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Hands up if you want to stop smoking but don’t know where to start. Or more accurately, hands up if you’ve tried to stop smoking without much success.

Nicotine is a highly addictive drug and the cigerette is an extremely effective delivery device. So it’s going to be a real fight and it will take all your willpower to stop. However, there are a number of ways that you can boost your motivation to get rid of this deadly habit. But before we take a look at them, there are three things to bear in mind.

First, you must want to give up. You must be 100% committed or you won’t stand a chance of overcoming this addictive habit.

Second, always bear in mind that it can be done. Millions of people have broken the chain of nicotine addiction and there’s no reason why you can’t become one of them.

And finally, there are several different methods to help you stop smoking, but the same one won’t help everybody. So try the methods below, find your own methods and then stick with the ones that work until you reach your goal. So let’s get started.

1) A Thousand Mile Journey Begins With A Single Step

Now at this stage, some people will tell you that it’s best to cut down gradually. They claim that if you’ve smoked a pack a day for a long time you’ll have developed a physical addiction to nicotine and the best way to lessen the withdrawal symptoms is to cut down gradually over time.

Alternatively, some people claim that cutting out the habit completely is the only way to stop smoking. These people claim that gradual reduction will only make it harder to quit, both physically and psychologically.

But it really doesn’t matter whether you cut down from 40 a day to 20 or stop completely. The most important thing is that you decide to quit smoking and take action.

The route you choose should be the one that you have most confidence in your ability to complete. If you’ve got an all-or-nothing type personality it may be best to stop altogether. But if you can’t even contemplate doing that, start to cut down gradually. Just do something.

Intention without action is a waste of time.

2) Be Aware Of Your Behaviour

Smoking is a psychological habit. Over time you’ve trained yourself to smoke at certain times and in certain situations such as first thing in the morning, last thing at night, after meals, at parties, when you’re stressed etc.

So it’s important to remain consciously aware of your actions at all times. Work out the times when you have a strong subconscious desire to smoke and take steps to avoid lighting up.

And if possible, try to avoid the situations that make you want to reach for a cigarette. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself smoking before you’re even aware of it. Of course if you’ve decided to stop completely, the situation isn’t as dangerous as you can remove all cigarettes from your life. However, it is harder if you decide to cut down gradually, live with someone else who smokes or have easy access to cigarettes.

So make sure you’re aware of what you’re doing at all times. Learn to catch yourself before the desire to smoke grows stronger.

3) Mutual support

Find a friend who wants to stop smoking or get involved with a support group where you’ll find other people who want to kick the habit. This will allow you to support and motivate each other when your willpower shows signs of breaking. It will also make you feel that you’re not alone, making the challenge seem less daunting.

4) Swap The Habit

Try finding a healthier habit to replace your smoking habit. Then, every time you feel the urge to smoke, use your new habit as a way of diverting your attention from the cravings. For example, you could try drinking water, eating a healthy food etc.

5) Relax

Stress is often a trigger factor that makes people reach for their cigarettes. So learn a few relaxation techniques such as deep breathing exercises or yoga. As your ability to relax and fill your lungs improves it will help you to deal with the withdrawal symptoms of nicotine and tobacco. It will also show you the benefits of being able to breathe freely and hopefully encourage you to keep going until the harmful effects of smoking have completely left your system.

6) Replacement

One of the most popular ways to stop smoking is to use nicotine replacement products. There are lots of different products on the market that consist of items such as chewing gum, patches, nasal sprays and lozenges. All of them are designed to manage your nicotine fix, help conquer withdrawal symptoms and ultimately remove your desire to smoke.

Studies have shown that people who use these aids to help them quit are more successful than those who don’t. But before you use these products, please consult your doctor or smoking counselor to consider the health implications of these products.

7) Disgust

Every time you have the urge to light up, think about how disgusting cigarettes are. Remind yourself how unhealthy this disgusting habit is. The idea is to condition yourself so that you associate smoking with thoughts or feelings of disgust. It’s a form of aversion therapy that makes you glad to avoid the mere thought of smoking everytime you develop a subconscious urge to smoke.

Alternatively, you can do the same with pain. Put an elastic band around your wrist, and every time you think about how much you want to smoke, give yourself a ping with the elastic band. Over time this will subconsciously teach your to associate smoking and cigarettes with pain.

All it takes is a conscious decision to quit and the determination to take action. What have you got to lose?

Good luck.

The human brain weighs approximately three pounds and influences everything a person does. You may not realize it, but your brain is not the same today as it was yesterday or last month. The brain is a continuously changing collection of cells. When you learn something new or have a new experience, new synapses form. Some synapses get stronger, or some synapses may even disappear. Your brain even enables you to feel pleasure. Whenever you do something that you enjoy, such as eating your favorite snack, drinking a cold drink on a hot summer day, or laughing with your friends, the reward pathway in your brain is activated. It is that stimulation of the neurons in the reward pathway that makes you feel good.
Cocaine acts on the neurons in the reward pathway. Cocaine increases the release of dopamine. The increased dopamine levels give drug abusers the rush or a high that they enjoy for a short time. The feelings of pleasure the drugs create only last a short time, but drugs can cause changes in the brain that last a very long time. Some of the changes may even be permanent.

One of the changes that occur when a person takes Cocaine is the development of cravings. If a person takes Cocaine and then stops taking it, he or she will crave the drug. In other words, the individual will have a strong desire to take more of the drug. Cocaine exerts such a strong effect that even the mention of it may stimulate cravings in Cocaine addicts. Figuring out why addicts are so prone to relapse is a major area of research. One culprit is the phenomenon of craving, or the powerful “hunger” for drugs that can linger months or years after an addict quits using. Scientists have discovered evidence that this craving may be partly a physiological phenomenon, related to the long-term changes in brain function that addiction causes. Now accustomed to functioning in the presence of drugs, the addicted brain, in essence, has become unable to function normally in their absence.

As you have learned in previous, on a short-term basis, Cocaine alters the release of dopamine. But what happens when a person takes Cocaine over a long period of time? Does the body respond to it in the same way it did when the person tried the drugs for the first time? Often, the individual doesn’t get as intense of a response after taking it repeatedly. This is called “tolerance.” The brain has adapted to having a certain amount of the drug present and doesn’t respond the same way it did initially. The body may become more efficient at metabolizing or breaking down the drug. This reduces the amount of drug in the bloodstream. Or, the cells of the body and the brain can become more resistant to the effect of the drug by causing changes in the activity of the receptors. Tolerance explains why drug abusers and addicts take increasingly higher doses of drugs over time.

Nicotine Nasal Spray: Nicotine is absorbed rapidly into the bloodstream through a prescription nasal spray. The spray eliminates cravings and withdrawal symptoms when used. The FDA alerts the user to addictive properties inherent in the nasal spray and does not allow it to be prescribed for longer than 6 months. Side effects include: runny nose, sneezing, throat irritation, coughing, watery eyes and nasal irritation. Nasal spray is not recommended for those with allergies, asthma, nasal polyps or sinus problems. See your doctor for alternatives.

