality is that some 80% of smokers and vapers are thinking about quitting. It may be because they are sick and tired of being sick and tired, the cost of nicotine products keeps going up, and maybe using these products makes them feel socially isolated.

But did you know almost 50% of young nicotine users, most of them using vaping products, are considering quitting as a New Year’s resolution? 

For teens, the top reasons to quit vaping include mental health or physical health concerns, freedom from addiction, influence from family and friends, and even the cost of these products. We know that nicotine addiction can have a negative impact on a teen’s mental health. Research shows that in the long term, quitting nicotine can improve mental health, with 90% of teens who quit vaping reporting feeling less stressed, anxious, or depressed, according to the TRUTH Campaign.

Go to: Ask Bruce to see my top tips for quitting in 2025!

2025-03-18T08:45:01-04:00January 15th, 2025|Bruce Barcelo|

2024 Breathing Association Highlights

This year has been such a big one for us at The Breathing Association! We moved into a new, larger office at 741 East Broad Street, which now houses our Tobacco Treatment Center of Ohio and a great new training room. Huge thanks to everyone who helped make this move happen—it was a year-long effort, and we’re so grateful.

We also kicked off our first-ever capital campaign and are already 30% toward our goal, thanks to some incredible lead gifts. Another big win was meeting with 30 legislators this spring to talk about our programs, which helped us secure state capital funding—such an exciting milestone for us!

This year, we also launched a volunteer program, and so far, volunteers have contributed over 500 hours to our mission. We’d love for you to join us in 2025, whether in person or virtually.

As the year wraps up, we’d be so thankful if you considered volunteering or making a tax-deductible gift to help us continue our work. Thank you for supporting us and others in the community. Happy holidays from all of us at The Breathing Association!

 

2025-01-21T09:28:11-05:00December 11th, 2024|Uncategorized|

HEAP is helping income-eligible Ohioans with utilities this winter

The breathing association

As the darker days and colder months approach, income-eligible Ohioans can receive one-time assistance with their home energy bills through a partnership between The Breathing Association and the Ohio Department of Development’s Home Energy Assistance Winter Crisis Program (HEAP) through March 31.

The program assists Ohioans facing service disconnection in the winter months. Qualifying households must have a gross annual income at or below 175% of the federal poverty level. For a family of four, that is $54,600.

For some, the looks like help with a Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP)payment or a subsidized energy bill through the department of development.

Before Dr. Iyaad Hasan moved to Columbus two years ago to work as The Breathing Association’s COO and vice president of operations, he earned his nursing doctorate from Case Western Reserve University and traveled the world. Before that, he said he was a HEAP kid himself growing up in Cleveland.

“I am a HEAP child, and I grew up on HEAP for so many years, so I knew exactly what it meant. Of course, I knew about the clinical side too, and it’s about my passion to help the underserved,” he said.

Hasan said The Breathing Association is working to remove barriers to health that people tend to have through the energy assistance program.

“Energy insecurity or utility insecurity is tough, because if I don’t have gas or electric and have a chronic disease, say diabetes, high blood pressure, and I have a family with children in the house, it’s going to take a toll on me. So, it’s not just about the utilities, it’s also about the idea of taking care of your overall health,” Hasan said.

“If I can’t pay my utilities and I’m a diabetic, and I know I need to take diabetic medications, I will probably not use my money to buy my diabetes meds, but instead use it to pay my utilities, because I have to survive.”

Last year, the program assisted nearly 77,000 households in Ohio, providing a total of $23.5 million in benefits.

“When temperatures drop this winter, no one should have to worry about if they can afford to keep their home warm,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development.

Individuals can start their application online, but they must schedule an appointment with their local energy assistance provider to complete the application. The application and list of providers can be found online at energyhelp.ohio.gov.

2024-12-02T16:45:15-05:00December 2nd, 2024|Uncategorized|

The Breathing Association is hosting Quit Cold Turkey Day to inspire smoke-free living

The Breathing Association is lighting the way to a smoke-free life with Quit Cold Turkey Day!

Alissa Henry talked to Dr. Iyaad Hasan about Thursday’s event. It’s happening from 10am to 1pm at 741 E Broad Street Columbus, Ohio 43205

As he explained, it’s part of the National Day of Cessation, The Great American Smokeout is promoted by the American Cancer Society.

The goal is for attendees to get inspired, learn prevention tips, explore treatment options, and take a breath of fresh air toward a healthier future.

This event is free and open to the public and meant to motivate and inspire tobacco users to begin their quit journey.

Quit Cold Turkey Day will feature interactive activities educating guests about tobacco addiction, as well as several healthcare organizations, including Columbus Public Health and Franklin County Public Health with resources and information to share. DJ IQ will be there to provide music.

Plus, in the spirit of “going cold turkey”, free cold turkey sandwiches will be provided.

2024-11-21T09:20:36-05:00November 21st, 2024|Uncategorized|
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