Kategori: Blogging

Over the past three decades more and more adults are quitting smoking. This is a great revolution which hopefully will continue. While we are celebrating our success we are often overlooking a major smoking factor; our teens are beginning to pick up the habit. Since they are not going to smoke in front of you they may already be addicted to nicotine before you find out they smoke. Studies show that many under-age smokers light up as early as the eighth grade. This means they could very well be addicted to nicotine before they graduate. Many teenagers start smoking because they see their parents smoke at home. Teenagers look at their parents as being adult and they aspire to be more like them. Others light up because one of their friends encourages them. It is much harder to say no to friends than it is to parents. They might not enjoy that first cigarette but because their friends sat it is cool they will try again. It doesn’t take long for addiction to take hold.

Stop Smoking – A Worthy Battle

Everyday we hear somebody say “just stop smoking”. This is an easy statement to make for someone who has never smoked. People who have never smoked do not understand the powerful addiction caused by nicotine. Also, how can we tell our teens to stop smoking if we smoke ourselves? The best deterrent for teens is simply education and support. Parents need to take a realistic look at their teen’s lives. Who are their friends, what do they do for entertainment? Get to know their friends and accept them. Offer education on the dangers of smoking; get graphic with pictures if you have to. Encourage them to talk to you about the pressure they are under. Let them know you don’t intend to punish them. The fear of punishment will only discourage them from being honest with you.

There are some alarming factors associated with teenage smoking. Many of them start as early as the eight grade and over half of high school students have at least tried cigarettes. The chance of premature death due to smoking is about five times higher than any other cause of death. Many smokers will die from smoking related causes as early as their twenties. If you find out your teen is addicted to nicotine help them get the tools they need to stop smoking. There are many programs and smoking cessation aids available for you to choose from. If you smoke, it is important that you also put forth the effort to stop. The greatest success comes with a good support system. Exercise and good nutrition help to teach a healthy lifestyle.

If you want to help your teen to stop smoking you have to help them understand the dangers and risks. If they fall off the wagon, be there to help them get up and start again. By helping them through the stop smoking process you will be helping them to add many years to their lives.

Did you make the New Year resolution to Stop Smoking? Well, have you quit yet? Millions of smokers around the world said they would stop smoking this year. But for many, the day never came. Maybe because of lack of motivation, maybe because you tried to do it on your own. Maybe you tried but gave up easily.

Lets face it. Smoking is a bad habit for a lot of reasons. No need to go into it, everyone knows the dangerous health risks involved. Mumbling the words “I’ll quit when this pack is gone” or “After the New Year” or a hundred other reasons you convince yourself now is not the time, are just excuses to keep smoking.

If you want to smoke, you are going to smoke. You are going to tell yourself that your father lived until 85 and smoked 2 packs a day, or your great uncle smoked for 70 years and was never sick a day in his life. Blah blah blah. You probably even tell yourself that you enjoy smoking. How on earth can inhaling smoke be enjoyable. I have listened to smokers coughing and hacking, it doesn’t sound enjoyable to me. How about that light up after a nice meal. Yeah, just what I want to do after I eat a delicious meal, wash it all down with some gritty disgusting smoke. You probably didn’t even taste the meal anyway because all your taste buds are completely destroyed and everything tastes like stale ash.

Smokers make up all kinds of reasons to keep smoking. “I’m under a lot of stress” or “I’ll gain weight”. Ultimately the decision to stop smoking has to be yours. Yes family and friends will bug you to stop, but if you attempt to quit smoking and you really do not want to, your chances of success are slim.

The point here is, if you want to stop smoking you will. Make the decision for the right reasons. Be dedicated to the task because you do not want to die a horrible, painful slow death. You want to wake up in the morning without going into a coughing fit, you want to be able to go up a flight of stairs and not gasp for precious air. You want to smell good and get rid of the bad breath. You want to be FREE!

Well, what are you waiting for? Are you going to stop smoking, today?

