STOP SMOKING PLEASE!

Using Hypnosis to Stop Smoking

2011-10-27T14:06:00.000+07:00

There are a variety of smoking cessation methods which have been introduced over the past years. Each of these methods has had their share of success stories where a smoker has successfully kicked the habit. However, some people have to try more than one method or combine several methods before finding the one which works for them. Why don’t we explore the use of hypnosis to stop smoking?

Hypnosis, also referred to as hypnotherapy, has become one of the popular options for quitting smoking which focuses on being positive. It can also be considered as a nonpharmacological treatment option, a type of treatment which doesn’t involve any medications. Hypnosis is unlike anything that we have been exposed to in the past. It is not something which is done for entertainment purposes where you control someone and ask them to do different kinds of things. It is actually concentrated relaxation, the purpose of which is to let a person feel relaxed while concentrating on something. This something can be a particular problem or a result that we want to achieve such as quitting smoking.

Using hypnosis to stop smoking has produced a high success rate. Most sessions are just one-time while there are others which require follow ups. Hypnosis can either be self-hypnosis or through a certified hypnotherapist. Both these methods can further be combined to produce a recorded program. This is similar to self-help audio tapes which you can listen to at home, in your car or in your office. They are available as an audio hypnosis program or a video hypnosis program. Aside from the audio and video, hypnosis can also be combined with other smoking cessation methods such as the patch. You can ask your doctor for more information about this.

How does using hypnosis to stop smoking work? As what was mentioned above, hypnosis focuses on being positive. With this method, you will be facing the emotional and psychological aspects of quitting and be able to deal with it. And instead of focusing on the negative effects that are brought about by smoking such as lung cancer and other diseases, the method focuses on the positive effects of not smoking such as being fit, being in good health, and the like. You are first brought into a relaxed state where you will eventually be able to access your subconscious mind. This is where you can focus on making a resolution to quit smoking, telling yourself that you are a non-smoker. It is as if you are correcting that part of your mind which tells you to smoke, to light a cigarette. You are instead, telling your mind the many benefits you can get by not smoking.

Hypnosis to stop smoking can help reduce stress which is considered to be among the reasons why people smoke. In addition, they also help change the way you perceive smoking such as a change in your behavior, belief, and the like. If you are considering this method, ask your doctor about it and start feeling stress free and smoke free.

Quit Smoking with Stop Smoking Tips

2011-10-27T13:59:00.000+07:00

Stop Smoking Tips provides all the information on how to quit smoking

According to a recent report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 20% of male and female adults in the U.S. smoke cigarettes, while more than 80% of them light up a cigarette every day. The reason why smoking has become such an issue is because the addictive effects of nicotine lead to various types of cancers, strokes, and heart attacks. As such, everyday is the RIGHT TIME to quit smoking.

The main goal of Stop-Smoking-Tips.com is to assist smokers aspiring to quit smoking and prevent smokers from having the urge to start smoking again. Once you quit smoking, you can immediately feel the health benefits of your decision within 24 hours, which could lead you to be free from smoking cigarettes forever.

The information on this website is based on evidence from research on stop smoking programs, stop smoking aids and counseling, which are aimed at helping people to quit smoking for good.

For smokers, to Stop Smoking is really a tough action to take. Majority of smokers want to quit smoking, but find it difficult to do so as nicotine is very addictive and hard to get rid off. We will teach you the easiest, most effective and systematic methods to stop smoking, which are tested by various studies worldwide. We will also provide you with a clear understanding of the dangers of smoking and the benefits of quitting smoking.

There are two factors that will determine your success in quitting smoking for good. They are;

Will – You must have the desire to give up your habit of smoking and create a strong will to avoid a smoking relapse.
Mindset – You must learn about the effects of smoking, understand its consequences and face the fact that you need to stop smoking and follow, finish and maintain a quit smoking plan.

In Six straightforward and easy steps, you can stop smoking and live a normal and healthy life same as that of a non-smoker.

Step 1: Think About Quitting

According to a recent survey, around 15 million smokers try to quit smoking each day. However, less than 3% of these people stop smoking successfully for 3 to 12 months. If you’re thinking about quitting or have stopped smoking but failed to quit, don’t lose hope because smokers often try to quit more than once before they actually succeed.

In this section, you will learn about the history of cigarette smoking, facts about smoking, smoking cessation and benefits of quitting smoking. To give you a strong reason to quit smoking, this section will also tackle dangerous diseases – such as lung cancer, heart disease, strokes, diabetes, etc – caused by smoking cigarettes. In addition, this section will explain the reasons why it is extremely hard to quit smoking, hurdles in quitting and possible nicotine withdrawal symptoms that you may encounter throughout this process.

Step 2: Effects of Smoking

Years of clinical studies have proven that using Tobacco causes people to become sick, disabled or die. Since the first Surgeon General’s Report in 1964, over 12 million smoking-related deaths have occurred. More than 500,000 deaths in the U.S are caused from smoking-related illnesses. Adult smokers reduce their lifespan by an average of 13 to 14 years.

