Quitting smoking now will:

1. Reduce your risk for stroke and heart attack or if you have experienced a heart attack, quitting now will reduce your risk of experiencing a 2nd attack.
Smoking causes coronary heart disease. It also causes the build up of plaque clogs which results in the narrowing and hardening of your arteries (atherosclerosis). Poisons from tobacco smoke also quickly damage blood vessels and make blood more likely to clot. This can reduce or block blood flow and lead to heart attack, stroke or even sudden death. Also, coronary heart disease caused by smoking may contribute to congestive heart failure.

If you quit smoking now, your heart health will improve and after one year of quitting, your risk for a heart attack drops sharply. After 2-5 years, your risk for stroke will be about the same as a non-smoker’s.

2. Improve your control of your blood sugar and reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes
Smoking was found to increase blood sugar levels so if you are a diabetic, smoking will certainly make it difficult for you to control your blood sugar levels. If you are not diabetic, smoking 16-25 cigarettes a day increases your chances of developing type 2 diabetes for three times vs. a non smoker.

3. Reduce your likelihood of having kidney disease, blindness or amputation
If you are diabetic, smoking will not only make it difficult for you to manage your blood sugar, it will also lead to complications. Complications of smoking on diabetes include retinopathy (eye disease), heart disease, stroke, vascular disease, kidney disease, nerve damage, and foot problems.
Also, the risk of complications of smoking and diabetes in combination is nearly 14 times nearly the risk of either smoking or diabetes

4. Reduce your risk to cancer
Smoking causes lung cancer. It has also been shown to cause acute myeloid leukemia and cancer of the bladder, cervix, esophagus, kidney, larynx (voice box), mouth, pancreas, pharynx (throat), and stomach. Smoking also weakens the cancer-fighting systems of your body and will interfere with your cancer treatment. Quitting now will reduce your chances of getting the disease and if already have developed cancer, quitting will help your body fight the cancer cells.

5. Increase your chance of getting pregnant
Smoking decreases your chance of getting pregnant and increases your risk for infertility. Tobacco smoke can damage the DNA in sperm, cause lower sperm count, reduced sperm vitality and reduced ability to fertilise the egg. Women who smoke can have problems with ovulation, implantation of a fertilised egg in the wall of the uterus and have increased risk for miscarriage.

6. If pregnant, quitting smoking will reduce your baby’s chance of being delivered prematurely or born stillbirth or with low birth weight

7. Reduce your risk for hip fractures
Postmenopausal women who smoke have lower bone density than women who never smoked and women who smoke have an increased risk for hip fracture than women who never smoked.

8. Reduce your chance of developing lung disease or if you already have lung disease, quitting now will lessen the damage
Smoking causes lung diseases (e.g., emphysema, bronchitis, chronic airway obstruction) by damaging the airways and alveoli (i.e., small air sacs) of the lungs.

9. Lessen chances of getting ulcers and other gastrointestinal problems
Smoking increases your risk of developing peptic and duodenal ulcers. It has been shown that smoking increases stomach acid production and reduces bicarbonate production (which neutralizes the stomach acid) which leads to ulceration of the stomach or intestinal lining. Also, if you already have peptic or duodenal ulcers, smoking can cause these ulcers to heal longer.

10. Reduce exposure of people around you (second hand smoke) and reduce their risk of getting smoking-related diseases

The health risks you face when smoking are way too real to ignore. It is a fact that smoking can lead to many diseases and can cause harm to your health. Stop ignoring these facts and stop making excuses. Spare yourself and other people from the peril smoking brings. There is no better time to quit but NOW!

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People who think that smoking helps them relax are simply fooling themselves, experts say. Nicotine withdrawal produces several symptoms including anxiety and restlessness which most people confuse with the feeling of stress. This is why they prefer to light another cigarette after the other. Basically, smoking makes them feel ‘better’ as they feed their body with another dose of nicotine.

Stress is the major reason why many smokers fail in their attempts to quit. The good news is – there are several ways to reduce the ‘stress’ associated with quitting smoking. Following these steps will make quitting as easy and smooth as possible.

1.       Understand that it’s natural to feel stressed.

Knowing that anxiety and stress are natural symptoms of nicotine withdrawal helps condition your mind to the challenges that come with quitting smoking. Recognize that you’re going to experience stress and accept it. But, you have to be optimistic. Develop a ‘can-do’ attitude. This will motivate you to resist the stressful period of smoking cessation.

2.       Resolve stressful issues that can aggravate your condition

Before you start quitting, take away all those petty stressors. No matter how small they are, they can make you feel sick as they pile up. You can’t fix all the stressful issues that bugging you but at least, do something to lessen the burden.

3.       Know your stressors

When you know what makes you feel anxious, you can find ways to avoid them. Recognizing your stressors allows you to deal with quitting smoking easier. For instance, if feeling hungry makes you feel anxious, then you need to make sure you eat on time.

4.       Ignore long-term problems (for now)

The smoking cessation period isn’t going to last your entire life. To avoid suffering from too much stress, you want to set aside the things that have been worrying you for so long. It could be your goal of getting a job promotion, buying a car, etc. Set them aside just now and focus on quitting smoking.

5.       Keep moving

Many studies have shown that exercising boost the production of chemicals in the brain that are responsible for the feeling of wellbeing. Some studies reveal that exercising reduces depression by up to 80%. Give yourself time for some physical exercises. Go to the gym on weekends, jog in the morning, walk your dog, and keep moving.

6.       Learn some relaxation techniques

When you’re in the middle of a stressful event, practicing some relaxation techniques can greatly help. They include deep breathing, guided imagery, mindfulness meditation, yoga, and more.