Nicotine inhaler- A prescription method developed in 1998. The inhaler is similar to smoking a cigarette, using a plastic tube that contains a nicotine cartridge. The quitter puffs on the inhaler to administer a nicotine vapor. Recommended dosage: 6-16 cartridges per day for up to 6 months.

Side effects: coughing, throat irritation, upset stomach.

These are the most expensive form of NRT.

The Lozenge- Nicotine lozenges are the newest NRT on the market. The FDA approved an over-the-counter smoking cessation aid in a lozenge called the Commit. The lozenge is available in 2mg and 4mg. As with the gum, the quitter administers as need and cravings surface. The manufacturer recommends a 12 week program, 1 lozenge every 1-2 hours for 6 weeks. Tapering off gradually by using one lozenge every 2-4 hours for week 7 through week 9 and one lozenge every 4-8 hours for the final two weeks.

The Commit manufacturer recommends:

“Stop all tobacco use when beginning therapy with the lozenge.

Do not eat or drink for 15 minutes before using the lozenge. (Some beverages can reduce the effectiveness of the lozenge).

Suck on the lozenge until it dissolves. Do not bite or chew it like a hard candy, and do not swallow it.

Do not use more than 5 lozenges in 6 hours, or more than 20 lozenges total per day.

Stop using the lozenge after 12 weeks. If you still feel you need to use the lozenge, talk to your doctor.

Do not use the lozenge if you continue to smoke, chew tobacco, use snuff or any other product containing nicotine (e.g., nicotine patch or gum).”

Side effects: sleeping problems, nausea, coughing, headache, heartburn, hiccups and flatulence (gas).

Despite the side effects, NRT has been proven to be an effective tool for smokers who decide it is time to quit. No one method is better than any other and the smoker/quitter can decide for themselves which method might help them the most. Is it that you need to replace the oral fixation that smoking provides and will be missed with the cessation of smoking? Is it important not to be reminded of smoking, using a once a day convenience??

Aside from NRT, there are also prescription medications you can ask your doctor about to assist you with quitting smoking. Some are used in conjunction with NRT. Bupropion (Zyban) and Varenicline (Chantix) are the two new prescription medications available. Zyban is an antidepressant and Chantix is specific designed to help you quit smoking. Ask your doctor what is right for you.

Smokers may have their own individual reasons to want to quit smoking because they may be affected by the harmful effects of smoking or may want to live longer or maybe doing so on their doctors recommendations. Cigarettes be they light, lower-tar or regular have more than four thousand chemicals of which at least forty may cause the smoker to contract cancer. The nicotine in the cigarette is the reason why people crave the next light.

Adverse Affects Of Smoking Should Be Reason Enough To Stop Smoking

Smoking impacts the smoker’s health in adverse ways and could cause many harmful effects such as wrinkling of the skin, unattractive tobacco-stained hands, yellowish, brownish tobacco stained teeth as well as possible impotence and also be at greater risk of suffering from diabetes. The case for quitting smoking is strong and using stop smoking aids does a viable option that a serious smoker should consider when want to quit this unhealthy practice.

The first thing that a person who tries to quit smoking will notice is withdrawal symptoms. By getting to soothe such withdrawal symptoms and controlling the physical desire for nicotine, the smoker will regain the power of focusing on emotions and habits that are healthy when he or she is successful in giving up the habit.
The smoker can make use of many stop smoking aids including patches that offer a continuous nicotine dose that helps sustain the smoker during withdrawal symptoms, and also calms the physical craving that is experienced when one quits smoking. Taking a single stop smoking aid such as a patch every day will offer protection from nicotine craving which will help the brain become used to existing with less nicotine, and one may then gradually reduce the strength of patches to get rid of the dependence completely.

Other stop smoking aids include nicotine gum, lozenges, nasal sprays as well as inhalers that allow the smoker to actively control their nicotine dosage. However, one should not raise ones expectations too high and instead be realistic about assessing whether a particular stop smoking aid is right or not in their particular instance.

Being sensible and not falling for wild claims about the benefits of various stop smoking aids is advisable, especially as there are no magic or wonder cures available. Stop smoking aids are helpful in assisting the smoker and cannot do more and should be taken with a strong desire to quit smoking. It is also necessary to persevere and not give up even if one does not succeed at first. Evaluating ones needs and keeping up a sustained effort to quit smoking with the help of stop smoking aids should eventually get the desired results.

Having gone through alcohol or drug rehabilitation is a major undertaking. Congratulations. Now you might be wondering several things. Where do I go from here? What do I do with my new life? What are the best strategies for staying clean and sober? The information in this article answers all of these important questions. It comes mostly from the experts: people, like you, who were once in a treatment center and have been in recovery for many years. Additional information has also been contributed from professionals that have helped recovering alcoholics/addicts after the alcohol or drug rehabilitation process.

Taking Action—The Process

* Create a plan for after you leave. Work with your therapist, counselor or the treatment center you attended to assist you in developing an after care treatment plan. These are designed to give you a strategy for staying clean. It’s a plan that will keep you on track in the recovery process. Lay person and professional experts in recovery know that an outlined plan detailing the things you can do to stay sober is valuable. Here are some of the most common, and maybe not so common, steps/actions/objectives that can be part of your plan towards a goal of staying healthy, sober and free from addiction.

* Continue with therapy. Follow up sessions with a trusted counselor or professional helps to address those issues or problems that are new for you. Life after addiction comes with new or confusing situations you will be faced with. For example, there was a man that after having been in a drug induced state for years did not know how to order his eggs at a restaurant. He would say, “I just let them throw the eggs on the plate, anything to get some food in my belly. I never paid attention to or cared how they were cooked”. When you are confronted with something you don’t know how to handle, frustration and desire to turn to what you know best (getting high) may become overwhelming. There is no problem too small or large that a trained professional can’t help you with. It’s better to seek their advice and look for solutions than to return to abusing drugs or alcohol.

* Keep your body healthy. This part of the after care plan should involve listing ways you can keep your body functioning at optimum levels. Some steps may include:

* Nutrition and eating right are essential. There have been studies recently showing that the right intake of calories, vitamins and nutrients, staves off the craving for drugs and alcohol. When your body feels good, the chances are you can better fight the cravings for addictive substances.

* Drink lots of water. Water hydrates the body and maintains your body temperature. Proper hydration allows for smoother waste elimination, and keeps the body emotionally balanced. Experts that work in the crisis industry (rape crisis centers, nurses in emergency or triage, etc.) have long known the power of water in regulating a person’s mood. It has a calming effect. An added bonus among many, water keeps your skin from drying out too.

* Exercise. Find an exercise routine and stick with it. If you like the gym or workout centers get a membership Take evening walks in your neighborhood after dinner. Use stairs wherever you go instead of elevators. Remember to find exercises that will bring your heart rate up (aerobic) and those that include warm-up, stretching and free-weights.