In this section, you will learn about the dangerous effects and health risks of smoking. You will understand the facts about smoking addiction, the hazardous effects of smoking on a pregnant woman, on passive smokers, on your facial charm, on your teeth and on your general well being. You will also learn how stress could play a role in cigarette smoking. This section also deals with the effects on secondhand smoke, effects of smoking on vitamin A and C, dangerous effects of smoking on men and women, as well as the differences between cigar and pipe smoking.

Step 3: Preparing To Quit Smoking

The first key to quitting smoking successfully is planning and preparation. You need to prepare your body and mind before actually quitting. Determine your personal goals, discover your reasons for quitting and get rid of temptations that may become a hindrance to your stop smoking program. Tobacco smoke contains nicotine, a drug that is addictive and can make it very hard, but not impossible, to quit.

In this section, you will face the facts about nicotine addiction before your last stick of cigarette. You will learn the most effective steps to be followed when planning to quit smoking. You will also find out about the real reason why it is so hard to quit smoking. To help you plan your quit smoking program, you need to confront your personal reasons to start quitting and understand what you need to do stop smoking. This section also deals with the psychological recovery stages to stop smoking and provides helpful tips to quit smoking.

Step 4: Stop Smoking Tips

Even if you have no idea where to start and what to do, you can quit smoking as long as you have the mindset and commitment to do so. Stop smoking tips can help you create a good stop smoking plan and lifestyle changes that could lead to a healthier, smoke-free life.

In this section, you will learn some of the simplest ways and useful tips to quit smoking for good. You can choose from several psychological areas that can help you to stop smoking based on your lifestyle. This section also deals with stop smoking tips that will help your loved ones quit this deadly habit and tips on how to overcome nicotine withdrawal symptoms using an effective stop smoking plan, attending support groups and establishing a smoking cessation program.

Step 5: Stop Smoking Aids

When smoking cigarettes has played a large part in your life, quitting smoking may not be that simple. Fortunately, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved seven over-the-counter stop smoking aids – five of these help in managing nicotine withdrawal symptoms, while the other two help in reducing cigarette cravings.

In this section, you will learn about different proven stop smoking methods like Water Therapy (not to be confused with leaky faucets troubleshooting), Psychological Therapy and Nicotine Replacement Therapy. This section also deals with other useful stop smoking aids such as nicotine nasal sprays, nicotine lozenges, nicotine inhalers, nicotine patches, nicotine gum and stop smoking pills.

Step 6: Stay a Quitter

After sometime, some quitters get back to their smoking habit due to temptation and persistent nicotine carving. Some may slip and puff “just one cigarette”, while others experience total relapse. In fact, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, smokers who quit are at greater risk of relapsing in the first three months of becoming smoke-free.

In this section, you will learn effective methods in avoiding nicotine carvings, while training how to control urges through breathing exercises. To understand what you are going to experience through this process, you need to learn and manage nicotine withdrawal symptoms. This section also tackles steps to manage weight gain, discusses FAQ on common frustrations of a quitter, handle traumatic events without a cigarette and other possible solutions for ex-smokers.

Stop Smoking Products

Some people may find it difficult to quit smoking without any aids, nicotine replacements, or an electronic cigarette. If you’re one of them, you still have hope because there are numerous stop smoking products available in the market today to make quitting an easier journey.

In this section, you will discover the quit smoking products available in the market today, reviews of each product and ranking of the top quit smoking products. To understand what each product can do for your body, the frequently asked questions section about ‘Quit Smoking’ Products can help you understand and choose an appropriate stop smoking product for your program.

Recommended Quit Smoking Products

The following products are the best quit smoking products available in the market and have been proven to help you stop smoking forever. Do try them out and stay smoke free forever.

Buy Chantix - Best recommended quit smoking drug by Pfizer. FDA approved and clinically tested chantix proven to be the best drug for those who want to quit smoking and stay free from the addiction. Chantix is also marketed as champix and you can buy champix in many countries. Varenicline, Chantix and Chantix are different names for the same quit smoking pills produces by Pfizer.

Health Risks of Smoking

Smoking is one of the main causes of serious health diseases, such as cancer, stroke and heart problems. If you have no plans of quitting today, having knowledge of the different types of illnesses that you may experience through years of smoking may change your perception and lead you to stop smoking.

In this section, you will discover how smoking affects various parts of the body including the eyes, nose, throat, lungs, heart, skin, blood, etc. Here are some possible health effects of smoking:

• Lung Cancer
• Heart Diseases
• High Blood Pressure
• Bad Breath
• Gum Disease
• Depression
• Snoring
• Diabetes
• Infertility on men and women
• Thyroid Disease
• Harmful effects on Bones and Joints

This section also includes tips for reducing the health risks of smoking like heart attacks and blood pressure as well as dangers involved in breastfeeding while smoking.

Banning Smoking in Public Places

2011-03-22T12:56:00.000+07:00

Should smoking be banned in public places?
Ban smoking in public places!
The question and the statement that is most on peoples lips in many countries around the world. In the UK in 2007 the smoking ban in public places came into effect, prohibiting all smoking in public places and enclosed spaces.

