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10 Smoking Facts to Help You Develop a New Attitude Toward Your Cigarette Addiction

January 4th, 2010

What are the smoking facts?  Smoking can kill you, and your cigarette addiction can also kill others.If you want to quit cigarette smoking you need to start by changing your attitude and beliefs about your cigarette addiction. All addicts engage in denial and rationalization.  You use these tidy bits of fiction to protect yourself from the stark reality of the smoking risks to your health and the health of those around you. Your tobacco addiction is likely accompanied some or all of the following bits of smoking fiction.  You cannot quit cigarette smoking unless you give up your denial and face the facts about smoking.Fiction: I have the right to do what I want,  it is my body.Fact #1: The facts about smoking reveal that your habit is contributing to air pollution, global warming, accidental poisoning, escalating  prevalence of asthma and even sudden infant death syndrome. Your addiction is harming not only you but those around you.  Your are not alone on this planet, and you are not alone in your life.  There are other people who love you and need you and your smoking is as harmful to them as it is to you.Fiction: If I keep the windows open when I smoke in the car I am protecting the children from the harmful effects of smoke.Fact #2: This does nothing to protect your children from the smoking risks to health. Every time you smoke a cigarette in the car they smoke it with you.  Fiction: Smoking is a bad habit.Fact #3: Smoking is a tobacco addiction not a habit.Fiction: Everybody smokes.Fact #4: Everybody does not smoke.  So many people in Canada are giving up smoking that the national rate for smoking is approaching 18% . If you smoke you are in the minority not the majority. Fiction: Smoking is cool.Fact #5: When you smoke you do not look cool, you look stupid.  Let’s face it you have freely chosen to engage in an activity that drains your pocket book and harms your health. This decision calls your intelligence into question.  Smoking statistics in Canada show that smoking is more prevalent among the unemployed, lower income groups and populations with 12 years or less of grade school education.  Smoking doesn’t make you look cool it makes you look uneducated, unemployed, and poor.Fiction: It is only tobacco. Its not like its heroin or anything.Fact #6 : Nicotine is more dangerous that cocaine, heroin or alcohol when it comes to dependence. Dependence develops quickly.  The product is legal and easily available making the dependence easier to maintain. Tobacco addiction causes more health problems worldwide than heroin.Fiction: It is legal so it can’t be that bad.Fact #7: See smoking fact # 6 Fiction: I only smoke socially when I am with friends.Fact #8: See smoking fact # 6. Your social smoking will likely result in a tobacco addiction.  If you value your friends do not harm them.  You have a moral obligation to protect them.  Fiction: I am still young and will quit before I get olderFact # 9: See smoking fact # 6. Smoking statistics show that most people start their cigarette addiction when they are teenagers.Fiction: It is hopeless, I have tried many times and I cannot quit cigarette smoking.Fact # 10: Not everyone is successful the first time they try to quit cigarette smoking.  The facts about smoking show that most former smokers had several unsuccessful attempts before they finally overcame their tobacco addiction.  Keep trying!Of all the known smoking risks to your health perhaps the most significant one is not facing the facts about smoking and living in a world of denial.If you want to quit cigarette smoking your reality check should include facing the smoking facts.  This one is so important it bears repeating.Smoking can kill you.

Beverly Hansen OMalley is a nurse who is passionate about health promotion. Visit www.registered-nurse-canada.com where Bev explores the uniqueness of the nursing profession in Canada including comparison of nurse salary across the country, preparation for the Canadian nursing entrance test and how to become a nurse in Canada if you graduated in another country.

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Some Of The Health Risks From Smoking

January 4th, 2010

Scientific evidence of the health risks posed by smoking go back to the 1950s. Figures from the US government show that 28% of males 18 years old and above and 23% of females in the same age bracket were into the habit in the mid-1990s. The percentages were even higher in 1964, when the US surgeon general first issued an official warning that smoking was hazardous to one’s health.

Following that formal warning, many reports were released on the link between cigarettes and tobacco to heart diseases, lung diseases, and cancers of the mouth and other tissues. However, the habit persisted, with young smokers doing so as an expression of rebellion and strong drive to be independent.

For adults, smoking marked an addiction to nicotine – the key factor that made smoking a pleasurable and addictive experience. This led to another warning from the surgeon general in 1988, which put addiction to nicotine on the same level as cocaine and heroin.

The danger in smoking comes from the chemical substances released either as a gas or as a particulate. Nitrogen oxides, hydrogen cyanide and most especially carbon monoxide are gaseous emissions from cigarette smoke that threaten to poison the body.

