Q: How can I quit smoking?

Dr. Travis Glenn, Family Medicine, Glenn Family Medicine: If you’ve decided you’re ready to quit smoking, that’s great! There are many health benefits to quitting, including reducing your risk of heart disease and cancer, and improving your lung function and overall health.

You can set yourself up for success by creating a quit plan. Start by choosing a date when you will quit smoking, and put it on your calendar. Let your family and friends know your quit date, so they can support you.

Make a list of your smoking triggers — situations where you get the urge to smoke. This could include spending time with other people who smoke, or certain activities that are linked to smoking. Make a plan for how you’ll avoid or deal with these situations.

Next, prepare to quit by throwing away ashtrays, lighters and other items in your environment that are linked to smoking. Consider getting your car cleaned if you think the smell of cigarettes will trigger the urge.

While you’re quitting, it may be tempting to switch to e-cigarettes or vape pens. But these products don’t actually help you quit and just substitute one tobacco addiction for another. Instead, talk with your doctor about medications that can help manage withdrawal symptoms. These include nicotine patches and gum, which can temporarily replace the nicotine you were getting from cigarettes. There are also non-nicotine medications that can relieve physical symptoms. And remember that the cravings will fade over time.

Finally, know that if you are ready to quit, you don’t have to do it alone. There are many programs that can help you with personalized coaching and support. These include the American Lung Association’s Freedom From Smoking, and the Hawaii Quitline at (800) QUIT-NOW. Talk with your doctor, or contact a quit-smoking program for information. For additional tips, visit mauihealth.org/quitsmoking.

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Q: Are a stroke and a brain aneurysm the same thing? How can I tell the difference?

Casi Saranillio, RN, Stroke Program Manager, Maui Health: The terms “stroke” and “aneurysm” are sometimes used interchangeably, but these two serious conditions have some significant differences.

A stroke occurs when there is a ruptured blood vessel in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke) or blood supply to the brain has been blocked (ischemic stroke). An aneurysm is the result of a weakened artery wall and can be present for a long time with no symptoms. Aneurysms may rupture and bleed, and when this occurs in the brain, it falls in the hemorrhagic stroke category.

An ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke, accounting for about 87 percent of all strokes. It occurs when an artery in the brain or an artery carrying blood to the brain becomes blocked. The blockage may be a blood clot or a narrowing of the artery due to plaque buildup.

A hemorrhagic stroke is a bleeding event in which an artery ruptures. Blood either stops flowing altogether through that artery, or blood flow is reduced as blood leaks out through the new opening in the artery wall. The most common cause of a hemorrhagic stroke is the bursting of a small artery due to high blood pressure. It can also be caused by a ruptured cerebral aneurysm. A blood vessel wall becomes weak because it is bulging outward and eventually can burst.

Signs of stroke include sudden weakness or drooping in the arms, legs or face, especially on one side of the body. The person may also be confused, have difficulty speaking, have changes in vision or have a sudden headache. An aneurysm may not cause any symptoms at all until it ruptures. When that happens, the most common symptom is a sudden, very intense headache. The person may also experience nausea and vomiting, blurred vision, drooping eyelid and loss of consciousness. You can remember the acronym BE FAST to help you recall the signs and symptoms of stroke.

B – BALANCE: Watch for sudden loss of balance.

E – EYES: Check for vision loss.

F – FACE: Look for an uneven smile.

A – ARM: Check if one arm or leg is weak.

S – SPEECH: Listen for slurred speech.

T – TIME: Call 911 right away.

Both a stroke and a ruptured brain aneurysm can become life-threatening within minutes, so if someone is experiencing any of these symptoms, call 911 to get medical attention immediately.

* Physicians, providers and administrative staff who practice at Maui Health hospitals and clinics answer questions from the public in Healthwise Maui, which appears on Thursdays. Maui Health operates Maui Memorial Medical Center, Maui Memorial Medical Center Outpatient Clinic, Kula Hospital & Clinic and Lana’i Community Hospital and accepts all patients. To submit a question, go to the website at mauihealth.org/healthwise.