The US has seen many states introduce a smoking ban in public places over the last several years (For a complete list see this Wikipedia entry: List of smoking bans in the United States.) California has been a driving force behind the smoking ban movement, with many smoke-free registries being set up by residents in apartments and residential buildings.

Why Ban Smoking in Public Places

Most non-smokers are quick to complain about the more 'visible' side effects, the stale cigarette smell on clothes, the smoke in the eyes and a personal hate of many, having to walk on a public street behind someone who starts smoking, and having to breathe in clouds of their smoke.

Governments are taking a more health based point of view, concentrating on the side effects of smoking, and the health risks involved in passive smoking.
Lung Cancer Several studies have proved an increased risk of Lung Cancer, around 25% for both smokers and passive smokers.
Coronary heart Disease Smoking greatly increases the risk of heart disease on its own, but combined with its effect of increasing blood pressure, increases the risk of blood clots, and decreases tolerance to exercise, the risk is massively increased.

The view is being taken that the health of passive smokers needs to be protected, introducing smoking bans is the only effective way to tackle this issue. The smoking bans should also encourage many existing smokers to quit smoking.

What about Passive or Secondhand smoke

The link between disease and passive or secondhand smoke has been well documented, and the connection to cardiovascular-related disability and death is also apparent. In the US around 37 to 40 thousand people die from blood vessel and heart disease caused by other people’s smoke each year. Of these, around 35,000 non smokers die from coronary heart disease, which includes heart attack.

Why smoking should be banned in all public places

2011-03-22T12:17:00.002+07:00

There are many reasons why smoking should be banned in all public places. The most obvious is that it is unhealthy for the smoker, as well as everyone else near the smoker, especially in closed areas. Undisputed scientific studies emphasize that second-hand smoke is almost as medically hazardous to exposed non-smokers as it is to the smoker. Smoking is more than a habit; it is an addiction, and every step should be taken to discourage people, especially the young, from becoming addicted.

Children, chronically-ill people and the elderly are the most vulnerable to second-hand. It just takes a little longer for non-smokers who are exposed to develop the same ailments, including chronic throat and mouth irritation, emphysema and other lung problems as the addicted smoker.

Another reason smoking should be banned in all public spaces is that it is unpleasant to non-smokers. Where it is permitted in restaurants, bars, casinos, theaters, transportation and other places, it is simply that the inconsiderate smoker is imposing his/her addiction to the discomfort of others. If those persons must indulge in smoking, they should do it in designated indoor and outdoor areas where it will not annoy and/or sicken others.

As a personal note, during most of my working years, smoking was permitted just about everywhere. Except for showing off at age 13 by smoking an entire pack of cigarettes and getting very sick, I've never smoked since. However, until the era of banning some areas to smokers, I had to endure the annoying smell and discomfort in restaurants, theaters, airport lounges and many other places. When I attended business meetings in small rooms, i always had to hang my clothing out to air after I went home. It wasn't that I was allergic, as many unfortunate people are. I just found the smell of burning cigarettes, the breath and clothing of addicts annoying, their attitudes inconsiderate.

We who survived the many years before smoking in public places started to be banned are thankful that medical studies exposed the obvious. They proved that cigarettes are deadly to both the smoker and everyone else who must involuntarily be exposed to them. Of course, the medical studies revealed nothing new. As far back as the early 20th Century, cigarettes were called coffin nails. It's just that people finally woke up to the facts of the deadly consequences of smoking, and realized the culture created to enhance the profits of the tobacco companies was simply wrong.

Smoking Rehabilitation Methods

2011-02-04T15:58:00.000+07:00

What is smoking rehabilitation?
Smoking rehabilitation is a program for chain smokers to assist them with smoking cessation. They include behavioral counseling to break the psychological dependence on the tobacco products. The program is very useful for those who are really willing to quit smoking. They are given with personal care and personal motivation for cessation.
What are the options for smoking cessation?
There are a number of ways to quit smoking. One of the best is to enroll as a member of the stop smoking program. They adopt a number of methods to assist the smokers to quit. Some of the methods adopted are cold turkey, Chantix, nicotine fading, nicotine gum, nicotine lozenge, nicotine skin patch, nicotine nasal spray, nicotine inhaler and Zyban.
Cold turkey Technique- This is a one step process. In this method the smoker must stop smoking immediately. For this the person must have a strong desire to quit from smoking. The second method is called Chantix. Chantix is a nicotine free pill that reduces the withdrawal symptoms and it reduces the satisfaction from smoking. Chantix should be taken for 12 weeks for complete recovery. The third method is nicotine fading. In this method, the smoker is instructed to smoke with reduced nicotine levels. It is reduced day by day and week by week. It is a step by step process. This method will reduce the withdrawal symptoms of smoking. This process is easy to follow.
Nicotine gum is another method for smoking cessation. The gum is a substitute source for smoking. It reduces the withdrawal symptoms during the quitting process. It is a six-month period training program. One of the main disadvantages of this method of treatment is that it has minor side effects like nausea and light headedness. Nicotine skin patch is one of the simplest methods for quitting smoking. It provides a substitute source of nicotine patch to reduce the process of quitting. This patch is applied to the skin for duration of 12 weeks.
Another method is called nicotine lozenge. In this method a nicotine lozenge is taken every two hours to reduce the withdrawal symptoms. This can be managed alone and it requires a great level of determination to quit from smoking. Nicotine nasal spray is also an effective way for smoking cessation. The nicotine spray must be used every hour to reduce the withdrawal symptoms. Nicotine inhaler is yet another way to quit from smoking. Here the nicotine inhaler is used as a substitute for nicotine to reduce the withdrawal signs during the smoking cessation.
Besides all the methods adopted to quit from smoking, the part played by the addict himself is of greater importance. It takes a great deal of determination and purest of desires from the addict to resist the withdrawal symptoms and to quit from smoking.