* Keep your teeth clean. One of the first things to not only put on your plan but to arrange is a dental exam. Drug use and alcohol abuse damage teeth and gums severely over time. Studies have shown that excessive plaque and tartar on the teeth carries through to our blood stream and creates a plaque build up in the arteries. This means potential heart problems and cardiovascular disease. Also, clean teeth means you will smile more and that alone will better your social life.

* Make social activities part of your plan. When you’re developing your after care plan, be sure to include activities that make you happy. Socializing will decrease depression and keep you from feeling isolated. On this note, make sure to not include former drinkers or drug using “buddies”. Chances are very high that if you begin associating with your former partying partners (that are still using) you will quickly begin abusing the substance again. Find people that have been in recovery for a long time or others that have never had a substance abuse problem. Seek new friends, return to favorite hobbies, whatever it takes to get you out and busy.

* Find your spiritual path. Whatever spirituality means to you, discover or re-discover what it is that gives you strength through the hard times. Returning to a spiritual place that made you feel connected, worthy or special will help.

* Find the creativity within. Do you draw, paint, dance or read? Bring the creative you back to life. Creativity gives a sense of self-worth and accomplishment. This is important for anyone recovering from an addiction. By the way, start your creative processes with your treatment plan. Give thought to the social activities you like. Outline some ideas to eat foods that will not only nourish you but make you feel good, alive and energetic. There are many healthy foods that can give this feeling. Bring your creativity to your plan and make it uniquely yours.

When preparing your after care plan, make sure it’s what you want. There is nothing worse than having a plan that fits someone else’s needs or expectations. Often in alcohol or drug treatment and detox centers we hear quite a bit about what we should do. Our days are planned with activities, counseling, meal times and social events. We become accustomed to what others think we should do to remain sober. Family and friends offer advice, your counselor or therapist may suggest items for your plan but in the end, the treatment plan belongs to you. It needs to be tailored with the purpose of achieving your goal. Your goal is to remain sober and clean. If the plan is one you want and can live with, the chances are you will respect it, follow through with the steps/objectives and stay sober for many years to come.

When looking at drug use, drug abuse, drug dependency and drug addiction, one finds that there are many divergent opinions about these terms and how they identify the drug-using behaviors of the public. Dr. Alan Leshner, the Director of the National Institute of Drug Abuse for the U.S. Government, states: “There is a unique disconnect between scientific facts and the public’s perception of drug addiction,”

From a lecture in March, 1998 at the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Leshner explained how brain function is modified by drug use and how that change persists after an individual stops taking drugs. Addiction also has to be recognized as a result of many bio-behavioral factors.

Dr. Leshner said a user does not have control over the change when voluntary drug use becomes a compulsive addiction. He likens the change to a flip of a switch, although the change may be a result of opponent processes where changes have accumulated over time. Regardless, Dr. Leshner believes it is important that people understand that once addicted, a person is literally in a different brain state.

Anyone that has known and witnessed the changes in behavior and ethics in a person caught in the thralls of addiction can see the declining spiral of personal care and ethics, work ethics, emotional stability and generally, a feeling that one hardly recognizes the addicted person as being the same individual as they were before the drug use.

One very important point to know is that any drug use may set off these destructive behaviors in an individual and that using drugs “recreationally” is playing Russian Roulette with one’s life. The effects of these “poisons” on the brain and nervous system are always destructive, but the timeline of when the effects will be obvious varies from immediately to, sometimes, after years of “casual” use.

The scientist’s say that one of the tasks of treatment is to revert the brain to its original state or repairing the damage that these poisons can do. Some scientist believe that this can be done by introducing other drugs, then called medicines, into the delicate brain chemistry of someone suffering from drug addiction. That is what National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) is doing now as it begins to design new medications. “We have molecular targets,” Dr. Leshner said.” We don’t need serendipity.” Serendipity is defined as “a natural gift for making useful discoveries by accident.”

However, don’t be fooled by the scientist since they have yet to discover any medications that restore a person to full and, more importantly, enthusiastic living. These “medicines” are always a tradeoff in giving up some of the beauties of life to keep the addict from using a more destructive drug. For a total cure, one should pursue getting the original poisons out of the body and letting the body’s natural repair mechanism restore the person to his original, functional and loving self.

Employers in the last decade found it hard to rely on drug testing to ensure that they are hiring employees that are free from banned substances. However, the adoption of more stringent rules and restrictions at drug test sites and laboratories have made it harder for drug users to cheat. The variation of drug testing programs also allow choices and more certainty about the test results.

Urinalysis has been the most common and often used drug testing method. However, this is also the easiest to trick and cheat. Diluting urines with water or other colorless fluid is enough to make the drug traces virtually undetectable. To reinforce security on this kind of testing, most companies and drug testing laboratories prefer on-site specimen collection. A drug test technician either visits the site to collect and test samples from workers or candidates for testing visit the laboratories where their urines are collected and tested immediately. Candidates are not allowed to leave the testing room until the test is finished. This ensures that the urine samples collected are not tampered or diluted. However, on-site collection is awkward especially for women because the candidates are actually supervised while collecting their samples. The testing of oral fluid or saliva is also implemented but not popular. Though oral fluid can be collected easily and are not susceptible to alteration, results based on this test are still suspicious. This is because drug traces in saliva can be undetectable after a day. Hence, if a user stops taking drugs a day or two before the test, he may be given a negative mark and pass the test.

Newer technology in drug tests now allow for hair testing. In the present, this is regarded as the most foolproof drug test. Drug residue from drug use, whether ingested or injected, remains inside the hair cuticle. Even if the user bleached, colored, or cut his hair, the residue would still be present and can be detected. This is also very popular since the collection of samples is not difficult and possible without embarrassing the tester and the candidate. Candidates do not need to worry about ruined hairstyles since the snips are done in inconspicuous places and are not noticeable. The latter kind of drug testing are also more cost-efficient for employers. Though the fees for the test is pricier than urinalysis, the company saves more because hair testing can effectively weed out drug abusers from the company’s ranks. This is because a drug-dependent employee cost a company as much as $10,000 in terms of unproductivity, absences, and benefits. They are usually the perpetrators of office theft. Plus, the employees would be deterred from using drugs because they know that is cheat-proof. All in all, investing in drug and hair testing are worthy expenses for the employer.

One of two life-long smokers suffer and die from ailments caused by smoking. So there is a continuous struggle to make people give up this bad habit, and increase their life expectancy with all the means modern medicine has available today. This is why pharmaceutical companies are making sustained efforts to come up with new quit smoking drugs that reduce or neutralize the withdrawal symptoms and accelerate post-quitting cravings.