7.       Call a friend

Social support plays a vital role in the success of a person trying to quit. Having someone who listens and understands what you’re going through can help alleviate the stress and anxiety you feel during the smoking cessation period.

8.       Be patient

Whenever you feel excessively overwhelmed on some things, always remind yourself that smoking cessation is only temporary. The nicotine within your body gets weaker and weaker each day. And eventually, it won’t make you feel stressed.

 9.       Forget that you’re stressed

If you think of stress every now and then, it will worsen your condition. Distracting yourself by doing things that you find enjoyable is one way to forget about the stress associated with quitting smoking. Dine out. Visit the spa, shop, sooth yourself in a warm bath, get some massage – pamper yourself. You deserve it after all.

 10.   Keep a healthy diet

While eating vegetables and fruits don’t directly affect how you feel, they can make your body stronger, preventing the onset of health problems that can just make you feel more stressed.

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Gaining weight is known to be an after-effect of quitting smoking. There’s really no physical connection between the two. It’s just that most smokers who try to quit cope with the craving by substituting the pleasurable act of smoking with binge eating.

In a report by a group of Californian researchers, it was found that people who quit smoking gains an average of 5 pounds. If you’re among the thousands of people who are very conscious about their weight, reading this article can greatly benefit you. Let’s talk about the top 10 ways of quitting smoking without allowing your body to gain more pounds.

1.       Sweat it out

One great way to fight the craving and lose extra pounds at the same time is to keep moving. Half an hour of physical activities can help you burn more than a hundred calories. Experts recommend spending 6 hours a week for physical exercises. You don’t have to do it all in a day. You can divide this in several minutes every day until you complete your 6 hours of exercise.

2.       Get some greens

Instead of those lavish steak and fatty burgers, you can spare your body from gaining more pounds by choosing greens for your regular meals – breakfast until dinner. Munch on some fresh lettuce, boiled broccoli, spinach, and the like. You may also want to treat yourself with some meat but make sure you only take a few bites.

3.       Try the smoothie diet

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Aside from your usual ham and toast, you may want to add some fresh, appetizing smoothie. You’ll find a lot of smoothie recipes on the web that are very delicious and at the same time, healthy.

4.       Increase your water intake

Water therapy helps flush away the toxins from your body and at the same time improve your ability to burn fats. It is also the safest and a highly effective hunger quencher. If you feel like eating even though you have just taken your meal, drink a glass of cold water. This will lessen your appetite.

5.       Avoid eating from 8pm and beyond.

Your body’s metabolism slows down at night so take your dinner early. This will give your digestive system more time to digest the food you eat. You also want to keep your dinner light and healthy. Instead of some creamy sausages or other meaty dishes, you want to stick to the low-carb diet.

6.       Have some pasta

Pasta is a great source of carbohydrate which is needed by your body to stay active. It will keep you full for a long period of time so you won’t feel like eating a lot.

7.       Avoid eating processed foods

Processed foods contain chemicals and sweeteners that will earn you more fats in the long run. Choose fresh, healthy foods over those that are readily available in the grocery stores.

8.       Maintain an active lifestyle

Try reducing the time you spend for leisure. If you’re used to watching TV for two hours a day, make it one hour. This will help you keep your weight under control.

9.       Increase your fiber intake

Fiber helps your stomach digest food easily. Most of the fiber found in fruits and vegetables are non-soluble and take a lot of time to be digested, providing you a feeling of fullness.

10.   Try your best to quit smoking for good.

You don’t want to start all over again with the difficult process of quitting smoking. Once you are able to maintain your weight and withdraw from smoking, do your best not to go back to this unhealthy habit, ever again.

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Of course you don't. Can a doctor cure cancer without being a cancer patient? Yes. Can a doctor deliver a baby without being pregnant? Yes. Do you have to be an astronaut to enjoy astronomy and the wonders in the sky? Of course not.

Yes being an ex-smoker gives you a bit of an insight into what a smoker might be experiencing in a specific moment. But experiences are seldom so unique as to not have a comparably similar one that we can equate it too. In other words, the addiction to cigarette can correlate to the addiction to sweets, alcohol, or gambling.

So even if I have just smoked one cigarette in my life I can still help you quit.

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IF you are someone who is trying to quit or someone who has already quit but is having trouble staying quit, here are some steps you can do to succeed in quitting:

• Identify and list the situations that urge you to smoke

Is it the stress (emotional and/or physical) that makes you light up a cigarette because smoking helps you relax? Or does being around other smokers trigger your desire to smoke? These are some questions you can ask yourself so you can determine which situations can cause you to smoke.

• Learn to cope up with the situations that urge you to smoke

Once you have identified the “triggers” that cause you to smoke (and go back to smoking), the next step is to anticipate and avoid these temptations and trigger situations. If stress is a trigger factor, learn other ways of coping up with stress like reading, swimming, playing sports, playing musical instruments, writing a diary or talking with a friend. If your reason for smoking is for maintaining your weight, try going to the gym to maintain your figure and watch your diet and eat only the right kinds of foods. If being with other smokers tempts you to smoke, avoid places where smokers are going (e.g. clubs, bars). If your friend(s) is a smoker, choose non-smoking restaurants or cafes if the two of you are hanging out. Change your lifestyle to reduce stress, improve your quality of life and reduce your exposure to smokers.