Nicotine is one of several hazardous particulates emitted from smoking. These particulates damage the cilia – the little hairs lining the lungs that help transport mucus out of the lungs, and all pollutants accumulated. When the cilia malfunction, pollutants remain in the lungs and the likelihood of influenza and bronchitis, emphysema and other diseases increases.

The possibility that smokers die from cancer and heart disease is twice that of their non-smoking counterparts. Individuals who smoke also have lungs that become less efficient with age much faster than those who don’t. Smoking has been cited as the cause of over 400,000 deaths in the US every year.

Government agencies, scientists and health officials have also established that passive smoking, or second-hand smoke, also has ill effects. The National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion has reported that over 4,000 chemicals are generated by second-hand smoke, with more than 50 of those believed to be cancer-causing agents.

In 1975, the Centers for Disease Control released a report citing such a danger, noting that toxic chemicals stay in the air and are inhaled by unsuspecting victims. Thus, the concern over smoking as a private choice by individuals expanded into a public-health issue.

Passive smoking was cited as a cancer-causing agent by the US Environmental Protection agency in 1993. For pregnant women, smoking raises the chances that their baby will be underweight or that they end up with a miscarriage. Children less than a year old are twice as likely to have lung infections if their mothers smoke compared to counterparts whose mothers do not practice the habit. Individuals with asthma, allergies or other respiratory ailments were also warned, as exposure can worsen their conditions.

Some smokers gradually quit or smoked less, while nonsmokers became the focus of more protection, as government worked on policies and legislation to curb the habit. As early as 1964, the US signed into law a requirement that health warnings must be integrated into all cigarette advertising and packaging. Policies were also implemented to designate schools, offices and other public places as smoke-free buildings.

In the 1990s, class action suits started to bombard state and federal courts, claiming that cigarette makers employed deceptive marketing tactics to keep consumers from knowing that nicotine was addictive and worked on levels of the particulate in cigarettes to keep smokers hooked on their product.

More recent suits against the industry charge manufacturers of also misleading consumers into thinking that “lights” and similar products were healthier alternatives to regular cigarettes. These more recent cases later led to the multi-billion dollar settlement between the US government and industry in the late 1990s.

These lawsuits and the consistency of health lobbyists and persuasive government programs have helped pull down US smoking rates on a consistent basis over the last four decades, with government figures showing per capita rates at 22.5% and experts forecasting the rates to continue declining in the future.

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Stop Smoking Now

January 4th, 2010

With all the knowledge we have theses days, it can be very surprising to see people continue to indulge in habits that are detrimental to their health. In actual fact what this tells us is that addiction is powerful.

Our objective is to learn about smoking. How it affects you. The power of addiction and health implications involved in this habit. Currently it is estimated that over one billion people smoke around the world. Most smokers begin at an early age, generally in there teens. In the past smoking was a recreational function of the rich, but these days that is quite the contrary. Unfortunately the less educated seem to be smoking rather than the educated. The level of education, income and standard of living contribute greatly to the success of quitting smoking.

Here are some interesting statistics from the world health organization. 25.6 million people smoke in the United States.
Among whites 25.1% of men smoke and 21.7% of women smoke.
Among African Americans, 27.6% of men smoke and 18% of women smoke.
Among Hispanics 23.2% men smoke and 12.5% of women smoke.
Among Asians 21.3% men smoke and 6.9% of women.
One out of every five deaths is tobacco related. It is estimated that 400′000 Americans die each year from tobacco.

Smoking is highest among persons living below the poverty level. Education is extremely important in the fight against smoking. Education is not just telling people about smoking. What is needed is dialogue and interaction so that each individual can understand factually the implications.

I talked to a person one time who was very upset that the price of cigarettes is getting increasingly expensive. She felt she was been discriminated against. To her she is addicted and the majority are against her. She felt the fight against tobacco was an attack on her.

Firstly it is poor education that makes her feel this way. Secondly when smoking socially you also jeopardize the health of others. Thirdly the costs to the health system are enormous. Fourthly we as people take things personally. Addiction can bring pleasure temporarily but fatal consequences later. Her challenge was that she wanted to continue smoking and the majorities were making it difficult for her. So when you really get down to it she was concerned about her own pleasures above her health and the health of others.

The choices to continue smoking is yours, but understand that the costs are high for your health and the health of others. No one can deny the dangers of smoking. Quit today.