Two of the most famous and well-reputed new quit smoking drugs are Chantix and Bupropion. Both are non-nicotine medicines, that require a certain period of treatment in order to be effective and which should be supported by professional counseling sessions. Before starting using new quit smoking drugs, it is best to have all your medical investigations made and to have the doctor analyze your record.

Chantix is a new quit smoking drug that comes in tablet form. Produced by Pfizer, this drug was conceived for pregnant women and teenagers under 18 who have to quit smoking. It is varenicline tartrate derived and it is considered to have a superior rating smoking cessation than Zyban. The usual Chantix treatment lasts for 12 weeks, but administration of this new quit smoking drug can be extended to a longer period depending on the case.

Bupropion is considered another revolutionizing new quit smoking drug that enjoys great result in nicotine addiction cessation. Initially Bupropion was made to combat depression, but studies and trials have proved that it helps smokers’ wishing to quit. It is as effective as nicotine-based drugs, but it also prevents gaining weight. The most common side effects associated with the use of this new quit smoking drug is dry mouth and sleeplessness.

Studies were conducted on large groups of smokers to test responsiveness and efficiency of this new quit smoking drug, and the results were compared to those obtained by administration of nicotine based drugs, placebo and shots. It resulted that treatment with Bupropion is superior to nicotine administered transdermally.

Smoking is a hard bad habit to break, it takes patience, strong will and motivation to ensure the effectiveness of new quit smoking drug therapies. This is the purpose of taking a quit smoking counseling course, because it offers the psychological support that you need to get rid of smoking and all its side effects. Just think that after quit smoking drug treatment, you will be over unpleasant breath smell, tiredness, low immunity, persistent cough and so on.

One of the hardest but most redemptive seasons of my life happened when I spent fourteen months in a drug rehabilitation center. In all my years of writing, I have never written about this experience that has so distinctly shaped my life.

Of course, I never would have dreamed that over a year of my life during my mid-twenties would be spent in drug rehabilitation, but it happened. I began doing drugs in junior high school, mostly I guess do to the typical amount of peer pressure that most teens get from their friends. I started using drugs with great hesitation, but party after party I got a little less afraid of using drugs and that became my biggest problem. Losing my fear of doing drugs was the single worst thing that happened to me in my struggle with drug use.

My drug use became a more serious problem throughout high school and into my years at university. I thought that I was doing a great job of hiding my problem until Christmas break happened one year and my parents saw all the signs. I had great parents, by the way, and I believe that they were in no way responsible for my drug use or for my eventual need for drug rehabilitation.

My drug problem got so bad shortly after that Christmas break that I ended up agreeing to go to drug rehabilitation without any fight. Most drug users, I am told, put up a fight for a while when someone first suggests that they enter drug rehabilitation. But not me. I knew how badly I needed help and I knew that if left alone I would probably allow drugs to kill me.

My fourteen months in the drug rehabilitation center taught me more about myself and about life than I ever expected them to. I learned about my value as a human being and as a man for the first time in that center. I learned in drug rehabilitation that drugs are a substitute for a hole that is empty in my life, just as food or exercise or alcohol or any other thing can be for people. I learned that I had a huge responsibility in taking care of my life and my health.

It has been healing for me as I have begun talking about my experience with drug rehabilitation with honesty. I have never felt more free than when I am looking back on the mistakes of my past with honestly and then when I am looking forward to my future with hope.

If you are a smoker, then you have probably considered quitting cigarettes in order to bring health benefits. But when is the best time to commit to stop smoking? Many wait for a special occasion, for the end of a stressful time in their lives, or for a New Year’s resolution to commit to stop smoking, but the fact is, the best time is always as soon as possible, not some point in the future. If you stop smoking, you will find a constant regaining of health benefits over a period of weeks, months and years.

Here are a few of the benefits that will come to you if you commit to stop smoking:

Short Term Benefits

A lot of the most noticeable benefits come in the first year after you commit to stop smoking, and some will even be noticeable after hours or days. Within the first 24 hours after you quit smoking, you’ll find that your heart rate and blood pressure, as well as carbon monoxide levels in your blood, will drop. If you have a problem with high blood pressure, it is hard to beat an immediate benefit like that!

Over the next few months, you will find that a lot of damaged systems in the body will start functioning better than before. Your smell and taste will return, which makes eating more pleasurable, and your lungs will be able to work better, both for taking in air and in keeping those lungs clean of harmful materials, which in turn will mean less infections. This is because once you commit to stop smoking, tiny little hairs in your lungs called cilia, which catch dust and other foreign materials, start to work like they are supposed to.

Long Term Benefits

The big, lifesaving benefits that come when you commit to stop smoking are not as noticeable, since they prevent major health problems, but they have been well documented. In the years after you stop smoking, you will benefit from a reduction in the risk of coronary heart disease, most dramatic after the first year and over a period of more than a decade, steadily declining. You will also have a reduced chance of suffering a stroke and of several kinds of cancer. And while being able to smell your food better is a great benefit of not smoking, reducing the chance of suffering from deadly diseases is a more poignant reason to quit.

So commit to stop smoking today and enjoy both the benefits that will come to you soon and the ones that will improve your life for years to come.

There are many myths and/or justification for taking all mind-altering substances and the use of methamphetamine, (meth, crank, crystal, speed, etc.) certainly has its share.

Probably the most detrimental myth about his drug is the idea that it is not addictive.Users of this drug will equate it to a potent caffeine-type substance, and in some ways they are correct.Methamphetamine and caffeine are both stimulants, but that is were the similarities end.A drug can be addictive at the psychological or physical level or both.However, all psychologically addictive drugs have a physical addictive component as well. The level of addiction is directly related to the amount of discomfort one experiences during abstinence from the drug.Everyone is familiar with the headaches that one can get when they have been drinking coffee on a regular/daily basis and then they abruptly stop.

The body gets accustomed to having coffee as an external stimulus and when that is removed, there is an adjustment that happens physiologically that causes stress.However, when a person uses methamphetamine on a regular/daily basis and stops, you find dramatic effects on the body.It isn’t uncommon for a person to sleep for over 48 hours after being on a “meth” run.The over-stimulated glands, especially the adrenals, will under-produce until they can re-establish normal activity again, and in the absence of these hormones, a person is barely able to keep bodily functions alive, so it becomes necessary for a person to sleep for long periods of time while normal equilibrium is being renewed.

Whenever the body is under extreme stress, the person’s emotions become unstable.In the case of the cessation of methamphetamine, one experience mild to severe depression, leading to suicidal thoughts.Knowing that one can stop these uncomfortable feelings by the use of more “speed” is the simplicity of this psychological addiction and the reason that most people will need professional care to progress without problems through this recovery.

For years, the only way to stop smoking was to quit cold turkey and hope that willpower alone was enough to make the habit a thing of the past. Americans still promote this theory of quitting with events like the “Great American Smoke Out” which encourages smokers to stop for one day every November. Promoters of the event say that once a person realizes that they can make it through an entire day without a cigarette the concept of quitting smoking becomes easier to accept. Having done it for a day, they believe they can do it and some do, organizers say. But the reality is that today there are many alternatives for people who are seriously attempting to quit smoking.