• Educate yourself with the withdrawal syndromes that you could possibly experience while going through the process of quitting

Withdrawal symptoms include negative mood, difficulty concentrating, nicotine cravings, anger, frustration, irritability, anxiety, depression, and weight gain. These withdrawal symptoms typically peak within 1-2 weeks after quitting and the intensity of the symptoms will then drop over the first month. For some persons, however, the symptoms may persist for several months. Recognizing that what you are feeling now are but withdrawal symptoms and they will soon disappear can help you cope with these symptoms. Also, taking your mind off smoking and keeping yourself busy will help you succeed in quitting.

• Remind yourself of the benefits of quitting

Constantly reminding yourself of the benefits of quitting can help you stay on track. Quitting smoking will improve your heart health and you will have better control over your blood sugar levels. When you quit, you will less likely to have heart or kidney disease, blindness, or amputations. Also, tobacco smoke contains toxic chemicals that can damage your DNA and cause cancer. Smoking also affects fertility by reducing your chance of getting pregnant and if you are pregnant, smoking will lead to pregnancy complications. In men, smoking will cause damage in the sperm DNA which results to a decrease in the fertility and lead to miscarriage or birth defects.

Save your life, save other people's lives. Stop smoking and say goodbye to smoking once and for all!

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If you’re among those people who tried to quit smoking, you’ll probably know that willpower alone is not sufficient enough to get you through the withdrawal period and the symptoms that go with it. While it is true that proper mindset is important, medical intervention also plays an important role in helping you get through the rough times.

 1.       Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)

With NRT, nicotine is directly delivered into your system usually through your skin. NRT gums, patches, and lozenges contain lower dosage of nicotine compared to cigarettes. The problem with NRT is that you’re substituting nicotine with nicotine, only that you don’t smoke it. However, you can still get addicted with nicotine gum just like your addiction to cigarettes.

2.       Varenicline

Varenicline creates a sort of barricade between nicotine and your brain so that your body does not feel any physical gratification every time you smoke.  However side effects are noted among its users. The most reported side effects include headache, nausea, and insomnia, and in worst cases suicidal tendencies have been recorded.

3.       Bupropion Hydrochloride

Bupropion Hydrochloride creates “feel good” chemicals identical to what you feel when you smoke. A 36% success rate has been reported from clinical trials. However, like varenicline, side effects like headaches, insomnia, nausea, and dry mouth are experienced. Seizures are also experienced by some users.

4.       Sublingual Sprays

The success rate of this nicotine therapy plays equal with other types of nicotine withdrawal methods. Sublingual sprays are applied under your tongue every time your craving for nicotine hits.

5.       Laser Treatment

This is among the most expensive smoking cessation therapies. However, FDA is giving a closer look at this therapy. The process involve in this method is identical to that of acupressure and acupuncture, only that it uses laser lights.

6.       Lobelia

In effect, lobelia fools your body and makes it believe that it’s getting the same sensation that of nicotine. However, because of the high toxicity of this herb, it is not commercially sold, but you may cultivate it. Low doses of lobelia can speed up your pulse and respiration, high doses on the other hand slows them down. Sweating, heart palpitations and dizziness are the known side effects of this drug. Extreme caution is recommended.

7.       Acupuncture and Acupressure

Acupuncture uses needles to restore your energy flow. Needles are inserted in different energy point. Acupressure uses the same concept as acupuncture, only that it uses hands and pressure. However, there is no concrete study to support the success of these methods.

8.       Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy has been a practice for centuries, however its success as smoking cessation therapy greatly depends whether you believe it to work or not. When combined with other forms of therapies, it shows improvements for smokers with the right mindset.

9.       Bioresonance

Like laser treatment, bioresonance is not readily available and very expensive treatment. It electronically changes your body’s energy frequencies. However, further research is needed to support its effectiveness in smoking cessation.

10.   Other Herbal Alternatives

Peppermint and cinnamon bark are among the known beneficial alternative herbs to help smokers quit. There are a lot of herbal medicines available online through different health stores. Just be very extra cautious when buying these alternative medicines.

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Beating the Odds on Your First Smoke-Free Weekend

The first week of smoking cessation is usually referred to as "HELL WEEK". Most smokers will tell you that there’s really no other word that can best describe it but hell. The feeling is cause by the intense withdrawal symptoms and cravings one feels for the first week Many people try to fight the urge by keeping themselves busy at work, at home or in school. When you have a lot of things to do, you often forget about smoking, hence, you crave it less. But during weekends, things can get overwhelming. Because the weekend is basically the time to relax, maybe even have a glass of cold beer, unwind, watch TV, mingle with friends, and – smoke. And causing one to slip spoiling the efforts and hard work from the previous week.

If you want to get through hell-week, you have to plan and prepare. With the right combination you will be strong and resist the craving with very little effort.

The first step is not to think of it as "hell week."  Otherwise, the first week of quitting smoking is going to be a one long, agonizing week. The mere fact that you decided to quit smoking is one big manifestation that you can quit. Just a little more push and you’ll succeed. If you’re having troubles resisting a cigarette during weekends or when you’re feeling an intense craving, below are some tips and recommendations that might help:

Keep Your Weekend Busy

You can still enjoy your weekend while keeping yourself busy. Try to engage in activities that you find enjoyable. For instance, you can enroll in a fitness club, learn a new sport, attend a cooking lesson, do some window shopping, eat in a smoke-free restaurant, etc. Distractions are a great tool to fight craving. In whatever activity you are going to spend time with, your goal is to keep your thoughts focused to it and forget about smoking.

You’ll experience craving from time to time no matter how busy you are so expect for it. Nonetheless, you can still get through it by doing some quick and fun activities which will divert your thoughts right away.