Chy King, M.Ed. is the owner of The Sober Sources Network and has extended her network on alcoholism and addiction recovery for both adults and teen to incorporate 14 different websites in hopes of helping those seeking their own solutions.

How Smoking Effects Your Health

2010-12-23T14:43:00.001+07:00

Although the negative health effects of cigarette smoking cannot be debated, it remains the single most common cause of preventable deaths. Each year, over 430,000 people die as a result of a smoking related disease. Yet, over 50 million continue to smoke, including over 3 million teens. An estimated three thousand teenagers begin to smoke each day, and one thousand of them will eventually die as a result. According to the American Lung Association, cigarette smoking leads to 87% of lung cancers, emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Healthcare and lost productivity costs of $97.2 billion dollars per years arise from smoking related illnesses. Cigarettes contain over 19 known cancer-causing chemicals in addition to nicotine.

Quitting is a frustrating and difficult proposition for these people who despite the knowledge that they are seriously harming their bodies. Addiction to nicotine causes very uncomfortable symptoms of with drawl. Irritation, agitation and anxiety as well as loss of concentration, sleep disturbances, headaches, coughing and cravings.

Smoking cigarettes is so compelling because of the effects of nicotine. A stimulant, nicotine causes a temporary increase in alertness and a calm feeling. And it can be incredibly addictive. Some studies have found nicotine to be more highly addictive that cocaine or heroin. Additionally, it suppresses the appetite and smokers tend to keep weight off.

How Smoking Harms Your Body

Here’s why cigarette smoke causes so much damage to our bodies. While nicotine itself isn't thought to be carcinogenic, the highly addictive drug is toxic and potentially lethal in large doses. Long-term smokers have a much higher risk of developing a host of life threatening diseases. Just about any cancer you can think of, including cancer of the lung, mouth, nose, voice box, lip, tongue, nasal sinus, esophagus, throat, pancreas, bone marrow, kidney, cervix, liver, bladder and stomach can result from smoking.

Heart and lungs are most damaged by smoking

Lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, are largely due to smoking. Heart disease, which includes coronary artery disease, heart attack and stroke are far more common in smokers. One of the effects of nicotine is constricting the blood vessels, which in turn causes high blood pressure. Another effect is raising your heart rate, which adds extra stress on your heart.

Not only does smoking affect the heart, but every part of your circulatory system. Your blood becomes thicker and stickier, further taxing the heart. The lining of the blood vessels is damaged, allowing fat deposits to adhere, and is most likely a significant cause of arteriosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries.

As a result, diminished circulation to the feet and hands leads to painful neuropathy, and impaired ability to fight local infections. This can lead to gangrene and sometimes requires amputation.

Inhaled smoke contains poison

The inhaled smoke contains many harmful substances, such as tar, carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, heavy metals and free radicals. Each of these damages the body in various ways. Tar is sticky and brown, containing many chemicals known to be carcinogenic, including benzopyrene. It also and stains teeth, fingernails and lung tissue.

It causes damage to the mouth, teeth and gums, as well as ulcers of the digestive system.
Osteoporosis is caused by a leeching of calcium from the bones and predisposes smokers to fractures. The hip joint is particularly vulnerable to fractures and Avascular Necrosis, a disorder where the bone dies.

Because carbon monoxide, a major component of the smoke, binds with higher affinity to hemoglobin, it displaces oxygen carried by the blood. Since less oxygen is carried within each blood cell, the heart must pump more blood through the body to transfer the same amount of oxygen to the cells.

Hydrogen cyanide prevents the lungs from cleaning themselves of poisonous chemicals. Cilia, the tiny hairs that help to clean the lungs by moving foreign substances out are damaged. Harmful chemicals are allowed to collect in the lungs, preventing oxygenation of the blood.

Other chemicals in smoke that damage the lungs include hydrocarbons, nitrous oxides, organic acids, phenols and oxidizing agents. Free radicals are highly reactive chemicals that can damage the heart muscles and blood vessels When they react with cholesterol plaques are formed, which increase the risk of arterial damage, heart disease and stroke. Finally, tobacco smoke contains dangerous metals including arsenic, cadmium, and lead. Many of these are known to cause cancer.