One of the new methods of treatment for those attempting to quit smoking is nicotine gum. This process of quitting involves substituting a nicotine gum for cigarettes whenever the craving hits. The theory is that this allows smokers to deal with the physical withdrawal from the addictive nicotine and the oral stimulation once associated with smoking. The idea is that they can begin to wean themselves off the gum slowly as the cravings become less prevalent.

A similar theory is the driving one behind the nicotine patch. Unlike the gum which requires the smoker to actively recognize their craving and treat it with a piece of gum, the nicotine patch as a method of quitting delivers a regular stream of nicotine into the smoker’s system to help alleviate the cravings. People who use this system to quit smoking gradually reduce the strength of the nicotine patch until the cravings are gone and the physical addiction has subsided. An added part of the patch treatment is that most people experience mild nausea if they attempt to smoke while wearing the patch, creating a form of aversion therapy.

A third treatment gaining in popularity is hypnosis to quit smoking. Smokers pay for a two or three hour session, often a group session, with a hypnotherapist who implants a suggest in their minds creating an aversion to smoking. This treatment option deals with the mental addiction to the habit, but does nothing to combat the physiological aspects of cigarette addiction.

Drug therapy is also being used successfully to help some people quit smoking. Some anti-depressants have shown great success in combating smoking as have drugs designed to interact with the chemicals in cigarettes and make them less pleasing to smokers. The drug therapy usually is used in conjunction with another quitting method, nicotine gum or the patch, in an effort to deal with the physiological addiction as well.

Finally, also gaining prominence recently in the effort to get people to quit smoking is acupuncture and accupressure. Research indicates that trained therapists can use pressure points to release the addiction from the system and help former smokers get over their cravings for cigarettes. Unlike hypnotherapy which deals with the psychological addiction and not the physiological, this treatment is effective with people who want to quit smoking but not those who are unwilling to commit to stopping. The acupuncture treatment treats the physiological addiction, but does not address the psychological addiction.

If you want to quit smoking but can’t seem to find the motivation, there are plenty of reasons to give up. And if you can’t draw any inspiration from the social and financial issues, just take a look at the physical effects of smoking;

1) Life Span

If you smoke, you’ll reduce your life expectancy by an estimated seven to eight years. That may not sound too serious, especially if you happen to be under 30, but if we break it down further, every cigarette you smoke will shorten your life by approximately 10 minutes.

And if you want a truly shocking figure, try this; Every day, more people under the age of 70 die from smoking related diseases than the combined total of deaths through road traffic accidents, drug addiction, breast cancer and AIDS.

2) General Health

It’s no secret that the general health of smokers is much lower than that of non-smokers.

Medical studies have shown that smokers are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels, which lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. And it’s not just older people who are affected. Many of these studies have questioned smokers in their twenties and thirties.

But that’s not all. People who smoke are likely to have poor quality skin. Due to the lower level of oxygen that reaches their skin they develop a pale, sallow complexion. And then there’s the issue with wrinkles. If you smoke, any wrinkles that you develop will be up to ten times worse than those developed by non smokers of your age.

In fact, it has been shown that smokers with noticeable wrinkles are much more likely to suffer from chronic conditions such as bronchitis and emphysema.

3) Major Illnesses

Smoking also increases your chances of developing a whole host of major illnesses. This includes;

a) Conditions that affect the respiratory system; asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

b) Cancers, especially of the mouth, throat and lungs.

c) High blood pressure and high cholesterol which leads to an increased risk of strokes and heart disease. In fact, smokers are two to three times more likely to die from a heart attack than non-smokers.

4) Viruses

Recent research has shown that due to the effect of smoking on the immune system, smokers have a higher chance of becoming infected with HIV.

5) Infections

If you smoke you’re at greater risk of respiratory infections because the smoke that you draw into your nose and throat damages that beneficial bacteria that lives in your respiratory system. This allows disease causing bacteria to enter your body.

6) Infertility

Smoking causes lower infertility levels in both men and women. Male smokers tend to have a lower sperm count, and may suffer from various mutations to their sperm. And due to the gradual blocking of arteries male smokers are more likely to become impotent.

Women who smoke are also less likely to conceive. And women who smoke during their pregnancy are more likely to experience a range of problems, including ectopic pregnancies, miscarriage, premature birth, lower birth weight and birth defects.

7) Mental Health

Studies have shown that smokers are twice as likely to suffer from depression than non-smokers.

How many times have you stopped to really look at the facts surrounding smoking?

You will benefit from reading this article with all the factual information in it.

A large percentage of smokers sincerely do want to quit smoking, and wait for the right time.
Yet, it seems close to inconceivable to follow through on the decision. The attempts are often hitting the brick wall of the habit.

They want to succeed but again find themselves standing on the same point from where they have started their journey for the good cause. The harsh reality is that this is not a rare case, and almost every second smoker may experience this.
Nicotine is the biggest obstacle in their way, and trying hard to quit is not always enough.
The strength of the addiction to Nicotine is second only to its deadliness.

The fortunate thing is that thousands of people are successfully trying to escape its grip and many have already succeeded.

One can assume that the thought of not being able to go through with it, crossed many of their minds too.
Finally they won over evil and turned their dream into the reality.
Strong will and persistence did their work.

“Most people would like to be delivered from temptation but would like it to keep in touch.” Robert Orben

Would you want to be amongst those people?

You should now have at least a basic knowledge. But there’s more to come.

You need to follow the promise you have done with yourself and with your close ones. The first step you need to have some modifications in your contemplation. Be optimist and change way of living a little. The actions you have embraced with the habit of smoking needs to have some alterations. Just change the way of dealing with them and you will notice a great difference in you.
You need to conjoine a good reasoning behind cause of quitting and have to think about good consequence that follow.

If you do not feel good about quitting, then you will never be able to quit smoking.

If you properly condition yourself mentally then you can certainly make sure your commitment ’sticks’. People are generally apprehensive of the withdrawal effects without giving thought to their long term benefits. They never comprehend that the pleasures, comforts and enjoyment that they are getting from smoking is short term. These feelings exist at subconscious level. We each generate around 60,000 thought every day. Regrettably most people give rise to the negative ones in that range.

It may help to actually write down the benefits of quitting.
Smokers and non-smokers alike, generally agree that quitting is the better option.
Once you start applying logic as a tool, you will be able to overcome some of the emotional turmoil and get better results.

Drug Treatment Recovery Healing

My friend Susan was going on vacation for a month and asked me to substitute for her at the local drug rehab center at her Wednesday yoga and meditation class.

It truly was an experience I’ll never forget as I watched people’s bodies and minds relax.I was struck by the strong determination that was applied towards learning the different forms of breathing as well as various meditations. I think the residents found it helpful to see they could channel the same drive they had used to locate drugs to their own healing.