Paul Hegarty is the owner of easily-quit-smoking-today.com – your guide to help you stop smoking.. quickly and easily starting today
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Cigarette Smoking is Dangerous to your Sexual Health

January 3rd, 2010

According to a 2006 survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 22% of high school students in American smoke cigarettes everyday. In fact, even if the study indicated that smoking had already declined over the last four years, the statistics still show that one in five Americans still smoke cigarettes. A 2005 study revealed that more than 20% of adults in the United States are smokers. While smoking rates among high school students have been on a decline since 1997, the rate of teenagers who smoke is equal to, and in some cases, higher than that of adults. The younger the individuals start smoking, the more likely that they will continue smoke as an adult. Given these figures, it is not surprising that smoking is the leading cause of premature deaths in the United States.

The question is still begging to be asked: Why do teens smoke? Is it because of the influence of media or because they get the habit from adults who smoke? Studies show that many teenagers smoke because they were simply curious about how it would taste or feel like. Others said that they thought that smoking was a good method to achieve weight-loss. Even if the warnings plastered on the cigarette box clearly says that, “Smoking is dangerous to your health,” this has not stopped teens from experimenting or taking up the habit of cigarette use.

Medical evidence suggest that cigarette smoking causes an increase in the body’s metabolic rate and may suppress appetite. But it is important to note that smoking tends to dull the taste buds, which, after all, may be the reason for the “loss of appetite.” This argument is somehow supported by cases of people who gained weight after they stopped smoking. Since their taste buds had already regained their functionality, the former smokers enjoyed their meals more and eventually gained some weigh.

Non-smokers may have found a way to kick the habit but for thousands if not millions of smokers around the world — doing away with the stick is still an on-going struggle. The addiction of smokers to the deadly chemical called nicotine makes it hard for them to stop smoking. Nicotine dependence occurs when the chemicals and other cigarette substances reach the brain and activates the pleasure cells, producing mood-altering effects that give smokers short-term pleasure.

The short-term pleasure of smoking somehow negates the clear message that long-term use of cigarettes could possibly lead to lung cancer, emphysema, and heart failure. Studies also show that smoking has adverse effects on male and female sexual health. A number of studies show that smoking is related to the difficulty getting and maintaining an erection. Many toxins present in cigarettes especially carbon monoxide, can damage the circulatory system, which hinders the flow of blood in the penis which is necessary for erection. In addition, smoking is one of the major causes of erectile dysfunction. A study published in the Journal of Urology in 2000 found out that 68% of men with high blood pressure aged 40-79 experienced erectile dysfunction. At least 45% of these cases were considered severe sexual ailments. High blood pressure in men may lead to low testosterone levels, which is a male hormone that plays a crucial role in the sexual arousal. Low testosterone levels lead to decreased arousal and sexual performance. Toxins found in cigarettes may also harm the testes. Smoking may affect the semen and the sperm, reducing their mobility and quality. Men who smoke tend to have lower sperm counts and malformed sperms than their non-smoking counterparts.

Many substance founds in cigarettes may harm the ovaries, studies show that women who smoke or have smoked in the past may encounter difficulties getting pregnant with the chances of conceiving being decreased by up to 40% for each menstrual cycle. The longer a woman smokes, the more difficult it would be for her to get pregnant. The effects of smoking on sexual health have been taken for granted since the focus of previous studies have been on the ill effects of smoking on the cardiovascular system. Understanding the adverse effects of smoking on one’s sexual health may become a motivation for many to quit smoking. Joining a program that helps people quit smoking; and consulting a doctor about medications that reduce the craving to smoke may also help. Others succeed by using alternative methods like hypnosis. Although it may be a very hard habit to break, quitting smoking is one of the best things people can do to improve their sex lives and their over-all health.

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Long-term Smokers: Stop Smoking and Start Feeling Better Fast

January 3rd, 2010

How long have you been smoking? Whether it’s twenty years, thirty years, or maybe longer than you can remember, you’ll be glad to know that even “career smokers” can improve their health when they stop smoking and feel better almost immediately.

You’ve probably heard negative comments from other smokers, like: “Why should I stop now? I’ve been smoking my entire life,” or “My lungs are already damaged beyond repair. Stopping smoking now won’t make any difference.”

Fortunately, those beliefs are myths. With a little perseverance, will power, and maybe some outside help if needed, you can kick your smoking habit and reverse a good deal of the damage. Many smokers are surprised to learn that health improvements can occur within a matter of days.

Experience Immediate Results When You Stop Smoking

While most ex-smokers will tell you the first week is the hardest, they fail to mention the immediate health benefits from stopping smoking. Smokers are often so focused on their addiction and withdrawal symptoms that at first they might not realize the positive changes taking place in their bodies.

These are some common changes that occur within the first three days of stopping smoking:

1. Drop in pulse rate and blood pressure- Smoking has been known to increase the risk of high blood pressure. Within days of stopping smoking, most people experience a drop in their overall blood pressure and heart rate.