The tars in smoke can trigger cancer of the esophagus and throat. Smoking causes increased stomach acid secretion, leading to heartburn and ulcers. Smokers have higher rates of deadly pancreatic cancer. Many of the carcinogens from cigarettes are excreted in the urine where their presence can cause bladder cancer, which is often fatal. High blood pressure from smoking can damage the kidneys.

Smoking Damages Other Systems

Smoking adversely affects the reproductive system, especially in women. Many female smokers experience irregular or absent periods. Fertility is compromised, and menopause occurs one to two years earlier. The risk of cervical cancer is increased. For women over 35 taking oral contraceptives, there is a significantly increased risk of stroke or heart attack if they are smokers. Men, experience lower sperm count, more abnormal sperm with decreased motility. There is also an effect on the man’s level of sex hormones. Decrease circulations also predisposes male smokers to impotence as a result of overall compromised circulation and damage to the blood vessels in the penis.

Smoker’s immune systems are impaired, leaving the smoker vulnerable to a host of minor infections. A smoker needs more time to recover from infections than a non-smoker. Coupled with diminished circulation, a smoker’s risk of infection from minor cuts or abrasions to the arms or legs skyrockets.

Cigarette smoking decreases bone density, promoting osteoporosis. Skin becomes dry and loses it’s elasticity as a result of poor circulation. Premature wrinkling is common. Irritation and inflammation of the stomach and intestines is frequently seen, including painful ulceration of the entire GI tract.

Even more serious are the risks to an unborn child if the mother smokes. Miscarriage is more common in women who smoke. Infants of smoking mothers are at increased risk of low birth weight, prematurity, cleft lip and palate, infections and SIDS.

How Smoking Affects our Environment

2010-11-03T15:55:00.001+07:00

It is a common belief among cigarette smokers that they are only hurting themselves. In fact they are not only hurting themselves, but also the people who love them and the environment. As an ex-smoker I was curious about the environmental impact of smoking so I decided to investigate. These days everyone knows what smoking cigarettes does to our bodies, but the knowledge of what smoking does to the Earth is not as common. There are some things that every smoker who has any concern for environmental issues should know.

It is fairly obvious that smoking pollutes the air and quite often the ground. However, it is not always obvious how or how much smoking pollutes. Cigarettes contain over 4000 chemicals which are exhaled and released into the air and the atmosphere. Approximately 30% of North Americans are smokers, and the percentage goes much higher in developing countries, which means there is a massive amount of pollution being released into the air every day. Trees are often compared to the lungs in our bodies because they perform basically the same functions as our lungs do on a global scale. With all of the pollutants that the trees filter out for us already it seems almost crazy to add more to the air that doesn’t need to be added. We need to breathe, but no one needs to smoke.

The pollution caused by cigarettes does not stop in our bodies or the air; it also affects the land we live on and the water that we drink. Millions of cigarette butts are discarded onto the ground every day. Every year in California the state has a statewide cleanup and cigarette butts account for almost half of the waste that is collected. These are only the ones that are picked up in one state and millions more are never picked up. They end up in the rivers and lakes where fish and animals eat them by mistake and quite often die from it. The rest are left on the ground to decompose which will take an average of 25 years while all of the chemicals and additives leach into the ground and pollute the soil and the plants. If you are going to smoke please consider this information before your throw your cigarette butts on the ground. It looks unattractive, it is a major fire hazard in dry weather, and it is extremely harmful to the environment.

Probably the most impacting aspect of cigarettes is actually producing them. There is the land used to grow the crops all over the world that could be put to better use by planting more trees or food for starving children in third world countries. These crops are also often sprayed with a lot of harmful pesticides and chemicals because tobacco is a very fragile plant and is likely to pick up disease. It also takes a lot of trees to produce and package cigarettes. Cigarette manufacturing uses four miles of paper an hour just for rolling and packaging cigarettes. One tree is wasted for every three hundred cigarettes produced. Those trees could be filtering out the pollutants already in the air instead of being chopped down for the cause of adding new ones. There is still the energy and water wasted in manufacturing cigarettes that needs to be considered and with soil depletion and chemical wastage added on top of that it becomes clear that manufacturing cigarettes has an enormous strain on the environment.

The tobacco industry is quite unwilling to use better technology to reduce the impact they are having on the environment because it would take up too much of their billions of dollars in profit every year. They are often trying to have more trees planted, but since they use trees to dry the tobacco and for rolling and packaging it is probably not concern for the environment, but concern for losing their wood sources that encourage them to do this. They do not care about polluting our bodies so it seems unlikely that they would think twice about polluting our environment. The only way to stop them from harming the environment is to stop buying their products. Quitting smoking is hard, but it can be done and it’s not only about the harm smokers are doing to their own bodies, it’s also about the harm they are doing to the earth and the pain that they are causing their friends and families.

