by:Patsy Hamilton
The newest “stop smoking pill” is Varenicline, sold under the brand name Chantix in the US and Champix in Europe and Canada. This stop smoking medication was approved by the FDA in August 2006 and was approved for sale in Europe shortly thereafter.
The normal FDA review period of 10 months was shortened to six months for Chantix, allowing the drug to be placed on the market more quickly. According to the FDA’s press release, the new stop smoking pill received a “priority review” because of its “significant potential benefit to public health”.
The fact is that Chantix, although it is considered a “unique” compound, derives chemically from cytisine, which has been used as a “stop smoking medication” for over 40 years in Eastern Europe. Cytisine is a toxic compound that acts very similar to nicotine.
After analyzing accumulated data involving thousands of smokers, researchers at the University of Geneva concluded that “Cytisine may be effective for smoking cessation.” Coincidentally, the Geneva review was released in August of 2006.
Advertising for this “new” stop smoking pill claims that Chantix is more effective than Zyban, the name given to the anti-depressant Welbutrin, when it is prescribed as a stop smoking medication. The fact is that Chantix was only slightly more effective than Zyban in only two of the five independent studies that were completed and patients in the study also received daily counseling.
Over the years, several different anti-depressants have been prescribed as a stop smoking medication. Nicotine replacement therapy, gums, patches, lozenges and nasal spray are commonly used. The gums and patches are sold over the counter in the United States. Overall, studies have shown that about 80% of all smokers will return to smoking within the first year, regardless of the therapy they chose to use.
In April 2007, Pfizer research and development published a study concluding that people could safely take the new stop smoking pill for 52 weeks or one year. The FDA has only approved Chantix for 12 weeks of use, followed by an additional 12 weeks if the person has stopped smoking.
The knowledge that most people return to smoking in the first year may have prompted the Pfizer study, but the results do not indicate that the new stop smoking medication is any more effective than other drugs, including nicotine replacement. Only 53.8% of the smokers completed the study. Of those who did, only 36.7% had not returned to smoking.
In other words, of the 251 smokers who began the study, only 49 completed the study and were still not smoking after one year. Those numbers indicate that Chantix is only effective 19% of the time. Placebo (inactive substances) when combined with a support program is effective 14% of the time. In fact, in a new study published in June 2007, researchers concluded that counseling is just as effective as any stop smoking medication currently on the market.
The researchers went on to say that counseling is the “sole approach without any adverse effects”. Negative side effects of the new stop smoking pill are similar to those of nicotine replacement, including nausea, headache, vomiting, insomnia and abnormal dreams, with the added side effect of altering one’s sense of taste.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
New Stop Smoking Pill No More Effective Than Other Aids
More Restricted Rules for Smoking Area
Smoking is restricted or banned in almost all public places and cigarette companies are no longer allowed to advertise on TV, radio, and in many magazines. Today we're more aware about how bad smoking is for our health. The only thing that really helps a person avoid the problems associated with smoking is staying smoke free. Currently more than 90% of Marriott guest rooms are already non-smoking and smoking is prohibited in many public spaces due to local laws. But, as we all know that smoking is like a slow poison and the only work of smoking is to destroy the person, who is having it with such a pleasure.
Health
Today we're more aware about how bad smoking is for our health. Over the long term, smoking leads people to develop health problems like cancer, emphysema (breakdown of lung tissue), organ damage, and heart disease. Smoking can also cause fertility problems and can impact sexual health in both men and women. The consequences of smoking may seem very far off, but long-term health problems are not the only hazard of smoking. Because smoking restricts blood vessels, it can prevent oxygen and nutrients from getting to the skin — which is why smokers often appear pale and unhealthy. And people with certain health conditions, like asthma, become more sick if they smoke (and often if they're just around people who smoke).
Public
Currently more than 90 percent of Marriott guest rooms are already non-smoking and smoking is prohibited in many public spaces due to local laws. By the end of 2008, all enclosed public places and workplaces will be smoke free. These changes will go a long way toward protecting members of the public from passive smoking; by giving them the option of choosing to drink in a pub that has chosen not to allow smoking. It appears that there are only two options left; either accept the opinions of pro-smoking organizations such as the Freedom Organization for the Right to Enjoy Smoking Tobacco (FOREST) that passive smoking is not harmful and that smokers have a right to smoke wherever they choose or; ban smoking in all enclosed public places to protect workers from ETS.