Rest if You Must

During the week, you will feel a little sluggish, this is part of the withdrawal symptoms. I would recommend going for a brisk walk or jog.  But if you are really tired the best way to beat it  is to get some rest? It would be ideal if you could take a power nap no matter how tight your schedule is. This will allow you to recharge your batteries and gain extra energy to resist the craving and deal with the withdrawal symptoms.

Many people tend to build an indestructible link between smoking and just about anything in their lives. So there’s really no point wondering why it’s too hard to quit. Smoking cessation is a process, not an event which takes place in an instance. But each day you don’t smoke, you’re slowly breaking free from the chain that binds you to smoke addiction.

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You CAN Quit Smoking Forever!

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SmokefreeTXT is a free mobile service designed for young adults across the United States. SmokefreeTXT was created to provide 24/7 encouragement, advice, and tips to help smokers stop smoking for good. It is provided by smokefree.gov. If you are interested here are the details.

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First you must realize that quitting is not about assigning blame. But about providing solutions. Look at your smoking as a problem that you have already solved. That's right! Look at it as a done deal. Something you beat and just need to recall the solution. And above all you must be persistent and insistent in your search.

The blame game is a losing activity. Blaming the cigarette companies for hooking you is a waste of time (even if it is true). Blaming your self for getting hooked in the first place is not going to get you where you want to be either.

How do you quit smoking? You quit smoking by becoming active and solving the problem. There is tons of advice available all over the place and some might actually work. You just have to keep looking and don't ever give up.

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“Quit Smoking” is the phrase of the hour. We all know that smoking is bad news to your health and the health of those around you too. It has very severe bad effects like breathing problems, lung cancer, breast cancer, bronchitis, emphysema, and reproductive problems. That is just the tip of the iceberg. Is there a doubt we should free ourselves from the clutches of the deadly disease? However, it is not an easy task to actually quit smoking forever once you have started it. Smoking makes a you its slave and you becomes addicted to its use.

Difficult but not impossible.
It is difficult but not impossible to quit smoking. The most important attribute that a person needs to have to quit smoking is persistence. It is difficult to stay away from smoking in the initial stages but with the help of adequate medical aid and persistence, a person can overcomes the initial bouts to smoke, then they will be the master over this deadly disease.

Love yourself and do not let the ill effects of smoking show on God's greatest creation, YOU. As an aid to help, quit smoking a person should regularly exercise and meditate. This keeps you physically fit and mentally strong. You should also eat a proper diet, because a proper diet not only satisfies the body’s needs but also promises to deliver a trim and healthy you, producing undeniable pride and happiness in your body, mind and spirit.

Chain smokers should delay the next cigarette even for just five minutes. In the meantime, they should keep their hands busy and minds diverted from the thoughts of smoking. They should drink water to keep cool and calm and practice deep breathing. If still the urge is irresistible, they can resort to use of sugar-free chewing gums or read a good book.

Seek Specialists Help.
Have you thought about an acupuncture specialist? Or use an aromatherapy specialist? Be persistent and make concerted efforts to bring the smoking addiction to its knees.

A Promise to Yourself.
Take a vow this minute that you will defeat this habit and rather than spend money smoking you will spend it on your children, family, yourself, or on something else that means much more to you.

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Remember the movie MEET THE FOCKERS where Greg's parents have a display of all of Greg's trophies. And Jack comments "I did not know they made awards for 9th-place." (Click here for YouTube clip)

It might be alright to recognize a kid for his effort no matter how small. But at some time in life one realizes that life does not reward efforts. Live rewards results. Life rewards number one and everybody else doesn't matter. That is why in the movies the hero is always a Harvard graduate who graduated top in his class.

When talking about smoking the best is quitting all together. Second best is 1)cutting back, and 2)hardly ever smoke. If you used to smoke two packs-day and now you have cut back to just one cigarette a day that's great but it's only second best and you are still a smoker. And I especially want to talk to the hardly ever smoke crowd. This is the group of people who claims that because the smoke about once a month or less they really and truly don't smoke. If you belong to this group you are freaking-crazy. You are completely brain-washed. Zero is not almost zero. Zero is zero. And even if you smoke one every six months you are still a smoker. And furthermore you are still at a much greater risk of disease that the general population.

Nobody wants second best! One always strives to be the freaking best. And effort is not enough. Results are what counts.

Be the best and quit for good. Quit and never, ever touch a cigarette again.

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Zyban was originally marketed as a antidepressant under the brand name Wellbutrin. The generic name of this drug is bupropion.

Soon after patients on this drug began reporting that they stopped smoking. And studies showed that Zyban reduced the severity of nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms and thus improved the chances of quitting smoking up to 20%. Other desirable side-effects where increased libido and weight loss. The most commonly observed adverse events consistently associated with the use of Zyban are dry mouth and insomnia.

Zyban eventually gained FDA approval as the first nicotine-free prescription medicine for smoking cessation. It was also the first smoking cessation treatment available in tablet form (before Chantix) and became available by prescription in July 1997.

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Benzene: Is a colorless cyclic hydrocarbon obtained from coal and petroleum, often used as a solvent in fuel and in chemical manufacture. Benzene is contained in cigarette smoke. And benzene is a known carcinogen associated with leukemia.

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Every cigarette takes 7 minutes off your life.

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Cigarette smokers are 2-4 times more likely to develop coronary heart disease than smokers.

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• Posted by tieney faircloth to Quit Smoking Rx at April 6, 2009 5:24 PM

Whitney as left us too soon. As great as she was she had the potential to give the world so much more.