Passive Smoking Effects

2010-11-03T11:46:00.001+07:00

You must be aware of the hazards of cigarette smoking, and hence, must be keeping away from it. But, do you know that passive smoking is equally deleterious to us? Let us get to know more on passive smoking.

Passive Smoking
Passive smoking is the involuntary inhalation of the smoke from cigarettes or tobacco that is being smoked by others. This smoke is known as secondhand smoke (SHS). Passive smoking, also known as involuntary smoking, occurs when cigarette smoke spreads in the air and is inhaled by people who are present in the same environment. All over the world, it has been found that passive smoking is as injurious to health as the actual smoking itself.

Most of the times, passive smokers are the ones who live with smokers, and hence, are regularly exposed to tobacco smoke. On the other hand, a non-smoker can also get exposed to tobacco smoke while working in a smoky atmosphere or simply by being in a smoke-filled restaurant or bar. In either of the cases, non-smokers have high chances of passive smoking which is hazardous to their health. Let us have a look at the effects of passive smoking.

Passive Smoking Effects in Adults
As mentioned above, passive smoking can cause dangerous health effects. The following are minor side effects of passive smoking:

Cough
Sore throat
Irritation of eyes
Headache
Nausea
Infection in nose / ear

Apart from these, there are several other long term passive smoking effects which can lead to disability or even death. They include:

Lung cancer
Asthma
Pneumonia
Bronchitis
Tuberculosis
Hypertension

Some diseases are not directly caused due to passive smoking. But if a person continues being exposed to passive smoke for a long time, he has an increased risk of suffering from the following diseases:

Heart diseases
Diseases of the circulatory system
Dementia
Renal cell carcinoma
Brain tumor

Passive Smoking Effects in Children
Passive smoking is more hazardous to children than to adults. As the immune system of children is very weak, they are at a higher risk of suffering from diseases. Passive smoking effects in children include:

Asthma
Bronchitis
Pneumonia
Allergy
Infection in lungs / ear / throat

Passive Smoking Effects in Fetus
You may have heard that pregnant or expectant mothers are advised to quit smoking as it causes harm to the fetus. Passive smoking dangers in fetus include:

Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Premature birth
Low birth weight
Low production of milk (in mothers)

Prevention of Passive Smoking

As we have seen the numerous passive smoking effects, one should be equally careful about it, the sane way as one is aware of cigarette smoking. Smoking is banned in most of the parts of the world. In other parts, it is banned in enclosed places like restaurants, theaters, or other public places, in order to avoid the risks of passive smoking. On the other hand, smokers can help a lot for the prevention of passive smoking. Smokers should never smoke at home or in cars. This should be strictly followed especially if there are children at home. Although, it is always better to stop smoking, but if smokers cannot overcome smoking, they should do it outdoors, in open places. This way, the risk of passive smoking can be greatly reduced.

HOW TO QUIT SMOKING TODAY!

2010-11-03T10:42:00.002+07:00

This a great quick reference guide on how to kick the habit. With the price of cigarettes along with the price of everything else, many people have given up smoking. If you havent yet there is still hope. Many people have done many different things to try to quit. There are many many success stories.

There are many ways to quit smoking. Many people have tried the patch, gum, hypnotherapy, acupuncture and more. Today, however, in our society there are alot more ways to quit. There are support groups, hotlines you can call for support, books, pills, an much more. The hook is to decide which one is right for you. For most people who have quit smoking and have tried the gum or the patch all say it really works. Well, If it didn't obviously it would not still be on the shelves today.

The patch. It is a clear patch that you stick on your arm and it helps you to quit smoking. It does this by a controlled release of nicotine for 24 hours. Over the next eight to ten weeks depending on the strength you started with you can lower your dosage to where you do not have to use it at all.
Stop Smoking Gums. Nicorette is used by many as an easier way to quit, because your mouth is moving and while you are chewing the nicotine is being released. With gum also you can pop an extra piece if you have strong craving. Over the next twelve weeks of starting the gum, you will use less and less pieces and should be smoke free in about twelve weeks.
Hypnotherapy to stop smoking. When it comes to wanting to quit smoking people often think of hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy is and has been promoted for some time now. However in some studies it does prove to be a successful tool when it comes to kicking the habit. It may be a little costly for a session or too. But the money you can save in the long run when you do quit will be worth it after all.
Let's look at some reasons why you should want to quit smoking. Some of the top reasons people quit are as follows Your health. Your health should be the number one reason to quit. After a few months you will feel better and occassionally crave one. It's just the first month or so that is hardest.You may be like me you quit while you were pregnant. Well simple as this don't pick one back up after you have your baby.

Another reason your family. You want to be able to sit inside all day with your family or drive your car with out having to worry about if they can smell your smoke or not and if its making them sick or not. Do you have pets? Yes? Then you need to think about them as well. The smoke effects animals too.It can make them sick the same as humans.