In conclusion, smoking is an avoidable cause of death. To be twenty-four hours without smoking is to suffer worse tortures than the lost. So I am not discouraging safe smoking because it is true that millions are going to smoke, but you could at least throw a little relevant information into your package to inform the people whom you are letting know indirectly that smoking is not dangerous. To quit smoking is not an easy task for the smoker. One major obstacle on your way to quit smoking is the making smoking as part of your daily routine.
By Sunantha Yancharoen
Stop Smoking Now If You Want To Live Longer - Stop Smoking
Tobacco Is Addictive
In the US, tobacco became so popular that it was used as currency, when bartering for goods. Because of its popularity, the early settlers created fire-curing and charcoal-curing, as a way to extend tobacco's shelf life when the product was being shipped across the seas. Television addicts are a relatively new breed, especially since television itself has only been around for about 50 years, nowhere near as long as alcohol, tobacco and drugs.
Tobacco is a little different because the substance itself is addictive. In 1990, 50 percent of the mortality (over 1-million deaths annually) in the United States from the 10 leading causes of death was linked to addictive behaviors such as tobacco use, poor dietary habits and activity, alcohol misuse, illicit drug use, and risky sexual practices.
Smoking Is Addictive
I started smoking when I was a sophomore in college, one cigarette a night so I could sleep. After three months of smoking one cigarette a day I was hooked. It is at this point that the act of smoking becomes addictive, not because of the smoke itself, but because of the substance in it called nicotine. But, during the middle of the 20th century, health officials started to be concerned about how cigarette smoking was affecting the publics' health. In 1964, the US Surgeon General issued a report stating that there was relationship between smoking cigarettes and lung cancer.
There is no need to go into the harm that this kind of smoking does to the body common sense tells you that smoking is bad for you.
By Richard Davis Waterhouse
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
(hate-smoking)Your Last Resort - Stop Smoking Pill
By Rory Herts
As we always see on cigarette packs, "Cigarette smoking is dangerous to your health." This is a notice that is commonly disregarded by smokers. Without even reading this notice, they just tear open the cigarette pack, grab a stick, and light it as if they don’t want to see the glaring truth in front of it. Unfortunately, the warning stated on this package is very true. Cigarette smoking is one of the leading causes of death. As a matter of fact, 440,000 people in the United States die each year because of illnesses caused by this bad habit.
Fortunately, a lot of people have become aware of what smoking can do to their health and have made attempts to quit. Unfortunately, because of a substance called nicotine that is found in cigarettes, many people find it difficult to resist their cravings for the “high” that this substance can give. The good news is that there are now aids for smokers who want to quit. They can try chewing a nicotine gum or putting on a nicotine patch. These are two of the types of nicotine replacement therapy wherein the craving for the pleasurable feelings is quenched by the content of these gums and patches, taking away the need for a stick of cigarette. But, since this method is not always effective, a new option has been added: the stop smoking pill.
A New Use for an Anti-depressant
Zyban is a stop smoking pill that causes a sustained release of bupropion hydrochloride, the same substance found in the anti-depressant, Wellbutrin SR. This stop smoking pill boosts the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the body, giving the user the same pleasurable feeling that is induced by the nicotine found in tobacco. These pills should be taken a week before a smoker starts to quit smoking in order to combat the withdrawal symptoms that usually haunt quitters.
Although Zyban is more effective than other anti-depressants in this aspect, it has some side effects that doctors should warn their patients about before prescribing this solution. It has been proven to cause depression in users and can increase suicidal tendencies.
The New Stop Smoking Pill
Another stop smoking pill was approved by the FDA last May. Varenicline was proven to help more than one out of five smokers to stop smoking after using it for a year. This pill works by inhibiting the feelings of pleasure that smokers feel when they light up a cigarette. This stops them from associating the wonderful feeling with a stick of cigarette that they usually crave for when they are under stress, cutting off their dependency to it.
Now available under the name of Chantix, this drug should be taken twice a day for a minimum of twelve weeks in order to stop a person from lighting up a cigarette. A side effect of this stop smoking pill is said to be nausea and vomiting.
Because of the side effects that can be caused by these two stop smoking pills, they are usually considered as a last resort for people who would like to quit smoking. And for those who plan to use Zyban to quit smoking, perhaps it should be coupled with exercise in order to decrease the dependency on that medication. Exercise, after all, can hasten the release of epinephrine and norepinephrine in the body, giving a person the same high feeling that these pills can provide.
(hate-smoking) Take The Easy Way Out With A Stop Smoking ShotBy
Rory Herts
Cigarette smoking can lead to a lot of unlikable effects like tooth decay, stained teeth, gum problems, and premature aging. Other more severe effects of this bad habit are emphysema, cancer, and even death. As a matter of fact, cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death. Furthermore, the number of deaths associated with smoking is above 440,000 in the United States alone. For this reason, a lot of smokers have decided to save their health and kick the habit.