2. Increase in energy- After breaking your smoking habit, you should notice an increase in energy. Former smokers who suffered from fatigue often see an improvement in energy and stamina.

3. Nicotine elimination- In a matter of days, nicotine is eliminated from the body. The result is a boost to your senses. Foods will seem tastier than before and you’ll be more aware of both fragrant and foul smelling odors.

4. Breathing improvements- As changes occur in the bronchial tubes, breathing will become less of a chore. You’ll find your breathing will get lighter and more relaxed.

5. Carbon monoxide reduced- Smokers have an unhealthy level of carbon monoxide in the blood. In less than a day after stopping smoking, carbon monoxide levels will start to decrease, resulting in an increase of oxygen in the blood.

6. Lung cleansing- After carbon monoxide is removed from the blood stream, the lungs begin a much needed cleansing process. The heavy tar buildup that has accumulated in the lungs slowly starts to clear.

7. Healthier skin- Did you ever notice how some smokers have a dull, pasty complexion? By stopping smoking, you can improve your skin tone and reduce and prevent wrinkles.

Long Term Health Benefits From Stopping Smoking

Since smoking takes a gradual toll on your body, it’s unrealistic to expect all health improvements to occur overnight. Although you might not feel like a million dollars right away, rest assured that by stopping smoking now you’ll eventually experience major health improvements.

Here are some of the long-term benefits of breaking your smoking habit:

1. Less coughing- If coughing and hacking are a part of your daily routine, over the next several months these problems should decrease or be eliminated as the oxygen level in the lungs increases.

2. Easier exercise- Forget about huffing and puffing just to get up the stairs. Stopping smoking will improve your circulation, thus making exercise and everyday chores much simpler.

3. Fewer heart problems- Did you know smokers are at a greater risk when it comes to heart attacks? Thankfully the chance of having a heart attack will slowly start to decrease upon stopping smoking. After about ten years off tobacco, most former smokers no longer have an inflated risk for a heart attack. Even smokers who have already suffered from heart problems can reduce their risk of an additional heart attack by stopping smoking.

4. Reduced risk of lung disease- Perhaps the most common reason for stopping smoking is the fear of lung cancer. It’s true that the lungs take the most time to recover from cigarette smoking. But generally after a period of about ten years, most smokers will have reduced their chances of developing lung cancer by fifty percent.

Increase Your Life Expectancy… At Any Age

Whether you’re 35, 50, or 70 years old, the time to stop smoking is now. While younger smokers may tend to recover better from the ill effects of smoking, people of all ages can improve their overall health and increase life expectancy.

The key to success is to stop smoking before any serious health complications arise such as lung cancer or emphysema. However, if you have been diagnosed with either of these conditions or some other tobacco related illness, you can still boost your chances of recovery by stopping smoking immediately.

While receiving treatment for a serious illness, your body needs to be in the healthiest state possible. The sooner you stop smoking, the sooner your stress levels will decline, boosting your immune system to ward off life threatening diseases and conditions.

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The 5 Keys to Quit Smoking

January 3rd, 2010

Studies have shown that you have the best chances to quit smoking for good if you use these five steps together.

1 – Get ready;

2 – Get Support;

3 – Learn new skills and behaviors;

4 – Get medication and use it correctly;

5 – Be prepared for relapse or difficult situations.

1. Get Ready: Set a quit date. Change your environments; get rid of all cigarettes and ashtrays in your home, car, and place of work….and, DON’T let people smoke in your home. Review your past attempts to quit. Think about what worked and what did not. Once you quit, don’t smoke – Not even a PUFF!

2. Get Support and Encouragement: Studies have shown that you have a better chance of being successful if you have help. You can get support in many ways; tell your friends, co-workers and your family that you have quit smoking and want their support. Ask them not to smoke around you or leave cigarettes out. Talk to your health care provider (for example: doctor, dentist, nurse, pharmacist, psychologist, or smoking counselor). Get individual, group, or telephone counseling. The more counseling you have, the better your chances are of quitting. Programs are given at local hospitals and health centers. Call your local health department for information about programs in your area.

3. Learn New Skills and Behaviors: Try to distract yourself from urges to smoke. Talk to someone, go for a walk, or get busy with a task. When you first try to quit, change your routine; use a different route to work, drink tea instead of coffee, eat breakfast in a different place. Do something to reduce your stress; take a hot bath, exercise, or read a book. Plan something enjoyable to do every day. Drink a lot of water. Study educational information that will teach you why you smoke and the ways that will help you quit.