Amid the rash of sub-par US national anthem music performances we have heard lately there is one performance that stands out like a beacon in the sky. Whitney Houston 1991 rendition of the Star Spangled Banner during the opening ceremonies of Super Bowl XXV. I forget who played that year but I cannot forget how I felt after listening to Whitney sing. (Whitney Houston Star Spangled Banner Performance). That was the magic of Whitney Houston. Her gift could turn an ordinary tune into a masterpiece.

Whitney Houston burst out of nowhere in 1985 to dominate the music industry. The richness, beauty and strength of her voice had no equal. But just as impressive was her fall from the top. Whitney lost it all. Her voice, her status, her family life and now her own life.

The are many lessons to be learned – Do not wait to live, to love and be loved for no one is promised tomorrow. Lead the life that you were meant to live starting right now. And never be shackled with addiction.

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes we waited and hoped for her comeback to music from the destructive spiral that had engulfed her life. We waited and waited and it never came. Now we weep and hope that she will find in rest what had escaped her in life. Peace.

Rest in peace Whitney Houston, your fans will always love you.

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Smoking is known as the most preventable cause of death in the U.S. Here are a few facts about smoking which all parents must know. The above-mentioned fact means that several people who die because of smoking related diseases could probably live a longer life if they never smoked.

"Secondhand smoke" contains 60 various carcinogenic substances. But we are not going to talk about any of them in this post. We are going to focus on a compound called carboxyhemoglobin. Carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) is a chemical compound formed from carbon monoxide (CO) and hemoglobin (the oxygen delivery molecule in the blood) that forms in red blood cells when carbon monoxide is inhaled or produced in normal metabolism. Large quantities of COHb negatively affects the delivery of oxygen to the body.

Studies have reported that in poor ventilation conditions tobacco smoke exposure to a room for only one hour, would cause any child in the room to raise carboxyhemoglobin level in their blood from average 1.6% to 2.6%. This roughly equivalent to absorbing all of the tar content in a cigarette. It is as if your children were smoking too. Even for a short time breathing "secondhand smoke" will adversely effect a child's cardiovascular system, thereby increasing their risk of heart disease in the future.

Children who live with smokers experience secondhand smoke every day, even when the smoker takes their habit outside. Smoking outside the residence will slow up the overall exposure for the children it doesn't eliminate it entirely. Secondhand smoke remains on the carpet, curtain, clothing, food, furniture and other items, and keeps for weeks or even months, even if the window in the room is open or if there is an indoor air filter.

Ventilation systems often pull air externally or from different areas. This means that secondhand smoke can reaches the lungs of children and other adults while they are unaware that they are breathing contaminated air. Secondhand smoke is a fact and children are exposed to in four different places: public places, at home and in the car. Secondhand smoke is extremely serious business and a substantial health risk for everybody exposed.

Smoking is known to damage crucial organs in the body: the brain, heart and lungs. It is best if you did not smoke at all but especially don't smoke near children in order to prevent them from being harmed. Quit smoking for your own good as well as for preventing harm to your children.

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• Dad, Please Stop Smoking

It should be obvious to any smoker that today is the day you quit. With the aim of putting an end to smoking one must put in a whole-hearted effort into the task. However, just maintaining your desire to quit can be a significant chore.
It can be difficult to stop smoking, and many people make multiple attempts as what works for some may not work with others.

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Many of us have the habit of surfing the web each day just to read news, articles, and stories. Some are even subscribing to blog sites to receive daily updates and information. Because of its growing popularity, many health groups and associations are making use of blogs to disseminate information to the general public on how to live a healthy lifestyle.

Quitting smoking is not easy but it’s not impossible. With the right information and motivation from others, every smoker can succeed to bust off this destructive habit. Read on to know the top 10 smoking blogs that you can get useful information from:

1. iquit-smoking (iquit-smoking.com/quit-smoking-blog)
This is a collection of posts written by Matt who has successfully quit smoking and now wants to help you quit. Matt will inspire many others who want to finally stop smoking but can’t.

2. Quit Smoking for Good (smokersblog.org)
We all know that smoking is bad for our health but despite the fact that it is, many of us can’t quit. This blog contains loads of articles about cigarette smoking and how it can be stopped. You’ll find informative posts and inspiring stories. If there are people who can give you the best advice on quitting smoking, they would be those who experienced the same.

3. Smoking Cessation (quitsmoking.about.com)
About.com is a very popular website that presents reliable articles on different niches. The Smoking Cessation presents comprehensive information about smoking. Other than the personal stories, you will see blogs that are posted by general practitioners, counselors, and experts in the field. If you want to know the medical and alternative ways of quitting smoking, you may want to take a look at this blog site.

4. Ciggy Free (ciggyfree.com)
When you’re ready to stop, this blog is all about helping you quit the old bad habit. It’s like Daily Mail that focuses on current news about cigarette smoking. Here, you’ll find a collection of highly informative articles featuring new studies and research.

5. Quit Cigs 4 Free (quitcigs4free.com)
This blog gives you access to free and unlimited resources and tips on quitting smoking. Smokers have different ways on kicking the bad habit. Some are able to stop smoking by simply throwing their cigarettes while others would still need to undergo NRT and all other expensive treatments.

6. Quit Smoking Place (QuitSmokingPlace.com)
Another great place to go for quit smoking blogs is the Quit Smoking Place, where you can read news and information on the consequences of smoking and the benefits you can get from quitting smoking.

7. Stop Smoking Now for Life (stop-smoking-now-for-life.com)
When you stop smoking, you want it to be for good. This blog site provides regular posts to encourage smokers to quit and help people who wanted to give up smoking for life. Readers are free to submit their comments too.