Unfortunately, because cigarettes are very addictive, most of the attempts to quit have not been successful. For people who have been smoking for a very long time, withdrawal syndromes are very difficult to fight and they end up returning to the habit they have been trying to avoid.
Stop Smoking Aids
It’s a good thing that there are now aids for people who want to quit, like the nicotine replacement therapy which involves chewing a nicotine gum or putting on a nicotine patch. Nicotine is the substance that makes cigarettes addictive. People crave for it because of the burst of energy and pleasurable feelings that are induced by the substance when it enters the bloodstream.
The nicotine replacement therapy stops a person from smoking by providing him with the dose of nicotine he needs to get through the day. Although this therapy is very effective in reducing withdrawal symptoms, it is not recommended to be the only method for quitting cigarette smoking because people tend to become dependent on it. Fortunately, with the new innovations of medical technology, we now have other aids, such as stop smoking shots and pills that can wean people from their nicotine addiction.
Stop Smoking Shots or Pill?
The stop smoking shot can make it easier for smokers to kick the habit. In order to stop a person from looking for the desired effects of nicotine, this stop smoking shot prevents the nicotine from entering the brain where it usually works as a stimulant. By not being able to feel the pleasurable effects that they associate with smoking a cigarette, these people lose the need to ingest nicotine.
Although the stop smoking pill can also wean smokers from the bad habit without the use of nicotine, it is not as successful as the stop smoking shot. The first stop smoking pill is actually an anti-depressant that takes the place of nicotine by increasing the levels of dopamine and norephinephrine in the body. The most recent type of stop smoking pill works just like the stop smoking shot because it inhibits the effects of nicotine in the bloodstream. Unfortunately, it has to be taken for weeks before it becomes effective.
The stop smoking shot, on the other hand, can stop a person from smoking with just one dose. For these reasons, stop smoking shots have a 70-80% success rate which is twice more than those of pills. The only drawback is that these shots can be a bit expensive. But then, you have to ask yourself this question: Can you put a price on good health?
Cigarette smoking can lead to a lot of unlikable effects like tooth decay, stained teeth, gum problems, and premature aging. Other more severe effects of this bad habit are emphysema, cancer, and even death. As a matter of fact, cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death. Furthermore, the number of deaths associated with smoking is above 440,000 in the United States alone. For this reason, a lot of smokers have decided to save their health and kick the habit.
Unfortunately, because cigarettes are very addictive, most of the attempts to quit have not been successful. For people who have been smoking for a very long time, withdrawal syndromes are very difficult to fight and they end up returning to the habit they have been trying to avoid.
Stop Smoking Aids
It’s a good thing that there are now aids for people who want to quit, like the nicotine replacement therapy which involves chewing a nicotine gum or putting on a nicotine patch. Nicotine is the substance that makes cigarettes addictive. People crave for it because of the burst of energy and pleasurable feelings that are induced by the substance when it enters the bloodstream.
The nicotine replacement therapy stops a person from smoking by providing him with the dose of nicotine he needs to get through the day. Although this therapy is very effective in reducing withdrawal symptoms, it is not recommended to be the only method for quitting cigarette smoking because people tend to become dependent on it. Fortunately, with the new innovations of medical technology, we now have other aids, such as stop smoking shots and pills that can wean people from their nicotine addiction.
Stop Smoking Shots or Pill?
The stop smoking shot can make it easier for smokers to kick the habit. In order to stop a person from looking for the desired effects of nicotine, this stop smoking shot prevents the nicotine from entering the brain where it usually works as a stimulant. By not being able to feel the pleasurable effects that they associate with smoking a cigarette, these people lose the need to ingest nicotine.
Although the stop smoking pill can also wean smokers from the bad habit without the use of nicotine, it is not as successful as the stop smoking shot. The first stop smoking pill is actually an anti-depressant that takes the place of nicotine by increasing the levels of dopamine and norephinephrine in the body. The most recent type of stop smoking pill works just like the stop smoking shot because it inhibits the effects of nicotine in the bloodstream. Unfortunately, it has to be taken for weeks before it becomes effective.
The stop smoking shot, on the other hand, can stop a person from smoking with just one dose. For these reasons, stop smoking shots have a 70-80% success rate which is twice more than those of pills. The only drawback is that these shots can be a bit expensive. But then, you have to ask yourself this question: Can you put a price on good health?
(hate-smoking)Cigarettes - Why It Is Hard To Quit?