It’s always good to use try and direct the natural tendencies you have for a higher purpose. For instance, an “addictive” personality can redirect this to areas such as meditation, exercise or writing a journal. This I have found is much better than fighting with oneself and trying to “stop” one’s tendencies. This is one’s passion and it should be used for one’s evolution.

If you are taking yoga please keep in mind it’s not about competing with others but in “stretching ” yourself inwardly further than you thought you could go. If you can be patient when you hold a posture, that quality will also carry into daily life as well.

You also will develop tools you can use for stressful situations such as deep breathing, visualizations of your true potential and inner joy. Even if you only feel good for an hour
after doing some yoga or meditation , it is a center that grows and you can remember it when you become agitated around other residents or towards your parents.

Robin, a 20 year old, fighting prescription drug addiction said to me that she just wanted to ease the pain but realized that pain is a feeling she could watch. It really was wonderful to see the ability to watch one’s mind that the residents developed with a little practice. In the east they return to the mind as a drunken monkey-not just wandering from thought to thought, but a drunken monkey stung by a scorpion. Sometimes it seems so restless and jumpy, plus out of control. Take a few moments to watch it and discover some true jewels.

For many years, when people thought of alcohol and drug rehab, the image that almost immediately came to mind was most likely a group of people, sitting in a circle in folding chairs in a big vacant room. Its true that group programs still aid many people in their quest to stop drinking and using illegal substances but most who have fell too deep into their addictions do not find relief this way. There is good news for those who need help getting over their addictions - slowly, there has been a proliferation of alternative therapies to alcohol and drug rehab. These methods may prove useful when traditional rehabilitation methods fail.

1. Why Do People Get Addictions?

The reasons for addiction are complicated and vary with each and every individual. These same reasons may be difficult for us to understand, and even a lot more difficult to resolve. Drug and alcohol rehab in recent years has taken a hard and diverse approach to the problem of addiction. Taking in consideration are the physical, emotional, and even nutritional factors that may be causes. Whether you’re seeking help for yourself or whether you are a concerned friend or family member of someone who is in a very dangerous grip of addiction, be confident that you are not the only one. Addictions come in varied forms, some are dangerous and some are not.

2. The Physiological Approach

It doesn’t mean that just because you are encountering a dangerous addiction it’s alright to think that you are different from everyone else. It only means that you’ll need to seek out specially qualified help. Many physiological and chemical imbalances that occur in our bodies and brains may contribute or cause our feelings of depression, that can lead us into addiction as we try to self medicate to compensate for our emotional distress. We are living in an era where many problems like chemical depression and blood sugar imbalances are easily diagnosed and treated. Often, addicts who treat these underlying problems will experience great relief from the urge to feel better by drinking.

3. Blood Chemistry

The best and most popular idea we have of drug rehabilitation is the old 12-step group therapy that we so often see on television shows and movies. The fact is, science has a lot more to tell us about how our bodies and brains respond to all kinds of substances. A lot of evidence suggests that when a physiological or chemical imbalance is occurs in the brain no matter what the cause, that individual will try to compensate for the imbalance he is experiencing by self-medicating with drugs. Modern drug rehab programs often use this approach to look for chemical brain imbalances to help their patients recover. In addition to this, imbalances in blood chemistry can also lead to drug and alcohol addiction. Having problems such as low blood sugar can lead someone to self medicate so that he can cure any fatigue or anxiety that he may be feeling. A balanced nutritional intake and exercise have shown themselves to be aids in the process of drug rehab.

4. Social Theory

Usually people who are deeply addicted often have neglected themselves, so by finding a diet and exercise program, it can really lift their self image. Another advantage of exercise to anyone who is an addict is that it also provides a natural high that can help an addict to get through the rough periods in his rehabilitation. Some individuals may be comfortable with the idea of group counseling while some may have difficulty in comprehending it. An option for these kinds of people is one on one therapy, where a therapist can reach out to the deepest and most personal aspects of an addict’s life. Looking for answers for addiction and possible recovery is an extremely difficult task to anyone. It takes a lot of devotion and time to even see the smallest of developments. Being able to find the right place to do the work toward recovery is an important step. The wants needs of each and every addict are different from each other, and the process of finding a place to fully recover can be a very deep, difficult, personal and intense process.

If your Relative or someone you care about has wanted to quit smoking for ever, you can play a very important role in helping him or her. Not only are they doing themselves a big favor by bidding farewell to this nasty habit, they are helping you as well because of the harmful effects of second hand smoke.

Here are a few ways to help your Relative or someone you care about quit smoking.

Quit With Them Him or Her

If you are a smoker, then by joining your Relative, their chances for quitting smoking can be better as you get instant support from someone you care about. Even if you are not a smoker, there must be an area in your life on which you have been meaning to work on. Make that your goal. It could be exercising more or drinking alcohol less. Whatever it may be, start helping your partner quit smoking by setting goals for yourself too. So in case they feels the urge to light up a cigarette, you can help him by modeling how you too are staying away from fast food restaurants.

Keep Him Away from Triggers and Triggers Away from Him

Some people or situations can be triggers for wanting to smoke again. As a way to help him quit smoking, try to make plans that do not revolve around friends who smoke or places where everyone is happily puffing away. Remove ashtrays and other stuff from around the house which can serve as constant reminders of the filthy habit. Unsubscribe from smoker promotional emails and mailings that send discount coupons and other incentives to continue smoking. Pool Halls can be littered with smokers and smoking advertising. Find alternative forms of entertainment.

Find a Distraction

Enroll in a cooking class or learn ballroom dancing together. It may not be a magic pill, but it may help you get his mind off smoking and in to some other creative outlet.

Look At on the Good Things

Help Relative quit smoking by clipping out articles (or emailing them to him) about the financial and health benefits of kicking the habit. Of course, he may know all of it already, but subtle reminders can act as motivation and may just make the difference between lighting up another cigarette or not.

Sign up for my free newsletter on help to quit smoking at www.stop-smoking-insider.com

Plenty of studies suggest that working towards any goals becomes easier if done with a partner. That’s what Weight Watchers is based on. They say people who join with a friend are 3 times more likely to stick with the program and hence lose weight and keep it off. The same applies to helping someone quit smoking. Give them the support and the shoulder they need.

A person suffering from an alcohol or drug addiction needs help immediately. Without it, it is highly likely he will continue down a never-ending path of self-destruction that could ultimately lead to death. Unfortunately, drug and alcohol addiction are both extremely difficult to overcome. Therefore, the only way most addicts are able to truly fight the battle against drugs and alcohol is to receive addiction treatment through a reputable drug rehab program. Furthermore, it is essential that the addict find the rehab center that is best suited for him and his personality because if care is not taken to find a program compatible with his needs, a relapse is highly probable.