8. Quitsmoking-blog.com (quitsmoking-blog.com)
This website has a lot of updated blogs and articles. You can also request for a regular subscription through your email address. Just like some of the blogs mentioned here, it presents a combination of stories and news on quitting smoking.

9. Quit Guide (quitguide.com)
This blog gives a bunch of information on varying methods of quitting smoking. It has different blog categories including teens, adults, pregnancy smoking, and so on. To subscribe blogs, there’s no need to provide your email address. You just have to copy and paste the URL to your RSS feeder.

10. Quit Smoking Timeline (quitting-smoking-timeline.com)
Quitting smoking is more than a personal choice. For you to succeed, you really need help from other people – friends, family, and all others who have experienced the same situation. This blog site doesn’t only give you helpful information on quitting smoking. It also guides you on the step by step process involved in quitting.

If you or someone you know is going through the same difficulty of quitting smoking, you can always find a reason to pursue just by reading blogs. Information is the key towards a healthier and happier life.

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When you smoke, the first organ-system that is most severely affected is your respiratory system and particularly your lungs. Every time you smoke, your lungs become black with tar. Studies show that after 3 years of continuous smoking, you increase your risk of lung cancer by 99.9%!
The good news is that…Well, it isn’t too late to quit smoking, and if you do your lungs will be restored. Read on to know the magnificent changes that occur in your lungs after quitting smoking.

1. Your lung condition improves.
The positive effects of quitting smoking take place hours after you stop. Your blood pressure goes back to normal and the flow of oxygen is regulated. Three months after you quit smoking, the condition of your lungs will improve. The risk of infections will also decrease.

2. Your lungs will clear out excess mucus.
Within 24 hours, your lungs will be 100% free from carbon monoxide. Did you know that carbon monoxide is the very same gas that is pumped out by your car exhaust? That’s true! And the moment it is eliminated from the lungs, excess mucus or any smoking debris will be washed out. You will not anymore experience the smoking cough.

3. New cells will develop in the linings of the lungs.
Cigarette smoke contains thousands of harmful chemicals that destroy healthy cells. In three months of quitting smoking, new cells will form, restoring your lungs back to its original condition.

4. Cilia are restored.
Cilia are the tiny protrusions in your lungs that screen out all toxins and other substances that may damage your lungs. Cilia are the first that get destroyed when you smoke. But after 72 hours, these hair-like filters will start repairing and growing themselves and will continue to protect your lungs.

5. Your lung function improves.
After 9 months of quitting smoking, your lung function improves by 5%. According to the John Hopkins University, the lung function of people suffering from pulmonary disease improves when they stop smoking. The symptoms such as coughing and shortness of breath will be reduced if not alleviated.

6. The risk of oral and tuberculosis cancer is reduced.
After five years of quitting smoking, smokers become less prone to some types of cancer concerning the lungs and other respiratory diseases. The risk of tuberculosis and oral cancer is also reduced. Such risk continues to decline if smokers will continue quitting.

7. The risk of lung cancer is reduced by 50%.
Within ten years of not smoking, the risk of lung cancer is cut by 50%. If you are a mild smoker, your lungs would have less damage so even within just a few months or years after you quit smoking, the risk of developing lung cancer will be greatly reduced.

8. It rejuvenates.
Did you know that the lungs are the only organs in the body that regenerate? Continuous smoking cessation coupled with proper diet and exercise will restore your lungs to normal.

9. Damaged tissues is be repaired.
Years after quitting smoking, the damaged tissues caused by the chemicals coming from the cigarette smoke will be repaired. As a result, the capacity of your lungs will get better.

10. You and your lung chances of staying healthy and living longer increase.
In fifteen years, your risk of lung cancer drops to one-half that of continuing smokers. And your risk of coronary artery disease is now similar to that of people who have never smoked.

BONUS:
11. Better than Viagra.
Your aerobic and exercise capacity improves and you'll feel 'frisky' like a young kid again. Lungs play a vital role in your body. They deserve your care and love too. It’s not yet too late.

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During the first few days after quitting your body will go through changes as it adjusts to the absence of nicotine and other toxins.  Reactions vary, being very mild for some people and more distracting for others.  Following are common symptoms and how to deal with them:

Fatigue—Nicotine is a stimulant so people often feel drowsy when it is first taken away.  Allow yourself to get extra sleep, even take naps if possible, as your body adjusts.  Taking walks or other light aerobic activities also keep your energy level up.

Headaches and Dizziness—Dizziness comes with increased levels of oxygen in the brain.  Oxygen is good, but it takes a period of time for you to adjust.  Headaches and dizziness is also associated with a greater sensitivity to caffeine when you’ve quit smoking.  Try to cut back on caffeine and experiment with relaxing herbal teas.

Insomnia—sometimes people have difficulty sleeping—this will pass.

Irritability, Nervousness, Difficulty Concentrating—These normal reactions will pass as your body adjusts to the absence of nicotine.  If you let families and friends know, they will be forgiving if you let your irritability overflow.

Coughing—As your lungs start to clear out you may find that you are coughing more than usual.

Sore throat—In the absence of the numbing effect of smoke, you may become more aware of how your throat has been irritated.

Constipation—Drink plenty of fluids, eat foods with fiber (try a Bran cereal), eat fresh fruits and vegetables, and make sure you have daily physical activity.

Positive Physical Changes After You Quit

This is the exciting part.  After you quit your body gets much healthier in a matter of weeks!

Here is a play-by-play account of what happens:

20 to 30 minutes after your last cigarette: blood pressure and heart rate drop to normal levels.