By Sunantha Yancharoen
Stop smoking is a topic that has to be read clearly to be understood. Therefore, the best way to quit smoking is the way that suits you. One of the things that make this the best way to quit smoking is that we carry with us for life the knowledge of how difficult victory can be combined with the knowledge that we can overcome that level of difficulty. Making the decision to quit smoking is not easy and it is even harder to put it into practice. Your decision to quit smoking is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your family.
Stop smoking is a topic that has to be read clearly to be understood. Therefore, the best way to quit smoking is the way that suits you. One of the things that make this the best way to quit smoking is that we carry with us for life the knowledge of how difficult victory can be combined with the knowledge that we can overcome that level of difficulty. Making the decision to quit smoking is not easy and it is even harder to put it into practice. Your decision to quit smoking is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your family.
Health
Health Risks Associated with Smoking is the largest cause of preventable illness and premature death. So, how important is your health to you. Have much success with your quit smoking program, it may become stressful at times, but stay strong and know that your health is worth it. You know that smoking is bad for your health, yet at the same time you also know how hard it is to quit smoking. Here is what you will find inside: Why People Smoke, Why it is hard to quit,
Health Risks Associated with Smoking is the largest cause of preventable illness and premature death. So, how important is your health to you. Have much success with your quit smoking program, it may become stressful at times, but stay strong and know that your health is worth it. You know that smoking is bad for your health, yet at the same time you also know how hard it is to quit smoking. Here is what you will find inside: Why People Smoke, Why it is hard to quit,
Habit
It only takes a short period of time to break the chemical dependency to nicotine, it's the habit that is hard, or when you are stressed or happy or other triggers that make you want to smoke. So, only smokers with great willpower manage to beat the Nicotine habit without any kind of help. Overcoming this behavioral dependence connected with the physical act of smoking is an important part of quitting the "Habit". We all know that the "habit" of smoking cigarettes is associated with a whole series of rituals that cannot be easily abandoned overnight, which makes getting help with the willpower to quit smoking cigarettes even more important. Fear of long term consequences, and of deeply distressful later life are as important as reasons to quit smoking, as the immediate threats you encounter with the tobacco habit. Who is to stop you if you determine that your wellness and life are worth throwing away for the pleasures that a habit imparts.
It only takes a short period of time to break the chemical dependency to nicotine, it's the habit that is hard, or when you are stressed or happy or other triggers that make you want to smoke. So, only smokers with great willpower manage to beat the Nicotine habit without any kind of help. Overcoming this behavioral dependence connected with the physical act of smoking is an important part of quitting the "Habit". We all know that the "habit" of smoking cigarettes is associated with a whole series of rituals that cannot be easily abandoned overnight, which makes getting help with the willpower to quit smoking cigarettes even more important. Fear of long term consequences, and of deeply distressful later life are as important as reasons to quit smoking, as the immediate threats you encounter with the tobacco habit. Who is to stop you if you determine that your wellness and life are worth throwing away for the pleasures that a habit imparts.
Addiction
Addictions lead you to become psychologically dependent which makes you afraid of stopping smoking. After all the times of saying you will quit and you cannot, it’s because the addictions remains. When searching for a quit smoking program, you will want to look at the pros and cons and warnings associated with each program, do they use medication, meditation or what is the primary methodology to guide you to break your addiction. If you answered yes, then you and only you need to get a handle on your addiction. Have a great attitude, and confidence in yourself that you can quit this horrible addiction and you will do it. The threats to your well-being and financial worth are proportionate to the amount of nicotine and tar which enters your system, but you are never free from the threat of severe addiction, if even traces of nicotine can find their ways in to your system. The risks, which you endure as a result of your addiction, are finally your business. Smoking is an addiction that keeps smokers chained to their cravings and prevents them from living smoke free lives. The smoking addiction is not one that is very easy to kick. One of the main reasons so many smokers fail to quit smoking, is because they believe that they are addicted to nicotine, and therefore they only try and address this addiction.
In conclusion, quit smoking is a thought uppermost in the minds of most smokers, though it is a task easier said than done. Quit smoking is not only a dream. However, the most important factor when you are trying to quit smoking is will power. The main fact which you will need to remember is that starting to quit smoking is just the beginning.