* The Specialty

Not all drug rehab centers specialize in every type of addiction recovery. Therefore, the first step in selecting the right drug or alcohol rehab center is to identify those that specialize in the drug the person is addicted to. For example, an alcoholic will receive little help from a program specializing in addiction treatment for those who abuse heroin. While the basics of addiction recovery are the same regardless of the type of drug that is abused, there are special considerations to be made with different drugs. The withdrawal symptoms can vary from drug to drug. In addition, the exact approach used to help the person recover from addiction can be different depending on the drug. Addicts may find a higher level of comfort treating in an environment where other addicts have shared the same drug experience.

* The Location

The location of an alcohol or drug rehab center can have an impact on its success with the addict. For some, it is best to find a rehab center that is located near to family and friends. In this way, it is possible for them to maintain more consistent contact with the addict. For others, it is better to find a rehab center that is further away from home because the memories and the people there make it too difficult to refrain from abusing drugs or alcohol. The proximity to home may cause triggers leading to early relapse.

* The Program

The first consideration a person must make when attempting to select the right drug and alcohol rehab center is the treatment program. Most drug rehab centers offer both inpatient and outpatient care programs, but careful consideration must be exercised when making the decision for the level of care. For some addicts, an inpatient care program may be the best option because they do not have the strength or ability to fight the addiction without receiving 24-hour care. For other addicts, outpatient treatment may be sufficient for overcoming the problem while still allowing the person to live a semi-normal life. A preliminary assessment by a physician or qualified counselor/therapist will help determine what level of care is most appropriate.

* The Approach

Nearly all alcohol and drug rehab centers provide physical and emotional care to help addicts overcome their disease. The exact approaches used by various rehab centers, however, can vary. For example, some centers place a greater emphasis on the physical aspect of the addiction while others focus more on the emotional impact. In addition, the way these rehab centers address both components of treatment may vary.

In some rehab centers, patients are provided with another drug in order to overcome the addiction. For some patients, however, there is a risk of becoming addicted to the replacement drug. Therefore, this type of approach may not be best for some addicts. Yet other rehab centers simply have patients go cold turkey, but this approach can be devastating for some patients and can even cause them to give up hope and want to quit.

In addition, the emotional approach used by rehab centers to assist with addiction recovery can differ. For example, some drug rehab programs may utilize less known approaches, such as music therapy and art therapy. Similarly, some centers may focus on hypnosis or acupuncture. Yet other programs may utilize only counseling and group therapy. For an addict, the approach used can make a huge impact on the overall success because if the addict does not believe in the type of therapy being utilized, they will likely be defeated before the recovery program even begins.

There are other questions that should be asked when making a decision about admission into an alcohol or drug rehab facility. Staff credentials, medical supervision, cost, typical length of stay, aftercare programs, 12 step philosophy, sobriety success rates, and family involvement are a few other important considerations to think about when making perhaps one of the most important decisions in the life of an addict.

Smoking is probably the most addictive habit out there today. There are many people who believe it is easier to kick the cocaine habit than it is to kick the nicotine habit. When trying to quit people go through withdrawals which include nervousness, insomnia, headache, weight gain, and irritability. For most people the strong urge to smoke sets them up for failure. There are a number of products available for smoking cessation. Some of these products act as a nicotine replacement which helps with withdrawal symptoms. The newest kid on the block offers a two-fold concept. Chantix has recently been approved by the FDA as a smoking cessation drug. Chantix is unique because it offers withdrawal relief along with blocking the pleasure nicotine delivers to the brain without being a nicotine replacement.

Smoking Hazards For people who are attempting to quit smoking there are three events which lead to failure; the strong desire for nicotine, the withdrawal symptoms, and the habit of lighting up and having something in your hands. Chantix is designed to help alleviate two of these events. It helps relieve withdrawal symptoms and if you smoke it prevents the pleasure you receive from the nicotine by the blocking the effect the nicotine has on the brain. There are a whole host of reasons why people should not smoke. Smoking has been linked to lung cancer, COPD, increased cholesterol levels, and even osteoporosis. The dangers not only exist for the smoker but for the people who are around the smoker as well. Second hand smoke has come to the forefront of society as a serious medical concern. Experts warn that pregnant women who smoke have an increased chance of birth defects and stunted fetal growth.

Society today will no longer accept smoking. More and more states are adopting smoking bans in public buildings and restaurants. Many employers prohibit smoking on their property and some will even terminate your employment if they discover you are a smoker. Smoking contributes to increased work days lost due to illness and there are many employers who simply will not accept it.

The introduction of Chantix offers help to those who have struggled to quit. By taking away the pleasure experienced when smoking if offers a real advantage over other smoking cessation products. It comes in a pill form which is taken either once or twice a day. Heavier smokers who have smoked for several years would probably do best on two pills a day. It is available only by prescription and can be taken for up to twenty four weeks. If you have a desire to quit and are willing to give Chantix a try you might find the solution you have been looking for. Talk to your doctor today and begin your smoke-free life tomorrow.

The Desire to Quit Smoking

This “stop smoking product” isn’t found on any shelf or in any store or web site. The desire to quit smoking for yourself and for the betterment of your health must be present for a smoking cessation program to be successful.

With that being said, here is a list of quit smoking products available today that you may find helpful in your quest for a healthier, smoke-free life.

Nicotine Patches

This method of quitting smoking is a form of nicotine replacement therapy. A small, usually transparent patch is placed on the body and periodically releases small amounts of nicotine. This allows your brain to get the nicotine it craves while weaning yourself from it but without getting the harmful smoke.

Nicotine Gum

Nicotine gum is a popular stop smoking aid in that it serves two purposes. First, the gum releases small amounts of nicotine when chewed, and secondly, it helps keep your mouth busy and may help with overeating.

Quit Smoking Lozenges

These lozenges are said to help decrease nicotine cravings and ease withdrawal symptoms such as nervousness, anxiety and headaches. They’re also useful for the oral fixation aspect of quitting smoking and can help some avoid gaining weight.

Quit Smoking Pills

There are a few quit smoking pills available that you can ask your doctor about. Zyban is a popular drug that many people have found helpful that doesn’t contain nicotine but aids in the withdrawal process.

Zyban contains the same ingredient as the anti-depressant Wellbutrin and has the same effects such as easing irritability and anxiety, but without being classified as an anti-depressant.

A new drug hitting the market, under the name Chantix, Varenicline has been shown to block nicotine from attaching to the receptors in the brain. When nicotine is inhaled, the chemical properties attach themselves to the brain receptors, which then act as tiny messengers telling the body to release dopamine.

Dopamine is the chemical that gives us a feeling of relief and pleasure, which is why nicotine addiction is so strong since the body continuously wants to experience that “feel good” sensation it gets from smoking.

Herbal Remedies

If you prefer the natural route, you may want to consider herbal remedies such as pills, teas and even herbal cigarettes. These cigarettes resemble the real deal without the nicotine and tar and may give you something to do with your hands. They also still allow you to experience the sensation of smoking while quitting the habit.