4. Get Medication and Use It Correctly: Medication can lessen the urge to smoke and help you to stop smoking. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as of January 2006, has approved five medications to help you quit smoking:

- Bupropion SR: available by prescription – Nicotine gum: available over-the-counter – Nicotine inhaler: available by prescription – Nicotine nasal spray: available by prescription – Nicotine patch: available by prescription and over-the-counter There is also all-natural nicotine replacement (herps – not medicine).

Ask your health care provider for advice and carefully read the information on the package. All of these will more or less double your chances of quitting and quitting for good. The use of medication is something that everyone who is trying to quit may benefit from. If you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, nursing, under age 18, smoking fewer than 10 cigarettes per day, or have a medical condition, talk to your doctor or other health care provider before taking medications. It is always best to consult with a health care professional under any circumstances.

5. Be Prepared For Relapse or Difficult Situations: Most relapses occur within the first 3 months after quitting. Don’t be discouraged if you start smoking again. Remember, most people try several times before they finally quit. Here are some difficult situations to watch for:

- Alcohol. Avoid drinking alcohol. Drinking lowers your chances of success.

- Other Smokers. Being around smoking can make you want to smoke.

- Weight Gain. Many smokers will gain weight when they quit, usually less than 10 pounds. Eat a healthy diet and stay active. Don’t let weight gain distract you from your main goal; quitting smoking. Some quit-smoking medications may help delay weight gain.

- Bad Mood or Depression. There are a lot of ways to improve your mood other than smoking. If you are having problems with any of these situations, talk to your doctor or other health care provider.

Questions To Think About: Think about the following questions. Talking to your health care provider about your answers is something you may want to do.

Why do you want to quit? When you tried to quit in the past, what helped and what didn’t? What will be the most difficult situations for you after you quit? How will you plan to handle them? Who can help you through the tough times? Your family? Friends? Health care provider? What pleasures do you get from smoking? What ways can you still get pleasure if you quit?

You CAN Quit!

Frank Andrews has been a student of personal development for over 25 years. As a result, he has authored two self-help books and developed a blog website to help smokers quit smoking. Having successfully worked through many of his own personal struggles, he now provides information to help others. You can find free quit-smoking information on his website at: http://www.AnswersToQuitSmoking.com
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Quitting smoking will serve to reduce the health risks

January 3rd, 2010

Smoking is a common habit among people worldwide. Many will smoke cigarettes, others will smoke cigars, and even a pipe. Irrespective of the way in which the tobacco is smoked, the habit will have a detrimental effect upon health.

Smoking cessation is vital, as smoking has becoming the leading cause of preventable diseases and deaths among people worldwide. This has been confirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO).What are health risks associated with smoking?According to experts, smoking is responsible for around 87% of lung cancer deaths-worldwide. It is responsible for other health problems such as heart disease, blood vessel disease, strokes, and cataracts.Female smokers risk infertility. In addition, smoking throughout a pregnancy will lead to health problems for themselves and the unborn babies. In a number of cases, an infant can die from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Smoking can also affect the over- all health and condition of the skin. In relation, a smoker runs the risk of ageing far earlier than a non smoker. Many smokers will suffer from premature ageing due to formation of early wrinkles. However quitting smoking will benefit the condition of the skin.Smoking cessation will serve to reduce the health risks.What are the benefits of smoking cessation?It has been noted that non-smokers will receive a number of additional benefits. They will experience a rejuvenation of the taste buds and other senses. The condition of the ordinary respiratory system of a would-be non- smoker will also improve greatly.Smoking cessation can increase the life span of a smoker, provided the habit is kicked at an early stage. Furthermore, a non-smoker will benefit from additional savings, ordinarily wasted on cigarettes. What are the most effective ways in which to quit smoking?

Smokers will frequently complain that smoking cessation is lengthy. Although there is of-course truth in this, it is not impossible to achieve.There are many quit smoking aids, readily available for the use of those wishing to quit smoking. Some useful drugs are also available on prescription, and must be taken as per doctor’s recommendations. Chantix is one such prescribed drug that helps in smoking cessation.Before beginning an quit-smoking course of treatment, it is advised that you partake in a full medical consultation with a doctor. The initial step will be to decide on the most suitable way in which to quit smoking, and the adequate date. However, you must stay focus, avoiding all temptations and distractions along the way.You must build up motivation, through whichever method necessary. It will greatly benefit you to identify between the pros and cons of smoking. Your friends and your family members can also offer moral support to push your efforts for smoking cessation.