Addictions lead you to become psychologically dependent which makes you afraid of stopping smoking. After all the times of saying you will quit and you cannot, it’s because the addictions remains. When searching for a quit smoking program, you will want to look at the pros and cons and warnings associated with each program, do they use medication, meditation or what is the primary methodology to guide you to break your addiction. If you answered yes, then you and only you need to get a handle on your addiction. Have a great attitude, and confidence in yourself that you can quit this horrible addiction and you will do it. The threats to your well-being and financial worth are proportionate to the amount of nicotine and tar which enters your system, but you are never free from the threat of severe addiction, if even traces of nicotine can find their ways in to your system. The risks, which you endure as a result of your addiction, are finally your business. Smoking is an addiction that keeps smokers chained to their cravings and prevents them from living smoke free lives. The smoking addiction is not one that is very easy to kick. One of the main reasons so many smokers fail to quit smoking, is because they believe that they are addicted to nicotine, and therefore they only try and address this addiction.
In conclusion, quit smoking is a thought uppermost in the minds of most smokers, though it is a task easier said than done. Quit smoking is not only a dream. However, the most important factor when you are trying to quit smoking is will power. The main fact which you will need to remember is that starting to quit smoking is just the beginning.
Is Smoking Adversely Affecting Your Skin?
by: Kamau Austin
While it is well known that smoking is generally harmful to your overall health, some people still consider the habit cool or sexy. This is certainly the image cigarette companies project to their target customers. But could smokers actually be making themselves look less attractive and desirable? Today let's look at how smoking affects the attractiveness of your largest organ—the skin. You build the cable of a habit one thread at a time. Every day you make choices that lead to habits. It can be hard to break the cycle of those choices. What starts as a pastime stays on to take its toll on your health.
While it is well known that smoking is generally harmful to your overall health, some people still consider the habit cool or sexy. This is certainly the image cigarette companies project to their target customers. But could smokers actually be making themselves look less attractive and desirable? Today let's look at how smoking affects the attractiveness of your largest organ—the skin. You build the cable of a habit one thread at a time. Every day you make choices that lead to habits. It can be hard to break the cycle of those choices. What starts as a pastime stays on to take its toll on your health.
Can you justify smoking? Smokers justify their habit with the following reasons:
* Smoking gives them pleasure
* Smoking relieves their depression and makes them feel lighter
* People in their social circle smoke Most people began as occasional, light smokers. They may have failed to realize that one day, they would become dependant on this "occasional" habit. The situation is beginning to change. People have begun to think twice before lighting up. This awareness certainly comes from the proven health hazards of smoking. How smoking affects your skin You need to be aware of the affects of smoking on your skin and overall looks. This is what smoking does to your skin. The beauty and youthful look of your skin is largely determined by adequate moisture and oxygen content. Smoking denies an adequate supply of oxygen to your skin and dehydrates it.
* While you are enjoying puffs from your cigarette, you are inviting trouble into your system. Your lungs are the first victims. In just one puff, more than a trillion free radicals are created in your lungs. These free radicals, in turn, induce an inflammatory reaction that gets circulated throughout the whole body.
* Smoking causes the same appearance in your skin as sun damage. The nicotine present in cigarettes is the cause of this effect. It makes you look much older than you are.
* Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 toxins that enter your bloodstream directly and effect your skin's appearance. The top layers of the skin constrict; this reduces your blood's oxygen content and substitutes it with carbon monoxide. With less oxygen in the blood, toxins and other wastes remain in your system, aging it prematurely. Generally, smoking causes your skin to look pale and grey. In addition, the collagen level of your skin is greatly reduced when you smoke, making your skin more wrinkled and less youthful looking.
* Smoking causes heavy damages to a woman's system by creating an imbalance in her hormone levels and dramatically altering her body shape. This is caused by a disturbance in the endocrinal glands. A research report says that if a woman smokes a pack per day for 40 years, it can accelerate her aging by 7.4 years. To emphasize the ill effects of smoking on your skin, the term "smoker's face" was added to the medical dictionary. This condition is caused when the skin in your face shows the lines and wrinkles—which make you look older—all due to smoking! The smoker's features are thin and gaunt. There are clear signs of premature aging, induced by poor blood circulation. Evidences show that a smoker's skin is more than 40% thinner than a non-smoker. When you smoke, you are introducing stimulants into your system that affect your blood vessels. It has also been suggested that smoking causes certain types of skin cancer. Further research is being undertaken to study the cosmetic effects that smoking has on your skin. For example, smoking dries your skin, especially in the areas affected by the nicotine smoke. Nicotine is also a diuretic and can reduce vitamin A in your body. If you smoke, I hope I have given you food for thought. By all means, try to stop. Smoking not only ages you through general health deterioration but probably makes you look less attractive. Your family and loved ones need you. So, I caution you to stop right now. Once you begin to seek treatment to stop, there are also skin solutions that can help you get back to a more vibrant and beautiful you. There is a product we hear that can help you restore your skin to a more youthful glow. To take extra good care of your skin suffering from the sun-like damage associated with smoking consider using a topical cream like Lumnaderm(tm). This product can offer significant help to those concerned about the appearance of skin which may have been damaged by the sun, free radicals, or other skin problems. Lumnaderm(tm) is available from fine online stores like Amazon and the BODeStore.com (http://www.bodestore.com).