Another great reason is for women. LESS WRINKLES!!! When you smoke it makes you look 3-5 years older than what you actually are. I for instance am 28 I look about 30 to 32. I am totaly freaking out because I am starting to notice wrinkles! I know that when women and men smoke your lips get these lines around them and they are not laugh lines. No, I call them smokers lines. I have two aunts that have them really bad. They are worse than crows feet or forehead wrinkles. Another reason is to save money. I know if I took the money I spent on my cigarettes a day and took that money and put it in my saving account I would save about $1880.00 a year. The things I could do with that money. I could go on vacation, pay an extra 7 payments on my car and still have money left, pay 3 months ahead on my rent. I could give my mom back the money I have borrowed from her.

I know some more reasons women and men have not quit smoking yet. One is because you are afraid you are going to gain weight. Well that is why I haven't quit yet. I just figure if I get going on a really good diet, which I am working on, start exercising when I can I know I will lose weight. In fact I actually think if I quit I would lose more weight. I think this because I tend to smoke while I am cooking or right after I eat. So maybe I am going about this diet thing all wrong.

It is also hard to quit when someone in your family smokes, or your spouse smokes. My mom and my fiance smoke. I do not use that as an excuse but it is hard that when you go see your mom its kind of a tradition that you smoke a cigarette together before you head home. Kind of like if something happens to either one of us we know we did that one last thing together. What makes it really hard is my fiance. He is just about a chain smoker. I know if I quit he would too (maybe) But to be honest he probably would just go outside which would just make it hard. I do not know but I know I am going to try.

These things I have listed here are just a few of the most important reasons to quit smoking. Sit down and write out what would be your best reasons to quit. Good luck and I hope you quit!

Tobacco smoke is bad for you.

2010-11-03T10:36:00.001+07:00

I lived through the smoking ban enacted in bars and restaurants and I couldn't be more delighted. Although I was never particularly bothered by the smoke, no more than most that is, I certainly noticed the lack after the bans went through. No more smelly hair and clothes. No more changing the pillowcases after a night out because the smoke smell went from hair to the pillow like clockwork.

Since I'm not a smoker there was no problem.

But oh, you should have heard the caterwauling. Personal liberty was being infringed! (Never mind the liberty of others to be free from annoyance of smoke, eh? Why do the libertarians always forget that?) Business will be AffEcTed! Bars will close. Nobody will buy alcohol anymore! Nobody will go out to dine.

Naturally this never came to pass in my region of the world. Nor did it in a myriad of other jurisdictions that passed smoking bans.

Including NYC.

And here is a tale from a bartender who was practically on the ramparts to oppose the smoking ban. Changing. His. Mind. Based on the results of the policy as he personally experienced it.

And it was at that moment, silently of course, that I grudgingly had to thank old Mayor Bloomberg. For regardless of what his motivation was and regardless of the fact that he did it with an iron fist, the son-of-a-gun when it's all said and done was right. The good, as it all turns out, outweighs the bad. And not just because of the major things, of which we are all aware, but the minor things of which you're about to read...

Test out a policy change, evaluate the outcome. If you are originally opposed to the policy....what do you do? Do you leave your ego at the door and really look at the data? Or do you stick to your guns no matter what the evidence?

Scribbler is a standup guy for admitting he was wrong. May we all be able to do the same when public policies have results that are demonstrably better than our initial preferences

Smoking and Periodontal Disease

2010-11-03T10:08:00.001+07:00

Covering smoking and periodontal health, bad breath and gum disease

Smoking and periodontal disease is amongst the most apparent dangers of smoking. One single most effective way of eliminating the risk factor for periodontal disease is to quit smoking. Periodontitis is the disease that compromises the gum and bone and areas surrounding your teeth.

On it's own even without periodontitis tobacco and nicotine may cause severe damage to your teeth and gums as shown in these pictures.

The link between smoking and periodontal disease lays in the nicotine effect and other smoke toxins and chemicals that inflame the gum tissue by cutting the amount of oxygen to these tissues. They trigger the excessive production of a harmful amount of cytokines to cells and tissues.

The disease itself has very few symptoms and progresses silently so much that by the time treatment is sought it would have significantly progressed. Heavy smokers who take many cigarettes per day have a greater risk of periodontal disease. It's only a greater risk, but risk in general is higher in people who smoke.Some people who smoke mistakenly opt for pipes and cigars with the hope of reduced health risks. In fact the periodontal disease risk is the same for cigars and pipes.

Housemates of people who smoke are also exposed to compromised periodontal health via second hand smoke.

The emergence of painful bleeding gums or gum disease and loose teeth is merely the showing up of signs and symptoms of a significantly advanced periodontal disease. The bleeding occurs on biting hard food such as apples. Further symptoms including recurringly swelling gums, teeth recession and bad breath.

For those who smoke marijuana, cannabis smoking has been shown to also increase the risk of periodontal disease. Other diseases are also linked to periodontitis such as diabetes.