There may be a fundamental flaw in the idea that smokers can solve their chemical dependency by ingesting a pharmacological concoction. Stop smoking aids and medications have enjoyed a tremendous rise in popularity over the past few years. Perhaps this is an indication of a more health-conscious society; or perhaps it’s simple commercialism. According to studies conducted by the CDC, up to one million Americans stop smoking each year. Other independent surveys suggest that as many as 80% of all smokers express a desire to quit. These numbers represent a clearly profitable market segment for pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer, the makers of Zyban. Annual sales of Zyban exceeded $1 billion dollars in 1998 alone. The FDA recently approved a new Pfizer product; a pill called Chantix. The active ingredient in this medication is varenicline, a novel alpha4beta2 nicotinic receptor partial agonist that inhibits nicotine binding but stimulates receptor activity. In simpler terms, this alleged ‘wonder pill’ potentially decreases some of the pleasure derived from smoking; specifically eliminating the relaxation and mild euphoria experienced shortly after finishing a cigarette. Chantix is also reported to significantly ease withdrawal symptoms. Side effects experienced by initial test subjects include severe nausea, vomiting, and headaches. While this doesn’t sound too bad, we should remember that side effects listed for Zyban were also mild after the initial testing, and yet numerous adverse effects such as seizures and severe depression were reported by users once the drug hit the open market. But negative side effects are not the main problem with stop smoking medications like Chantix and Zyban. The real issue is the fact that these products serve as a crutch, and do not actually cure anything. In addition to physical dependency, most smokers also suffer from deeply rooted emotional and psychological addiction. While applying a medication to ease the process of physical withdrawal is certainly helpful, it simply is not possible to take a pill and be suddenly free of your intellectual desire to fire up a cigarette. There really is no miracle cure for the malady of nicotine addiction. Ultimately, a lasting abstinence from smoking is the responsibility of the individual. Bottom line: It’s up to the smoker to come to terms with his/her addiction, and take productive action on the desire to remain smoke free. While this suggestion is not particularly appealing to a society that demands an instant solution to every discomfort, it is an honest assessment of the logistics at hand. Whether or not a smoker decides to take medication during the initial cessation period, the goal to stop smoking must be viewed as a long-term objective that warrants considerable dedication and emotional fortitude.

There are many, many ways to stop smoking. You can try nicotine patches, chewing gum and tablets, lozenges, inhalers and drugs like Zyban to finally quit smoking. Smoking is a habit of millions and people take it very casually. There are several reasons to wy people start smoking and many do it as a step towards socializing.

It is easy to dismiss smoking as a normal, difficult to avoid/control and even inescapable part of teenage life, but it does not mean that we should ignore it. To understand that quitting smoking is not a cinch, some people find it harder to achieve than others. Confronted, people often say things like “I wish I could quit” or “I wish I never started smoking” but these types of statements are weak minded. Obviously these were the same people who made the stupid mistake of starting to smoke in the first place.

The real problem people have with quitting smoking is that they are addicted to nicotine. There are studies showing that the producers have added more nicotine in the cigarettes during the last two decades than they did twenty years ago. In that way the smokers will get even more addicted to smoking.

It is often said that it is not your fault if you are a smoker as nicotine is a highly addictive substance. That statement is both right and wrong, you decided once to start smoking and you are responsible for your actions. Then one might say it is not your fault that you cannot quit smoking. The good news nowadays is that there are several very effective ways to quit smoking for good. Below is information of a few methods for quit smoking aids.

Acupuncture therapy has been used in many areas and it also works great to help stop smoking. This therapy also has good side effects of nicotine withdrawals like depression, cravings and anxiety. It does not involve drugs, nicotine patches or pills and can even be cost free.

Laser treatments are one of the most modern and efficient way to deal with nicotine withdrawal from the body after giving up smoking. It can assistant during the first days after freeing nicotine addiction, sometimes it can be effective even from the first 30 minutes session.

Quit smoking hypnosis is a very efficient method to help people quit smoking. Hypnosis can be performed with the assistanse of a doctor but it can also be taught so you can do it on your own. The method is usually a number of steps you shall take to get rid of the smoking habit. In some cases persons have quit after only one session of hypnosis, rare yes but it can happen.