How to Finally Quit Smoking
by: Chris Chenoweth
More than four hundred and forty thousand people die in the United States each year from smoking. Smoking is directly responsible for causing lung cancer, heart disease, strokes, and pregnancy complications, not to mention contributing to overall poorer health. So why do so many people still smoke? Because trying to quit is one of the most difficult things to do. However, you CAN do it with a little help and determination. If you smoke and have tried to quit, you know how difficult and painful it can be. Many people actually try a number of times before they are successful. What makes it so difficult is the fact that nicotine is an incredibly addictive drug, on the same level as cocaine or heroin. Switching to low-tar and/or low-nicotine cigarettes is a tactic that many people try, thinking that it will be less harmful. However, because nicotine is so addicting, switching will only make you puff harder and more often on each cigarette. Your only choice for your body’s health is to quit completely. In spite of the many risks associated with smoking, some smokers, particularly women, believe there are also risks associated with quitting. These perceived risks, gaining weight, increased stress, and damaging relationships with friends who do smoke, can reduce a smoker’s motivation to quit resulting in a lower chance of success. What can help motivate a smoker to quit? Quitting smoking is one of the most important things you will ever do.
More than four hundred and forty thousand people die in the United States each year from smoking. Smoking is directly responsible for causing lung cancer, heart disease, strokes, and pregnancy complications, not to mention contributing to overall poorer health. So why do so many people still smoke? Because trying to quit is one of the most difficult things to do. However, you CAN do it with a little help and determination. If you smoke and have tried to quit, you know how difficult and painful it can be. Many people actually try a number of times before they are successful. What makes it so difficult is the fact that nicotine is an incredibly addictive drug, on the same level as cocaine or heroin. Switching to low-tar and/or low-nicotine cigarettes is a tactic that many people try, thinking that it will be less harmful. However, because nicotine is so addicting, switching will only make you puff harder and more often on each cigarette. Your only choice for your body’s health is to quit completely. In spite of the many risks associated with smoking, some smokers, particularly women, believe there are also risks associated with quitting. These perceived risks, gaining weight, increased stress, and damaging relationships with friends who do smoke, can reduce a smoker’s motivation to quit resulting in a lower chance of success. What can help motivate a smoker to quit? Quitting smoking is one of the most important things you will ever do.
Consider the following: REASONS FOR QUITTING
*First and foremost, you will live longer and you will live a healthier life.
*Your risk for developing heart disease, cancer, lung disease, stroke and other health conditions will diminish significantly.
*Your family will no longer be subjected to breathing in your smoke. Secondhand smoke kills!
*If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, stopping smoking will improve your baby’s chances of being healthy.
*You will be amazed at how much better you will feel and how much better you will be able to taste and smell.
*You will save money. (The price of cigarettes today means you will save a lot of money!) WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU ARE READY When you are ready to quit, follow the steps below. They will increase your chances of success and help you kick the habit for good.
*Set a quit date and stick to it. Period.
*Change your environment.
You MUST do this to succeed.
1. Get rid of every ashtray you have, in your home, your car, your office, everywhere.
2. Do not allow anyone to smoke in your home, ever.
3. If you associate any particular item or event with smoking, such as having a cup of coffee, eliminate those things for a period of at least a couple of months.
*Change your behaviors.
1. When you have the urge to smoke, participate in activities that will distract you like going for a long, leisurely walk with a friend or family member, clean house, play with your kids, call a support person to talk you through the tough time.
2. Change your routine. Drink hot tea instead of coffee, instead of eating in front of the TV, eat at the kitchen table with your family.
3. Try some soothing stress reducers like taking a long hot bath, starting an exercise regimen, or reading a good book.
4. Plan something different or enjoyable every day, whether it is a solitary activity or something to do with family or friends.
*If you have made previous attempts to quit and failed, analyze those attempts and try to deduce why they did not work.
*You will have a better chance of success, if you enlist the support of others.
1. Tell everyone you know, your family, friends, and co-workers that you are going to quit and ask for their support.
2. Ask them not to smoke around you and not to leave cigarettes laying around.
3. Find out what kind of support programs your local hospital or health care center offer.
4. There are medications that can double your chances of success. Ask your doctor for advice. *Drink lots of water to help flush the toxins out of your body. Drinking a lot of water will also help fill you up so you will not be so inclined to overeat.