Smoking is a common habit among people worldwide. Quit smoking treatment has becoming the leading cause of preventable deaths among people worldwide. Chantix is one such prescribed drug that helps in smoking cessation. Visit AtlanticDrugs.com to get prescription and buy chantix online.
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The Escalation of Public Smoking, the Vestiges From Ash to Ash

January 3rd, 2010

By: Arvin Gumato Pareja, MBA

The Escalation of Public Smoking The Vestiges from Ash to Ash

 The Allegory

Recent economic expansion in most urban areas did transform the classic reflection of our society and our social order in general.  On the economic side, this positive trend offer’s opportune to business expansion, investment and employment opportunity.  New businesses flourish in the market place.  Among the commerce that we can visibly identify these days to most city centers are; internet shops, specialty item gift store, branded specialty fast foods and soda counters, meal in the box and pack lunch counters, to include the illustrious coffee shops that are highly interiored with furnishing in a relaxing ambiance – that spawn an addicting aroma from a freshly brewed Robusta and Arabica that renovates the entire idea to manipulate part of our lives as far as comfort and indulgence is concern.

 In most areas of the shopping malls, in the heart of the city centers, within university campuses, hotel lobby’s, airports, bus stations and seaport areas, and in four corners of most city life – these evolution can be founded that we allowed, we welcomed and embraced the changes. 

 The positive effect based on the hypothesis of commerce, trade and employment, generates return of excise for the government to fund immediate infrastructure and the basic social services for the community.  However,   hazards brought by these industries as a result should have been anticipated – preserving good health to live a life in a comfortable urban setting.

 And why so that the progress that reinvents the face of our present times is being associated with the unending debate that predisposes the deteriorating health in our community?

 The Lure of Obsession

The comfort of city life from the full complement of amenities is a console to many who are; not just the on the go but for all, just as it invites by-standing, a hide away heaven to those who are just hanging out and hanging around.

 Internet shops are packed with young generations and the young at heart; where they can explore the world in researches, info finds, and chat. Comforted with tea, coffee, soda, all brands of cigar and cigarettes which most café shop do served in a built-within shopping counter -complement a perfect combination, enjoying the passing of time in ones PC terminal in an open for smoking net café cabins thus, an internet savvy can explore the world by cables for hours; day in day out 24/7. 

 And these phenomena do influence the global frame.

 Among the busiest airports in the world, the comfort of duty free shops, fine resto-bars, coffee shops that serves freshly brewed coffee nectar and others that a traveler can desire seems available.

 Duty free shops displays the most sought after brands of smoke and cigars in a more prominent area. Inviting, tempting – this is true to wines and spirits which offers a strong enticement for travelers to stock up to pick more; use as token and gift item.  With the coffee shops at pre-departure lobby – comes smoking as a free for all who dine a mug.

 The Reason to Light a Smoke

Social influence somehow premeditates one to hook up with smoking, a call persuaded by the changes in our present times.

 Scientifically, tar and nicotine, the end product of cigar is a potent addicting substance.  In fact, a smoker may find the hardest part of trial in his/her life to quit because nicotine and tar is absorb in the body thru the bloodstream  that results to craving forming a habitual cycle.

Of all the diseases associated with smoking, addiction is perhaps the one that receives the least attention. But President Clinton declared nicotine an addictive drug last August. In March, the Liggett Group, makers of Chesterfield and Lark brand cigarettes, admitted that cigarettes were addictive and cause cancer and agreed to pay about $750 million total to 22 states that had filed suit to force tobacco companies to pay for Medical aid for smoking-related illnesses.

 Scott Harshbarger, the Massachusetts attorney general and president of the National Association of Attorneys General, told reporters that the Liggett deal “will produce information that indicates major tobacco companies were fully aware that the product they were selling is addictive, that the product they were selling had great impact on public health.”

Other tobacco companies are clearly none too keen on the Liggett deal. For them, nicotine remains what they call a harmless flavor enhancement.

 The Result from the Addiction to Smoking

Hooking up with cigar is a continuous habit, smoke will irritate the oral pharynx in our mouth including the nasal septum and polyps; this is the parts of our mouth near to the tonsils area as we swallow – around the vocal cord that connects to our nasal cavity for breathing. 

From the irritant smoke comes a harsh voice as a result of the inflamed tonsils, congested nose and swollen polyps.

 Bad breath is another effect; the tar and nicotine will discolor the teeth and gums to swell and bleed easily – a ground to invite oral infection.  And this is true to the discoloration of the nails, lips, constant sneezing and clogged up breathing.

 The effect of the lungs from smoking is very crucial; hence the alveolar sack is very sensitive from foreign substances. This is where the process of oxygenation of blood takes place.  Therefore, if the alveoli are irritated, oxygenation of blood will be limited that will result to inaccurate circulation processes and poor health.

 Continues irritation of the alveoli normally lead to infection commonly caused by tubercle bacilli – the bacteria that cause tuberculosis (cancer of the lungs).