8 hours after:  carbon monoxide levels in the blood go down and oxygen levels go up.

24 hours after:  your risk of heart attack and stroke decreases significantly.

48 hours after:  senses of taste and smell start improving.

72 hours after:  breathing becomes easier.

2 weeks to 9 months:  coughing decreases, sinus congestion decreases, physical activities such as walking are easier, lungs are working better.

1 year:  risk of heart disease drops significantly.

5 years:  risk of mouth, throat and esophageal cancer decreases significantly.

5 to 15 years:   stroke risk decreases significantly.

10 years: risk of lung cancer reduces significantly.

15 years: risk of heart disease and risk of death is almost at the same level as for those who haven’t smoked.

It’s amazing how the body can restore itself.  These are the significant health rewards for relieving your body of nicotine exposure.

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Choose a day that will allow you to cope with withdrawal symptoms such as irritability and restlessness.  Plan for a stress-free day, yet have activities lined up that will keep you distracted—perhaps an outing with family or friends; a massage; or a spa day.  A long weekend or a short vacation time might be perfect timing, or if your workplace is smoke-free, being busy at work may be best for you.

Preparations for the Quit Date

Now you have a quit date you have work to do!

• If you haven’t already, look at your smoking patterns, identify triggering situations and how you will cope without smoking.  If you have tried to quit before, pay special attention to the challenges you encountered.

• Talk to friends and family and enlist their support.  You might also seek out a smoking cessation helpline for back-up during your early days of quitting.

• Have special treats on hand such as your favorite fruits, sunflower seeds, vegetables and other low-calorie snacks; plan to drink lots of water and other beverages with no caffeine and low sugar content.

• Have a supply of  sugarless gum.

• If you smoke more than a pack a day, you may want to consider aids such as nicotine gum or patches.  I would suggest talking with your doctor about how to best use these aids and gradually wean yourself off them.

Your Last Smoke

Once your quit day is chosen, the previous day will include your “last smoke”.  Take the opportunity to consciously smoke the last one and throw away all lighters, cigarettes, and ashtrays. Remember to empty handbags and pockets.  If you are so inclined, you can make the process into a ritual, reaffirming to yourself what you are moving away from and what you are bringing into your life.  Promise yourself that you will do your best to never smoke again…not even a puff.

General Tips for Your First Weeks of Quitting

• Remember you are detoxifying.  Notice positive changes as the nicotine leaves your body.  Notice how smoking urges do not last long and get shorter over time.
• Drink plenty of fluids (avoiding sugar, caffeine and alcohol).
• Get lots of rest.
• Take walks
• Enjoy showers and baths.
• Avoid places where you will be exposed to smoke.
• Reward yourself regularly—go to a movie, go shopping, do things you enjoy.
• Congratulate yourself repeatedly.

photo credit: zdaz14

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Even in tiny amounts the presence of secondhand smoke nullifies all efforts of creating a healthy environment for the mother and  her baby. A healthy environment is necessary for a healthy pregnancy. Proper diet and exercise are not enough to make sure that the mother and her child are safeguarded from possible risks and complications brought about by pregnancy.

Don't Be Average
A typical house environment is already prone to harmful chemicals coming from the house itself, from the furniture, air freshener, appliances, and so on. If secondhand smoke is present in your environment then you’re feeding your child more toxic wastes and chemicals. If you expose yourself to cigarette smoke coming from other people, both you and your baby are suffering the consequences. This is the reason why pregnant women are highly discouraged to smoke and encouraged to stay away from people who smoke. If your partner or any member of your family smokes at home, you should tell them about your condition and how it can affect your child. As much as possible, you must stay away from these people.

CDC advise on Secondhand Smoke During Pregnancy
According to the Center for Disease Control, women who are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to deliver babies with low birth weight. The risk is 20% higher than the risk to women who don’t smoke or don’t get exposed to passive smoking. Moms who are exposed to passive smoking run the risk of developing respiratory infections such as bronchitis which is dangerous in pregnancy since it can lead to pneumonia and death. Another risk associated to secondhand smoke is the poor development of the child’s immunity to fight diseases. Babies born by mothers who have been exposed to secondhand smoke have an increased chance of dying from SIDS or sudden infant death syndrome.

Effects of Secondhand Smoke on Mother and Child
These lethal effects of smoking to the unborn can be attributed to the toxin consumption of the baby. It is said that when a pregnant woman smokes, her baby smokes also. This is not a cliché or a catchy marketing phrase. This is absolutely true. Basically, everything the mother takes goes through the umbilical cord and into the placental region where the baby’s being developed. And even if the mother doesn’t smoke but she’s exposed to passive smoking, she takes in harmful chemicals that are passed along to the fetus.

The possible health side effects on babies exposed to passive smoking are actually higher than with babies whose mothers actively smoked during pregnant. So it is important that you make every effort to keep yourself in a healthy and smoke-free environment. Your pregnancy may call for so many dos and don’ts and ask that you religiously observe them. While it can be challenging to do so, there’s a great reward that is waiting in the end – a normal, risk-free delivery, of YOUR healthy baby!
photo credit: olga.palma

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Zyban was the first non-nicotine drug to be used to help people stop smoking. This drug contains chemical derivatives of a stimulant drug known as amphetamine and is also used as a drug to treat depression.

It is said that cigarette smoking causes one out of six deaths by making smokers susceptible to many illnesses. This is why a lot of research and development goes into making medicines that can help smokers stop smoking and stop their addiction. Smoking kills more people than:

1. HIV (AIDS),
2. drug abuse,
3. car accidents, and
4. homicides.

There are currently three types of medicines used to stop smoking:

1. nicotine replacements meds,
2. Zyban, and
3. Chantix.