Smoking and periodontal disease is a potentially distressing development in smokers especially the bad breath which is immediately noticeable. Some preventative and treatment measures include;

Quitting smoking - when you quit smoking recovery begins in earnest.
Taking vitamin c supplements - vitamin c levels are naturally depleted in smokers. Go for more citrus fruits including grapefruits.
Brush and floss your teeth sufficiently on a daily basis
Antiseptic mouth wash is very handy and can be used daily and also before bed time.
Regular dental checks with 3 to 6 months intervals so that professional teeth cleaning is done.

There are other techniques that include all out surgery to do deep cleaning of your teeth and reposition the bones. These would require a visit to your dental health care service provider for a chat.

HOW TO STOP SMOKING INSTANTLY: MY STORY

2010-11-03T09:44:00.001+07:00

You might disagree what I’m going to tell you, but the truth of the matter is I did it myself without any use of medical support.

For more than 25 years I was a change smoker, consuming more than two packs a day. That’s a normal for me. Sometimes I consumed three packs the whole night when I played music during invitations to provide entertainment to fiestas in our place, the Philippines.

Yes, being a catholic country, the Philippines has lots of fiestas and holidays. During fiestas, every town or baranggay needs the services of musicians to entertain visitors, especially during vesper day dances.

So, musicians are in demand during these occasions.

Me, being a combo player always got the best deal to give music to every fiestas in our place. During night time – were most of these occasions are held, is cold and smoking is the only remedy to quench the cold environment.

That’s where I consumed around three packs the whole night.

How I stopped smoking is the one I’m going to share with you, right now.

Are you really serious to STOP smoking?

Well, I know you’re excited to know how I stopped smoking instantly and how you can do it too.

Here they are…

1. Crush a single stick. One time I was suffering from a smokers

cough for almost one month. Any medication I takes but to no avail. I couldn’t sleep sometimes when the cough attacks. I was really, really mad at my cough and immediately I connected the cigarette to the cough I was suffering. I got one stick, and I immediately crushed it and says, “I hate you, I hate you, I hate you” crushing the single

stick into small pieces and thrown in the trash can. You can crush more than what I did if you think you’re not comfortable with one stick. It depends to your decision.

2. Do away from cigarette smoke. Sometimes I was enticed to smoke when I smell the cigarette smoke especially in public places. What I did, I leave the place immediately and look for a place where no one smokes. I did this routine for more than six months. After this period, I can already mingle with people who smoke without being enticed with their smoke. I already passed through the critical period of adjustment.

3. Keep busy. When I feel like to smoke, I see to it that I have to do something to make myself busy. I used to do heavy work like, cutting grasses, lifting heavy loads, jogging in place, or anything that will let me perspire heavily. When I perspire heavily, I am relieve from the craving for cigarette.

4. Drink plenty of water or fruit juice. After perspiring from my physical activities stated in number 3, I drink plenty of water or fruit juice whatever is available to the maximum. Water is the number one body cleansing. I felt I was totally relieved after drinking water. When there is a fresh fruit juice I take it to replace water. Most often I drink more water than fruit juice.

5. Think positive. Thinking positive, what I mean, is I always imagine and focus on the positive side of things. I don’t bother myself looking back at the bad experiences I encountered during my period of addiction with cigarette smoking. I always do things that has no connection whatsoever with cigarette. When suddenly cigarette craving comes to my mind, I immediately change course to erase it. Doing things to while away the time to forget cigarette related attention.

6. Eat fruits and vegetables. This is my secret to forget cigarette smoking. I always maintain to have fruit or vegetable with my diet. If

there is no fruit available during lean months, I used to eat plenty of vegetables in one setting. Sometimes I’ll combine three or five vegetables in one cooking, any kind of vegetable available around I have to used them.

7. Self Discipline. I always hold through to my decision to quit smoking. No amount of enticement or seduction could break my personal decision from my friends who are smokers. During social gatherings or simple get together, I could not escape to mingle with smokers. But, because of my strong belief not to smoke again, I strictly adhere to my decision to be non-smoker, and I can withstand the strong pressure. To me, that’s self discipline.

8. Ask Divine Help. Believe me, whatever sect do you belong, I know you agree that there is an Almighty God that intervenes our lives. For me being a Christian, totally believe that Divine help reinforces my desire to stop smoking. When cravings for cigarette sets in, I closed my eyes and pray to God that I may be strong enough to resist temptation. And it really works.

If you’re serious to stop smoking, I encourage you to follow what I did. There’s no need of any medical help. Just stick to what you believe can do away with cigarette smoking.

Give yourself a try what I’ve done.

If I’ve done it, and so you can do it too. Just be determined and don’t stop until you achieve what you desires!

Believe Me, if I’ve done it, and so you can.

And if ever you’ve succeed with your “stop-smoking-plan” please send me a note and ask your permission to include you in my testimonies for smokers who’ve stop smoking without the use of medical help.

I want more people to be aware about the negative effect of cigarette smoking to our lives.

Let us advocate “stop smoking” to those people who are desirous to be released from the chain of cigarette addiction.

Together, with our common efforts to help them “WE CAN DO IT”!

LET’S HELP THEM… I KNOW THEY NEED OUR IMMEDIATE HELP!