There are also methods that use electronic stimulation and this has been shown to drastically reduce the withdrawal associated with nicotine cessation. For some persons it can be easier to quit smoking if you get some prescribed medication from your doctor which is used to help people overcome their addiction to nicotine. Many also use one of the many consumer products on the market like the nicotine patch and nicotine gum to help stop smoking.

If you are a smoker, you already know that your health is at stake. By understanding the positive changes to your body after you’ve stopped smoking, you will be more likely to stick to your new smoke-free regime.

First, it’s important to understand how smoking affects your vital capacity. Ask your doctor to perform a Vital Capacity test to measure the amount of air you take in with each breath. You will be asked to take a deep breath and blow into a device that tells your doctor the volume of air dispelled. Air taken in by healthy lungs holds about 19% oxygen. Smokers take in even less vital oxygen, because the lungs are not able to expand as much. The more you smoke, the lower your vital capacity.

Cigarette smokers also double their risk of heart attack, and sudden cardiac death. Additionally more young smokers are killed by stroke than their young non-smoking peers.

That’s the bad news. The good news is that the body has incredible healing powers, and can start to correct the negative effects of smoking within minutes of extinguishing your last butt.

According to the American Cancer Society, these are the estimated healing times following your last cigarette:

* After 15 minutes: Blood pressure, pulse rate, and body temperature of your hands and feet return to normal.

* After 8 hours: your oxygen level increases to normal, and the level of deadly carbon monoxide in your system drops

* After 24 hours: Heart attack risk decreases. You are less likely to have a heart attack in as little as one day after you’ve stopped smoking.

* Within 48 hours: Your senses of smell and taste increase, as damaged nerve endings begin to regrow. Many smokers have no idea that their habit has actually stopped the growth of nerve endings.

* 2 weeks to 3 months: Your lung function has increased by up to 30 percent. Your circulation has improved, and you find it easier to walk. Overall, you’re feeling terrific!

* 1 to 9 months: You’ve noticed a decrease of coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, and shortness of breath. The cilia in your lungs are now able to better handle mucus, clean your lungs and reduce infection.

* After 1 year: You are half as likely than a smoker to have a heart attack.

* After 5 years: You have nearly half the chance of dying from lung cancer as you did when you were a pack-a-day smoker. Risk of esophagus, mouth and throat cancers are half that of smokers. Some communities have banned tobacco companies from giving chewing tobacco away at rodeos where it can easily get into the hands of children.
It’s hard to imagine anything worse than mouth cancer.

* After 10 years: The lung cancer death rate is equal to that of nonsmokers. Pre-cancerous cells have been replaced, and the risk of death from cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas has decreased.

* After 15 years: Your risk of suffering coronary heart disease is the same as that of a nonsmoker.

Your hard work will most definitely pay off in renewed good health, and with healthy financial benefits as well.

Assume that you spend $50.00 per month on cigarettes. If you were to invest that same $600.00 each year into a stock mutual fund, annuity, or other financial instrument that generates 5% annually, you will have saved more than $20,000 after 20 years. Of course, $50.00 per month is a very nominal amount. Most smokers will spend a great deal more while they smoke, and save a great deal more when they stop.

You know that you need to stop smoking. Both your body and your bankbook will be much healthier for it. There are many resources available to help you become a non-smoker, but be wary of television commercials that promote sites to help you quit. As a matter of fact, the first step to your healthier lifestyle should be to turn off the TV altogether. Instead, ask your doctor about the stop smoking methods and support groups that are available to help you quit.

With the ever-increasing popularity of acupuncture as an alternative medicine, it’s shouldn’t be all that surprising to learn acupuncture clinics appear to be popping up in virtually every American city of any size. As a result, receiving treatment that will help restore good health is becoming more and more popular at acupuncture clinics.

Acupuncture clinics are a great place for getting timely diagnosis, treatment and patient care. The patient receives individual care and their case can be discussed, studied and reviewed with a qualified acupuncturist. Appropriate acupuncture points and treatment techniques can be identified that will suit each individual patient.

Chinese Herbal Medicines
In addition, some acupuncture clinics offer a variety of treatment options in addition to traditional acupuncture like Chinese herbal medicines. For those who are not sure of which is best being face to face with a staff member can really help in making an appropriate treatment decision.