Since nicotine replacements still contain nicotine, those who want to avoid nicotine are left with only two choices: Zyban and Chantix.

Zyban (ZYBAN)
Zyban binds to certain receptors in the brain known as dopamine receptors and inhibits the reuptake of a stimulating brain chemicals known as norepinephrine. It also blocks nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, the receptors to which the nicotine from cigarette smoke binds.

However, some dangerous side effects of Zyban are

1. seizures,
2. confusion,
3. chest pains,
4. muscle and joint pains and
5. irregular heartbeats.

With these unpleasant side effects in mind, scientists began to look to discover other drug to stop smoking that did not have these side effects. Chantix is an example of such a drug. Chantix works by binding to the nicotine receptors in the brain to relieve the craving and withdrawal symptoms one feels when one stops smoking.

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Tobacco cessation at any point during pregnancy can yield important health benefits for the mother and the baby. -U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)

Whenever a person smokes, only 15% of the harmful chemicals are inhaled by that person. 85% of it goes to the air, affecting other people. According to studies, a person who spends two hours in a room where someone is smoking inhales smoke which is equivalent to 4 sticks of cigarettes! That’s about one cigarette every half an hour.

If you’re pregnant, you don’t want to expose yourself to secondhand smoke as it will directly affect your baby. Whatever health risk you might get out of smoking, your child also gets the same. The only difference is that your baby doesn’t have enough immunity to fight the harmful chemicals that can cause varying diseases including brain defects, cancer, respiratory infections, and heart problems.
photo credit: CarbonNYC

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Socrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira (1954 – 2011)

Just learned of a great childhood hero who died relatively young at age 57. Socrates a charismatic and talented brazilian futbol player was also known to be an unwavering cigarette user.
I am a little late in learning the news of his passing but no less moved by his loss and what he represented in the futbol world.

Adeus, doutor!

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What Steve Jobs is saying here? He wants you to know that all it takes sometimes is the willingness to ask for help. But a lot of us don't want to risk even that much. What is the worst that could happen? That the help you asked is refused and you continue to smoke. So what?
Keep asking until you get the help you need. Don't be afraid and take the chance.

Don't forget to subscribe by email here and never miss an update.
Email me any time with comments, questions, or suggestions at: drantoniohowell [at] drantoniohowell.com

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There are plenty of evidences that smoking can be bad for your health. Majority of the chemicals found in cigarette smoke are toxic. Each year, there are over 3,000 people who die from passive smoking alone. On a larger scale, millions of people all over the world die because of cigarette smoking. If you are pregnant or you’re planning to have a child, you should take this opportunity to quit smoking. This way, you can prevent any possible effects of smoking to your child.

How smoking affects the life of the unborn has been the focus of many studies for the past years. While there’s still a lack of scientific evidences that measure how much exactly is the effect of smoking to the baby, experts have pointed out several scenarios that may happen to the unborn children whenever their mothers smoke. These include physical defects, underdeveloped organs, and a wide variety of illnesses that can sometimes result to infant death.

Low Birth Weight
According to research, one pack of cigarettes can reduce your baby’s weight by half a pound. Just imagine how much will your child weigh if you smoke an average of 20 cigarettes (one pack) a day all through your pregnancy. The reason behind the low birth weight is the insufficiency of oxygen, nutrients, and minerals that the unborn needs to survive. Every time you smoke, a large amount of nicotine is carried by your blood to all parts of your body including the umbilical cord, the tube that is connected to your child. The umbilical cord serves as the life support of the baby. It’s like a dextrose that carries the oxygen and nutrients to the child. But when you smoke, nicotine creates a spasm on your umbilical cord, making it hard for the blood to enter the placenta. This condition leads to the deprivation of the food and oxygen to the unborn. Babies who are born with weight less than 5.5lbs are considered at low birth weight.

Increased Chance of Cancer and Tumors
In an in-depth report made by Daily Mail, it was revealed that active smoking can increase the possibility of the unborn having cancer or tumors later in life. The harmful chemicals found in tobacco can adversely affect cell growth and may cause cell mutations and cell abnormalities. As this happens, the unborn becomes susceptible to any kind of cancer. In a study made by a group of researchers from the University of Pittsburgh, it was found that the cell mutation that is caused by cigarette smoke creates oncogene – a gene that actually transforms healthy cells to cancerous tumors. According to the research head Dr Stephen Grant, the occurrence of oncogene doesn’t just happen with active smoking but with passive smoking as well.

Vascular Disease
Infants that are born by women who smoke have an increased chance of developing heart diseases and related complications. Nicotine, tar, carbon monoxide, and all other chemicals that are brought by the cigarette smoke can cause huge damage on the placenta, causing it to separate from the uterus lining. This condition will make it much harder for the mother to transport oxygen and food to her baby. Many studies found that smoking makes the placenta look much older than it normally would. This causes great distress to the unborn which leads to heart problems. The mother may also experience vaginal bleeding, premature birth, and some other complications.

It’s not too late to Quit!
If you’re a smoker and you’re carrying a child inside your womb at this very moment, it’s never too late to quit. Hope this information will make you understand how important it is to get the monkey off your back. When you feel like you can’t quit smoking, just think of your child. For sure, he or she doesn’t want to smoke this early. Every unborn child is gifted with the instinct of survival. They may not have the intelligence yet to determine which is wrong from right. But they definitely know one thing – they want to live. Just like you.

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