 Smoking covers a wide range of effect in the body; poor blood oxygenation will result to poor function of the internal organs and immune system (the body’s defense mechanism against infection) that influence bacteria and viruses to set in – therefore, illnesses associated from the secondary complications are close and possible.

 The Prey

The studies didn’t just point to the ill effects of smoking on those who smoke — non-smokers, too, are apparently affected by the smoke from their friends, family members and strangers who light up in their presence.

A steady stream of reports documented the statistical risks of contracting cancer or suffering from heart disease, even if you’ve never put a cigarette to your lips.

The American Heart Association last fall released a seven-year study showing that never-smoking spouses of smokers have more than a 20 percent greater chance of death from coronary heart disease than those who have never smoked who live with non-smokers. That study gave more impetus to the drive to make workplaces and other public areas smoke-free.

 The effects of smoking are hard on the children of smokers as well, the studies say. Dr. Claude Hanet of the St. Luc University Hospital in Brussels, Belgium, said earlier this year that a baby born to a smoking mother “should be considered an ex-smoker.”

Hanet’s study cautioned that cigarette smoke was more detrimental with decreasing age.

And a University of Birmingham, England, study, published in the British Journal of Cancer showed a possible link between fathers who smoked and an increased incidence of cancers in their children, while studies in the U.S. showed a possible link between smoking and DNA damage.

 Public Health and Safety

Polluted air – the vestige of smoking; including fumes and pollution caused by the increasing economic spin will result to poor health in our urban life.  Malls and Hotels will no longer be the place of fun relaxation that will limit our social affairs, and death from the young age is now common due to the cancer causing bacteria cultured from smoking.

 How to Limit the Vicious Cigar Smoking?

Public places should have a designated corner for smokers; it should be in isolation that will keep its fume and smoke to disperse around the common areas.  Trading and distribution of cigar and cigar by-products should be controlled with maximum limitations; under age boy can buy a pack if cigarettes anywhere – that seems retailers are not sensitive to some active policies to this effect.  Just the same, wholesale purchases of the product for personal consumption should not be allowed.  Warnings in the label that smoking is dangerous to ones health should be expanded – not only in the packaging but to include in public bulletin and other medium – disseminating the information.  Importation levy should be at the upper limit in order to bring the price of cigarette at the highest for common people not to afford thus, limiting the sales and consumption.

 Schools should teach health information about the bad effect of smoking to educate our young children.  The media should constantly play apart in serving the general public about the bad effect of smoking.

  In Summary

By 2020, the WHO expects the worldwide death toll to reach 10 million, causing 17.7% of all deaths in developed countries. There are believed to be 1.1 billion smokers in the world, 800,000 of them in developing countries.

 Smoking is a personal choice, a freedom.  However, it affects the health of others.  Thus, smoking should be abridged to limit the harm for others.

 Government should influence to obliterate the monopoly of cigarette and its excess proliferation in terms of product channels and distribution.  Because once the monopoly is crashed to pieces, this cycle will taper even with less effort. 

The Author is an academic person who owns a passion for peace and self development. He who travels the world in search of a well defined political governance; where peace, abundance and security are of bounty.
He owns a strong faith in the theory of self preservation and self trust.
From his own conviction, He value not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumble, or where the doer of deeds could have done better.
He also believes that ones good effort should be credited with recognition that belongs to the man who is in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows achievement and who at the worst if he fails at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be like those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat. agp_von@yahoo.com
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How to Help a Friend Quit Smoking

January 3rd, 2010

How to help a friend quit smoking

 Smoking is the number one preventable cause of death in the U.S.  Smoking causes lung cancer, heart attacks, emphysema, and stroke.  People who smoke have much  shorter life expectancies than people who don’t.

 How do you help a friend or family member quit smoking?  It isn’t easy.  Smoking is a difficult habit to break.  Smoking is an addiction with physiological and psychological components.

 Nevertheless, there are things you can do to help someone quit smoking.  In my talk I will explain how to present a smoker with information on the health consequences of smoking, how to develop a Quit Smoking Plan, and how to persuade a smoker to follow such a plan.

 I realize that by talking about the health affects of smoking I run the risk of depressing the whole audience.   I promise to move quickly to the more practical question of how to quit.

 The health consequences of smoking are well documented.  Two places to find such information are the Mayo Clinic website and the American Lung Association website.

 Smoking is responsible for nearly one in five deaths in the United States. Almost half a million people die every year from the consequences of smoking.

On average, smokers die 13 to 14 years sooner than nonsmokers do.

Lung cancer is the No.1 cause of cancer death in the United States.