Acupuncture clinics also focus on treating other health issues like: menopausal symptoms (i.e. hot flashes and fatigue), PMS and heavy periods, gynecological problems such as period pain, endometriosis, asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, headaches and migraines, anxiety and panic attacks, depression, auto-immune conditions like lupus and a host of other ailments.

When faced with a health condition that traditional modern medicine can’t diagnose the next logical step many people are now turning too for help is an acupuncture clinic. All treatments are considered safe with virtually no known harmful side effects.

One example of an acupuncture clinic is the Po Ji Tang in San Francisco. The Po Ji Tangs philosophy centers around complete health care. They believe and follow a holistic, preventive approach to pain relief and they offer a number of healthcare services in addition to acupuncture like: dietary and nutritional counseling, herbal therapy and traditional Chinese medicine is used to treat patients having a great number of different emotional, physical and psychological issues.

More and more are turning to acupuncture clinics because they embrace the use of traditional Chinese medicinal herbs in combination with acupuncture, whose effectiveness is thus increased due to synergy. Unlike modern medicine, acupuncture clinics spend time learning the patient’s background, lifestyle and habits before diagnosing and chalking out an effective treatment plan. To begin with, many patients receive treatments once a week which is gradually reduced as their health improves. All in all, going to acupuncture clinic should result getting professional treatment from a registered medical practitioner using time proven methods of natural healing without having to rely on drugs.

Statistics show that a person has every reason to quit smoking. Even though the message is out there loud and clear, backed by facts, people still continue to smoke resulting in extreme and sometimes irreversible health conditions.

Smoking comes with many serious health risks that are easy to ignore because they take a few years to affect their bodies. Heart disease, stroke, and cancer are all a result of smoking. For a few who are strong enough to quit there is a second chance at life. But for many, by the time the truth about smoking sinks in, it is too late for they have succumbed to the results of smoking.

It is really quite simple cigarette smoking kills. Statistics and studies conclusively prove it. In hospitals, where there are hundreds of men and women who have suffered a major heart attack, undergoing open heart surgery, now lie in the wards fighting for their lives.

Statistics say that there is a 1 in 10,000 chance of surviving a left ventricular heart attack. Statistics also show that for other types of heart attack there is a 60% chance the patient will die before reaching hospital. If the patient is lucky enough to make it to hospital alive and undergo CABG 75% will survive but only 50% will return to their normal life. The other 50% will be left with major damage to their heart and thus the person will be severely limited. Of the 75% that survive the 5 year survival rate is only 30%. That is a very good reason to quit smoking.

Lung cancer is the number one disease associated with smoking. Only 50 years ago lung cancer was a rarity and yet today it is the number one cause of death in both women and men. There is no cure for lung cancer and it will generally kill the patient within 6 months of diagnosis. But lung cancer is not the only cancer cigarettes are responsible for – esophagus, mouth, tongue, larynx, lip, and pharynx as well as stomach, pancreas, bladder, and kidney cancers are all a result of smoking.

Smoking also causes circulatory problems. In fact more people die from these problems than from all of the cancers combined. Nicotine is a stimulant so it raises blood pressure and the heart rate while constricting the arteries, which is combined with the carbon monoxide in the body. The result is more than 300,000 deaths per year.

Emphysema is as deadly as lung cancer. The difference is lung cancer kills you fast while emphysema tortures you for years especially in the later stages.

Then there are all the less noticeable problems like sinus infections, more colds, and headaches. Smokers often feel fine right up until they suddenly die. Then it is too late. The best time to quit smoking is today or better yet, yesterday.

Around the globe more than 5 million people will die this year from cigarette smoking. Listing every reason to quit smoking could fill a book but just these main reasons should be enough to give up the habit.

First you must make your own decision to stop smoking; if you do it just to please others, you will probably fail. Make a list of the reasons why you smoke. Next to it list the reasons you want to quit. Read both lists often. To ease your determination some really effective & “easy to apply” tips are given below. Incorporate them into your routine & live a healthy life after quitting smoking.

