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Posts Tagged ‘commit to stop smoking’

How to Stop Cigarettes – Dangers of Smoking and How to Kick the Habit of Smoking Forever

August 17th, 2009 admin No comments

As many of us are aware, smokers who have the inclination to get rid of the habit, just doesn’t know how to quit. There is no one right way to quit, however there are few guide lines that help in kicking off the smoking habit forever. To begin with, one has to have a strong will power and determination to quit smoking. One has to believe that making the decision to quit smoking is right. This belief in one’s own capability is a major stepping stone towards successful elimination of smoking cigarettes forever.

Once the decision is made to quit smoking cigarettes, one has to choose a right date to stop the habit. This is a very important step. Pick a specific day as the “Quit Day.” This is a process that enables an individual to get ready for the quitting smoking. One can plan and remove all the cigarettes and ashtrays form the house, car or work place. This is a gearing up step and slowly and steadily one can start practising to say that he or she is not a smoker. By repeating this statement, one can stick on to the belief that smoking cigarettes is going to be history.

One has a better chance of being successful if there is help available from family, friends and co workers for quitting to smoke. Once a person is in this process, he or she can ask people around not to smoke and thus not get tempted to smoke. While seeking help from the near and dear ones, one can also have medicines like

Bupropion, to stop smoking. These medicines do not contain nicotine, but help in resisting the urges to smoke.

A person at this stage should not be discouraged if he or she starts smoking again. One has to have the self confidence and will power to try all over again and never leave till he or she has tasted success.

One can also consider nicotine replacement products as ways to take in the nicotine without the rest of the cancer causing chemicals in cigarette smoke. These products come in several forms: gum, patch, nasal spray, inhaler and lozenge. Nicotine substitutes treat the difficult withdrawal symptoms and cravings that 70% to 90% of smokers find their only reason for not giving up cigarettes. By using a nicotine substitute, a smoker’s withdrawal symptoms are reduced.

While quite a large number of smokers are able to quit smoking without the help of nicotine substitutes, others find it difficult to be successful quitters. Such people can use nicotine replacement therapy and a support technique. Remember that it is important to make the decision to quit. Smokers who want to quit have a better chance of being successful.

With the above discussion, it is vivid that smoking is a very injurious habit and there should be a stop to it. However to quit the habit forever, it is always better to know the kind of benefits associated with quitting smoking.

  • Quitting smoking decreases the risk of lung cancer, heart attacks, stroke, chronic lung disease and a variety of other types of cancers
  • Quitting smoking prevents premature wrinkling, bad breath, stained teeth, yellow fingernails and gum disease
  • Quitting smoking can decrease the health risk to loved ones and those around 4.Quitting smoking can help improve the sense of smell and taste
  • With the price of cigarettes at an all-time high, quitting smoking can save a lot of money.
  • Circulation improves and lung functions increase.
  • 7 Coughing and shortness of breath decrease.
  • Risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker.
  • Stroke risk is reduced to that of a non-smoker.

Thus with all the benefits in the limelight, one can definitely kindle the motivation within oneself to completely quit smoking for ever.

How Can I Quit Smoking While Pregnant

August 4th, 2009 admin No comments

Pregnancy is a very important phase in any woman’s life. It is a complete transformation that a female gender will undergo from being a woman of substance to a mother. This is an enjoyable tenure that brings in a lot of hopes and aspirations in a woman’s mind. However, there are few things that have to be given up by an expecting mother in terms of food and habits. There are many women in this world who smoke as a habit, rather as an addiction. This is a definite NO-NO when it comes to pregnancy.

There can be devastating effects that could be caused to the baby in the womb because of smoking mothers. Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, including truly nasty things like cyanide, lead, and at least 60 cancer-causing compounds. When a woman smokes during pregnancy, that toxic brew gets into the bloodstream which is the baby’s only source of oxygen and nutrients.

Further more, two compounds are especially harmful: nicotine and carbon monoxide. These two toxins account for almost every smoking-related complication in pregnancy, of which the most serious complication would be stillbirth, premature delivery, and low birth weight. Nicotine cuts off the oxygen supply by narrowing blood vessels throughout the body, including the ones in the umbilical cord. Long term risks include asthma, allergies, not meeting developmental milestones, and learning disorders. In addition, the rate of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) is much higher among families that smoke and mothers who smoked during pregnancy.

If a woman continues to smoke even after realising she is pregnant, there should be immediate steps taken toward quitting. To stop smoking during pregnancy is not a very Herculean task. About forty percent of pregnant smokers do stop during their pregnancy-a rate that’s much higher than any other group.

There are ways that help in making a woman stop smoking during pregnancy;

  • Talking to the care provider is a safe and easy option that a woman can resort to. They may be able to recommend a safe patch or a nicotine replacement option. They may also be able to recommend a counsellor or a stop smoking program.
  • There could also be alternatives sought for smoking like chewing gum, grab a quick and healthy snack. Some take deep breaths, meditation or positive affirmations like “I will not smoke for my baby” or “I do not need to smoke.”
  • Ask other smokers also not to smoke. Not only will the baby receive the effects of the second-hand smoke, but the strong urge to smoke will slowly die down.
  • Talk to friends and family members who have quit. Ask them what worked for them, and tips on how they quit. Check out web boards and chat groups for moms who quit smoking while pregnant; they have great advice to offer.
  • Initially during the first phase of stopping to smoke, if the craving is too high, then by having one smoke, one has to simply move on. This should not deter the individual from quitting to smoke for good.

A woman should always remember the true motive of quitting to smoke,’ the baby’.  Put up pictures of healthy babies in the cubicle or on the fridge. Hang the ultrasound pictures where an expecting mother can see them everyday. These are positive motivations that drive a woman’s will power to stop smoking and lead a healthy life.