Hypnosis and Support Groups

If you are a person who is able to be hypnotized, as not everyone is, then perhaps this method is worth trying as several people have reported success after a stop smoking hypnosis session.

Support groups are beneficial in that they surround you with like-minded people who understand your feelings through first hand experience. People often find it easier to quit smoking with the support of others and can share tips, hints and even frustrations in your journey to quit smoking.

Any of these stop smoking products coupled with the strong desire to lead a healthier and longer life can help you realize your dream of being a non-smoker. Remember the adverse ramifications that are well-documented and filling the news reports today such as lung cancer, emphysema, COPD or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, not to mention the damage caused to friends and loved ones by second-hand smoke.

Lots Of Healthy Incentives To Quit Smoking

Every place a smoker goes nowadays there is the public pointing out to them that it is in there best health to quit smoking. Additionally, with many villages and communities passing laws regulating where a person can have a smoke, many have decided that it is worth the trouble to quit smoking.

Less then 30 years ago, there were very few organizations who minded smoking. Often during that time smokers were seen on television shows and in the movies smoking their cigarettes. Albeit the earliest warnings about the health hazards of cigarettes, there was no real rush to get people to quit smoking.

When the facts of second-hand smoke dangers was first presented men that smoked, often in the presence of children and other non-smokers, wanted more scientific evidence to back that claim before they would quit smoking around others. Even with daming evidence of the dangers, many are still finding it hard to quit smoking.

Smoking is an addictive habit that normally begins when a person is in their teen years or early into their 20’s. It is very easy to become addicted on cigarettes but not nearly as easy to quit smoking, as people would like to believe.

Addiction Is Mental And Physical

There is a physical addiction to nicotine, the main addictive drug in cigarettes that can take about a week to work out of the body. The first 72 hours are considered the worst time when people quit smoking but after that the physical craving for nicotine diminishes. The remainder of the addiction is considered mental, although there are physical aspects to it as well.

People who smoked, especially for many years, find they have nothing to do with their hands, which held onto a cigarette during their smoking years. In order to reduce the mental craving some turn to eating, which is something they never did while they were smoking. Weight build up is a common reality for new non-smokers, but masses believe that losing weight will be easier than when they quit smoking.

Others think that just like becoming addicted to cigarettes did not happen overnight, breaking the habit will take time as well. They have a slow withdrawal plan with a target date to quit smoking. Others find various means to break the habit, such as hypnosis, laser techniques and substitutes to wean them off the addictive habits. But most agree that they need to do whatever it takes to quit smoking for their health’s sake.

When you think about the fact that about half of those who quit smoking return to it at some point, and even those who haven’t smoked for years still get the odd craving - it’s not difficult to understand why staying off the weed can be harder than quitting smoking in the first place.

Nonetheless - if you’re really serious about looking good as you get older and want to make sure your skin stays supple and toned - stay off the weed you must!

Without a doubt, the first two weeks after you quit smoking are when you’re at your most vulnerable so don’t be shy about seeking help during this difficult time. But remember – just because you don’t succeed in quitting smoking the first time you try definitely does not mean you’re a failure as a human being.

Nicotine is a strong drug and it may take several attempts before you successfully quit smoking.

Feeling a failure can be one of the reasons a temporary lapse becomes a more or less permanent return to being a smoker. “Well you’ve gone and done it now” – you say to yourself - “you may as well have another one”. No doubt about it - if you’re a smoker trying to quit you are up against a whole army of obstacles that could so easily trip you up.

Withdrawal from the nicotine hit is one of the major reasons for failure to quit smoking but sheer force of habit plays a major role. Even years after quitting, ex-smokers can find themselves in a situation where they would once have smoked and without even giving a thought to what they’re doing, they reach out, take a cigarette from a friend’s pack and light up.

Of course, if there are no regular smokers in your immediate social circle, quitting will be much easier. Research shows that failure to quit smoking is also more likely if:

• you’re a woman (nicotine dependency is stronger for female smokers)
• you were a heavy smoker
• you’ve been smoking for a long time
• when you smoke you inhale deeply
• you experience severe withdrawal symptoms

Tests have also shown that those of us who cheat during the first six months after quitting smoking - even if it’s just a few puffs on a cigarette - are highly likely to be smoking again by the end of those six months.

In contrast, those who don’t cheat - who are honest about their lapses - are most likely to still be cigarette free after six months.

So - if you really want to quit smoking then be totally honest with yourself. If you have a lapse, admit it and resume your quit smoking program immediately. Start your count of smoke-free days from when you resume.

But don’t beat yourself up either just because you gave in to the craving. You’re human after all and it doesn’t represent the end of your efforts to quit smoking - it’s simply part of your journey to get there.

Remind yourself of all the reasons you want and need to give up. Think of the way you’ll look if you carry on smoking. Think of the damage smoking is doing to your looks and the aging effects of smoking on your skin. Talk to someone about your temporary lapse - that way you’re not fooling anyone - least of all yourself.

Remember successful quitters are honest about their progress - with themselves and with the people helping them to quit. Successful quitters don’t use a temporary lapse as a reason to start smoking again.

So do yourself a favor - stay honest, resolve to quit and you will.

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.

Each and every year in my private practice in Oxford, I see hundreds of people wishing to stop smoking. Along with doing Hypnotherapy with them and teaching them Self Hypnosis, I also give them a few tips to make sure that the transition into a happy and content non-smoker is a happy one. I recommend that the tips below be used following a session of Hypnosis or the use of a high-quality Stop Smoking Hypnosis recording.

So if you have picked your day to quit, you’re ready to begin. Here are my tips on becoming a happy and content non-smoker.

1.Drink plenty of water. By increasing the amount of water that you drink you will be increasing your chances of an easier transition to being a non-smoker. The nicotine (the drug which you are addicted to) that is in your body needs to be flushed out and an increase in the amount of water that you drink helps you to do just that. It also hydrates your body, which in turn will give you a greater sense of wellbeing and allow you to feel healthier – this could benefit you if you tended to feel a bit crabby after giving up previously.

2.Do something different and keep busy. In those first vital days, make sure that you keep busy, and do stuff that you like doing as this will keep you occupied and less likely to think about smoking. Maybe spend some time with your friends or family and go out for the day. To make sure that your habit stays broken, it may be helpful to break your routine for a few days. During their day a smoker will associate a lot of things with his or her smoking, such as, having a beer, driving the car and after having sex. Still do all of these things, however do them differently! For example – have your beer at a smoke free bar for a few days!

3.Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Just like drinking more water, eating healthily allows you to feel healthier and gives you a greater sense of wellbeing. This is great as in this frame of mind and body you are more likely to succeed as you are giving yourself more to loose! Try it – you will feel great!

So there you have it. These are not all of my tips; however they will certainly help to take the edge of giving up smoking for you. Good luck and enjoy your new healthier lifestyle!

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.