Jot down all the reasons for quitting smoking. Always keep them with you. Whenever your urge for smoking rises refer to them. Decide to stop completely rather than gradual withdrawal. Have a strong will towards a healthy life & try to kill your appeal for smoking. So it’s better to set a date & stick to your quitting mission. You can get great support from your family in quitting. Tell everybody about your resolution. A ‘team’ effort may prove easier than doing it alone. Try to get other people in surroundings & stop smoking at the same time. Say good bye to ashtrays, lighters, and all cigarettes you already have. Set your mind for few withdrawal symptoms like nausea, headaches, discomfort, craving, and just feeling awful. Since your body has been habituated to the dosages of nicotine for its normal functioning, so these symptoms may whip you up for smoking. Stay determined as if the occurrence of symptoms is nothing for a strong person like you. These symptoms tend to hit you after 12-24 hours and then gradually ease over 2-4 weeks. Look forward to tough cough symptom. It has been found that “smokers cough’ gets worse when you stop smoking. This hard-hitting symptom tends to tempt you to restart smoking. Stand firm to this temptation! The cough usually gradually eases. Avoid every place or situation for the first few weeks that tempts you to smoke. Most commonly, drinking is associated with smoking. Try not to drink too much alcohol to stimulate your smoking desire. Stay away from pubs for a few weeks. Try to change your choices of coffee and tea with fresh juices and plenty of water. Mark off each successful day on a calendar. This will motivate you not to start all over again. You will feel the changes in you after a few days. You will smell better & enjoy your food more. Say with poise that you don’t smoke. Put the money in a piggy bank you used to spend on cigarettes whenever you have an urge again. See, how much money you can spend on treats rather than wasting on smoking. You may be doubtful about the increase in weight. Well, anticipate an increase in appetite, but avoid fatty or sugary foods as snacks. Take a crack at sugar-free gum and fruit instead. Don’t lose your heart if you fail. Be particular about the more difficult times when you couldn’t resist. Try to be stronger next time with a will to win. Seek the help of Stop Smoking Clinics when the need arises.

When you decide to stop, pick a date in the near future and plan for it. If possible, choose a time when you are faced with a change in routine, such as a holiday or a trip. Tell your family and your friends; They will reinforce your resolve. If you can, team up with another who’s quitting-sharing the experience helps. Talk to others who have stopped. Note the moments when you most want to smoke and be ready with a diversion.

When the date comes, stop carrying cigarettes, matches, or lighters. Hide all ashtrays. Carry nuts or other nutritious snacks to nibble on: stay away from candies. When you feel the urge to smoke, take a few deep breaths. Drink lots of water and fruit juices.

You will have moments of great anxiety. Endure them; they will pass. Keep active; exercise more. Read an engrossing book; engage in a hobby that keeps your hands busy.

If you backslide, don’t give up. Stop again immediately. Nicotine is addictive: a smoker must conquer the habit one day at a time. Don’t worry about not smoking ever again; focus on now.

Many have found help from such organizations as the American Lung Association, which has branches in every state, and from commercial smoke-ending programs, as well as from group therapy, hypnosis, yoga, acupuncture, and prescription drugs

Stop Smoking: how to quit smoking

So you want to quit smoking do you?

It has been estimated that the average smoker has wasted over $400,000 in tobacco purchases and medical expenses by the age of 35.

So imagine what you could do if you did stop smoking!

How do you quit? You put your mind to it and you do it.

You do not have to pay lots of money for hypnosis or for acupuncture or even some expensive nicotine patch. Just let your friends know that you are now serious about kicking the habit of smoking and get started on a free program.

U.S. Surgeon General has reported that nicotine is just as addictive as heroin and
Cocaine!

So you will want to take this seriously, because it is NOT going to get any easier to quit if you procrastinate this.

Those once smoking a pack or more a day, who have given up smoking for at least one year, have a death rate less than half that of those who have continued smoking. – American Cancer Society

One of the first people that I helped to quit smoking, always said that she really wanted to quit smoking. But when I asked her, she would say that she wanted to start her program once she had finished her current new pack of cigarettes. I asked her how much the pack cost her, and then offered to give her that amount of money to buy the pack from her. I bought her cigarette pack from her, and then I crushed the pack into pieces over the trash can.