*Once you quit, DO NOT TAKE ANOTHER PUFF, EVER! Keep yourself away from as much temptation as possible. BE PREPARED FOR DIFFICULTIES Many people have relapses within the first couple of months after quitting and many people try to quit several times before they are successful at it. Do not be discouraged and give up if this happens. Set a new date and start over but DO NOT GIVE UP!
Below are situations that may challenge you:
*DO NOT BE AROUND OTHER SMOKERS unless you have to. Being around other people who are smoking when you are trying to quit can be an agonizing experience.
*DO NOT GET DEPRESSED. There are many ways to uplift your spirits. Count your blessings, congratulate yourself for quitting, and find something to do that you enjoy.
*AVOID DRINKING ALCOHOL. It can lower your chance of success.
*DO NOT WORRY ABOUT WEIGHT GAIN. The most common concern for many people who are considering giving up smoking is weight gain. Do not ever use this as an excuse. While most people usually gain around 10 pounds after they quit smoking, there is no reason you have to. Follow a healthy eating plan and get 20 minutes of physical activity every day. Follow the tips above.
You CAN quit smoking!
(hate-smoking)Quit Smoking: Are You Sure You Want To Quit Smoking?
by: Sig Kabai
You know you really want to stop smoking. You are also aware that you have one excuse after another. You might think that you have too much going on at work to stop smoking right now. Or you might rationalize that you’ll keep looking for the perfect cure for you to stop smoking. Maybe you’ve tried to quit smoking several times, and you always failed. Whatever your excuse is, the fact remains that you are still smoking. You must quit this deadly habit. Do it for yourself. You deserve the health benefits of quitting. You deserve the financial gain from not spending money on cigarettes. You deserve to be able to go to a party and smell like cologne or perfume rather than an ashtray. The health benefits of quitting smoking are plentiful. As a result of more and more evidence to support the benefits of quitting, people are beginning to change their lives. They are quitting in large numbers. Smoking tobacco products such as cigarettes and cigars is a habit that many people are letting go. If you are a smoker, maybe you are considering quitting smoking. Did you also know that if you quit smoking, these health benefits of quitting for your body would begin to happen almost immediately?
• 20 minutes after you quit smoking your blood pressure and pulse return to normal.
• 8 hours after you stop smoking, the nicotine and carbon monoxide levels in your blood are reduced by fifty percent. Oxygen levels in your body return to normal after you stop smoking.
• 24 hours after you quit smoking, your body rids itself of carbon monoxide. The lungs begin to clear out mucus and smoking debris after you quit smoking.
• 48 hours after you stop smoking, you will not have any nicotine in your body. Your sense of taste and smell will be much stronger after you stop smoking.
• 72 hours after you quit smoking, you will be able to breathe much easier. Your bronchial tubes will start to relax. Your energy level will increase after you have quit smoking for only 72 hours.
• 2 to 12 weeks after you stop smoking, the circulation in your body increases.
• 3 to 9 months after you quit smoking, any breathing problems, coughs, and wheezing will improve. Your lung capacity will be increased by 10% in 3 to 9 months after you stop smoking.
• 5 years after you stop smoking, your risk of a heart attack is going to be half the risk of a smoker’s.
• 10 years after you quit smoking, your risk of a heart attack will be the same as someone who never smoked.
Your risk of lung cancer is going to be half of that of a smoker’s. The health benefits of quitting smoking are very important as you can see here. When you stop smoking, you will change the course of your life. The health benefits of quitting smoking start immediately. However, it will take time for your body to heal all the way back to normal. The health benefits of quitting are immense. However, health is only one of the reasons to quit smoking. In fact, there are many other reasons to quit smoking such as the ability to taste food better, fewer sore throats and better looking skin and teeth. Before you look at the challenges and think that you cannot meet them, ask yourself if you are really willing to choose lung cancer, emphysema, and heart disease over a little crankiness or the blues. You are not going to choose cancer over a little stress, are you? The health benefits of quitting are going to last you a lifetime. The challenges will ease up within a few weeks.