Even if you do not care about your health, others do, and by you smoking, there is a danger of second hand smoke for others. And the worse part of it is that those that look up to you, may soon be copying your dirty habit. I have worked with lots of people who I have helped to stop smoking, who had been smoking for many years. It is not easy, but I know that it is possible.

You will want to remove all the things from your surroundings that make you crave tobacco. This means that you will need to get rid of the smells from your car, your clothes, your carpet and entire home. That could mean that you need to stay away from your favorite porch chair for a while, if that is where you do most of your smoking. Get rid of all of your ash trays. Stay away from the places where you normally buy the cigarettes.

Some people like to get candies to put into their mouth, for whenever they feel the urge to smoke. It is recommended that you use cinnamon flavor, since that helps control the urge. Before you start, get some cinnamon flavored candies and cinnamon flavored mouth wash. Orange juice, or even better, grapefruit juice, has shown to be especially helpful, due to the high vitamin C content. Have the juice available in your refrigerator and wherever you go. Get some healthy munchies. For example, maybe put a bag of those mini carrots in your refrigerator.

Stay away from high fat foods, coffee, and alcohol, while you are trying to quit. By doing this, you will be fighting some of the natural triggers that have stopped you from quitting smoking in the past.

A free program that has been used by over 20 million people, is the Five-Day Plan to Quit Smoking, put together by two Christians in 1964. And it is still being used today! The plan has been recognized by the World Health Organization, the American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association, and the American Heart Association. This plan was put together by J.Wayne McFarland, M.D. and Elman J. Folkenberg. There are some places that will charge you to do this plan, with personal assistance, but you can download a find a free copy on the internet and do it on your own at no cost too.

The plan takes you through a five day long, step-by-step program to easily change your daily habits and achieve your goals to quit smoking. Through psychological motivations and physical changes (such as slight dietary modifications), the Five-Day Plan works to break your nicotine cravings and smoking routine.

Herbal stop smoking products have become quite popular in today’s anti-smoking campaigns and the smokers themselves. The primary reason they’re getting so much notice and so much approval is that so many other solutions, such as nicotine gums and patches haven’t worked well enough to get a large number of smokers off the cancer sticks.

Even when nicotine patches have worked for those who are determined to quit the nasty habit, they still leave the smokers taking in nicotine for quite some time, and directly into their blood stream. This just can’t be the ideal solution. Of course, it’s better to quit smoking gradually with the nicotine patch than to never quit smoking at all, but if there’s a way to start today on an immediate withdrawal of all nicotine, that would be far preferable.

Herbal stop smoking products are that immediate withdrawal answer that many are looking for. Besides, nicotine gum and nicotine patches just don’t work for every smoker that wants to quit. Some people smoke not only because of the addiction the nicotine has created in their systems, but also because they enjoy the physical smoking act. And you just can’t duplicate that with gum or patches.

Herbal stop smoking products work exceptionally well, and they do so because they take stock of the fact that folks craving smoking as much as they crave nicotine. The herbal stop smoking products try to address all of the smoker’s needs that brought her or him to smoking in the first place, and kept him or her there. The designer of herbal stop smoking products did there best – and succeeded – at working on the center of the craving’s source – the smoker’s brain.

There are so many facets to what these herbal stop smoking products do to ward off the smoking habit – and make it stay away. The herbs in these smoking cessation products balance the levels of serotonin in the smoker’s brain and also fight her or his urge to indulge in sweets. The latter may not seem the realm of a stop-smoking product. However, studies have shown, and smokers themselves will readily tell you, that one of the concerns that keep them puffing away is the fear that they’ll replace the intake of nicotine with the need to fill their mouths and stomachs with a high calorie sweet substitute. And it’s true that binge eating is often the result of the sudden withdrawal of the comforting cigarette puff.

Herbal stop smoking products focus on the principles of holistic health, and so try to help smokers kick the habit in a very healthy way. If, rather than replacing one form of nicotine ingestion with another – in the case of the nicotine patch and the nicotine gum – the smoker learns to give up cigarettes by replacing it with something that is good for them, she or he will feel happier, more confident, healthier and proud of him or herself.