(hate-smoking)Pregnancy and Smoking and First Trimester Dangers
by: Shalene Chamings
Did you know that if women quit smoking when they were pregnant that infant deaths could be reduced by up to 10 percent? Pregnancy and smoking and first trimester are not words that go together. The good news is that no can report that a woman who has smoked prior to her pregnancy is putting her baby at risk. However, smoking during pregnancy is very hazardous to an unborn baby. Pregnancy and smoking and first trimester have been linked to 100,000+ miscarriages and 5,500+ infant deaths per year. Smoking also puts an expectant mother at risk for complications such as vaginal bleeding, premature rupture of the membranes, early delivery and more. Evidence is showing that a pregnant mother who smokes may have a baby who has a low birth weight. Low birth weight and being born too small is a major cause of infant illness and perinatal death. If you are pregnant and a smoker you should know that the best time to quit is during the first trimester. Pregnancy and smoking and first trimester are not words that go together. Here are some tips that will help you get started on breaking the smoking habit. Find out what motivates you to smoke. Is it the stimulation? Maybe you do it to relax? Do you use smoking as a way to relieve tension and stress? Maybe you smoke simply out of habit? Are you even aware of when you light up a cigarette or do you find yourself smoking out of habit? If you are able to find out what motivates you to smoke you can find a substitute to replace the smoking. Find something that will motivate you to quit smoking. This is very easy for a pregnant woman. Your motivation is to have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Find a method that will help you to quit smoking. Talk with your OB/GYN and find a way that you can quit together. Many expectant mothers chose to quit smoking cold turkey. Others wean themselves off of cigarettes during the first trimester simply because smoking makes them feel ill. If you like smoking because it keeps your hands busy, try to do something else with your hands. You can suck on a lollipop, play with a pencil, knit, play a musical instrument, paint your fingernails and more. If you smoke for the oral gratification, find something to replace it. This can include chewing on gum, veggies, popcorn, or simply placing a toothpick in your mouth. If you smoke because it stimulates you, why not walk instead? Walking can give you an energy boost and help clear your head when you are feeling tired. If you simply smoke because it is a habit, try to develop a new habit to take its place. Every time you feel like smoking you can go brush your teeth or go to a certain area in your home to relax and listen to music. If you smoke in certain situations or when you eat or drink certain foods, avoid those situations, foods and drinks for a while. Pregnancy and smoking and first trimester are simply words that do not fit together. Not only do they sound strange on paper, but they are dangerous words to put together in life. Remember, if you can get past the first few days of withdrawal they will be worth it. Not only will your baby be healthier, but you will be healthier.
Did you know that if women quit smoking when they were pregnant that infant deaths could be reduced by up to 10 percent? Pregnancy and smoking and first trimester are not words that go together. The good news is that no can report that a woman who has smoked prior to her pregnancy is putting her baby at risk. However, smoking during pregnancy is very hazardous to an unborn baby. Pregnancy and smoking and first trimester have been linked to 100,000+ miscarriages and 5,500+ infant deaths per year. Smoking also puts an expectant mother at risk for complications such as vaginal bleeding, premature rupture of the membranes, early delivery and more. Evidence is showing that a pregnant mother who smokes may have a baby who has a low birth weight. Low birth weight and being born too small is a major cause of infant illness and perinatal death. If you are pregnant and a smoker you should know that the best time to quit is during the first trimester. Pregnancy and smoking and first trimester are not words that go together. Here are some tips that will help you get started on breaking the smoking habit. Find out what motivates you to smoke. Is it the stimulation? Maybe you do it to relax? Do you use smoking as a way to relieve tension and stress? Maybe you smoke simply out of habit? Are you even aware of when you light up a cigarette or do you find yourself smoking out of habit? If you are able to find out what motivates you to smoke you can find a substitute to replace the smoking. Find something that will motivate you to quit smoking. This is very easy for a pregnant woman. Your motivation is to have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Find a method that will help you to quit smoking. Talk with your OB/GYN and find a way that you can quit together. Many expectant mothers chose to quit smoking cold turkey. Others wean themselves off of cigarettes during the first trimester simply because smoking makes them feel ill. If you like smoking because it keeps your hands busy, try to do something else with your hands. You can suck on a lollipop, play with a pencil, knit, play a musical instrument, paint your fingernails and more. If you smoke for the oral gratification, find something to replace it. This can include chewing on gum, veggies, popcorn, or simply placing a toothpick in your mouth. If you smoke because it stimulates you, why not walk instead? Walking can give you an energy boost and help clear your head when you are feeling tired. If you simply smoke because it is a habit, try to develop a new habit to take its place. Every time you feel like smoking you can go brush your teeth or go to a certain area in your home to relax and listen to music. If you smoke in certain situations or when you eat or drink certain foods, avoid those situations, foods and drinks for a while. Pregnancy and smoking and first trimester are simply words that do not fit together. Not only do they sound strange on paper, but they are dangerous words to put together in life. Remember, if you can get past the first few days of withdrawal they will be worth it. Not only will your baby be healthier, but you will be healthier.
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