Almost 90,000 Americans die each year of coronary heart disease caused by smoking.  Smokers have triple the risk of coronary heart disease that nonsmokers have.

Smoking raises your blood pressure, cholesterol level and your risk of blood clots. A smoker is two to six times more likely to have a heart attack, and the more you smoke, the higher your risk.

Depending on how well you know a smoker, you could simply mention these websites or print out and discuss the information with the smoker.

 

 After reviewing the health affects of smoking, the next step in quitting smoking is the Quit Smoking Plan.

 A quit smoking plan is a detailed list of steps that someone should take to quit smoking.  It is usually not realistic for someone to just wake up one day and quit smoking.  A certain amount of planning and preparation is needed.

A quit smoking plan should mention some of the health and other reasons that provide the motivation for a smoker to quit. 

A quit smoking plan should set a quit date, which is a date sometime in the near future, when the smoker will plan to stop smoking.  This gives a smoker time to prepare to kick the habit.

The bulk of the quit smoking plan contains a series of actions the smoker needs to take to get ready to quit.  Such actions include joining a local smoking cessation class, identifying a group of people who can provide support when the smoker quits, and reviewing the quit smoking literature available on the ALA website.  This website contains a detailed seven module program called Freedom from Smoking which describes how to quit smoking.

A smoker can also join a gym or get a treadmill, because exercise is helpful for someone giving up smoking.  In addition, smokers can consult a doctor or pharmacist about nicotine patches and gum and become familiar with smokeless cigarettes as an alternative to smoking.  

Other possibilities include starting deep breathing yoga exercises, using relaxation CDs, or squeezing a physical therapy ball to relieve tension.  A quit smoking plan needs to be tailored a bit for each individual.

 A Quit Smoking Plan is fairly easy to prepare.  The hard part is getting a smoker to follow the plan.

 There is no guaranteed way to get a smoker to follow a quit smoking plan.  However there are some things you can try. To get the smoker’s attention you might try sending the smoker some of the anti smoking merchandise available for sale on the ALA web site.  There you can order T shirts and other items with slogans urging people not to smoke.

 You may be able to convince the smoker to prepare a quit smoking plan.  If not, you can prepare one yourself and give it to the smoker.  You can also talk about the plan with the smoker and explain the importance of each step of the plan.

 Repetition is a useful tool of persuasion, so remind the smoker as often as possible of the quit smoking day and the need to prepare for it. 

 Explain to the smoker that the withdrawal symptoms are worst in the first 7 to 10 days after quitting.  This may enable the smoker to get through the first few days.

 Spending some money on the effort may also help.  For example, if the smoker cannot afford a quit smoking class or an exercise program, you could pay for it yourself.  This will show that you take the issue seriously, and they should too.

 Preaching  to or nagging the smoker not to smoke is probably not that helpful.  Part of what you do will depend on the smoker’s attitude.  The smoker may have no interest in quitting and rebuff your efforts entirely.  Or, he or she might have some interest in giving up smoking, but may be unwilling to follow every step of the quit smoking plan.  In some cases a smoker might need just a little nudge to quit smoking.

 Another possibility is that after the quit smoking date the smoker succeeds in cutting down on smoking but does not quit entirely.  In this case you need to praise the smoker’s effort to quit but also remind the smoker that it is necessary to quit completely.  Review the reasons to quit with the smoker – often health benefits alone are not enough to persuade a smoker to quit.  Also review the parts of the quit smoking plan that were not followed and try to get the smoker to follow those parts of the plan as well.

 You are doing a friend a big favor by trying to help him or her quit smoking.

 To be successful, you need the right tools.  Consult relevant websites for information on the health affects of smoking.  Prepare a detailed quit smoking plan.  Convince the smoker to follow the plan.

 46 million Americans who once smoked have successfully quit.  It isn’t easy, but the health benefits are considerable. 

 You may feel bad if your friend does not quit.  The best thing to do in that case is to say “good try.”  Quitting smoking often takes several attempts, and each attempt is a step forward.

 If you have a friend or family member who smokes, try helping them to quit.  Stick with it.  If you are not successful on the first attempt, remember the old adage, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”

 

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Behavior Modification, a New Way to Quit Smoking?

January 3rd, 2010

Behavior Modification: Smoking

Even as a child, I’ve always known smoking was bad for your health. My dad smoked when I was very young, but quit due to the health risks he imposed on his family as well as himself. He quit cold turkey, meaning immediately and solely by himself. He said it was hard, but he got over it. Since then he told me never to smoke. Now I can’t exactly tell you how I picked up smoking, but it definitely started after my 18th birthday when I was legally able to purchase cigarettes. I bought my first pack just because I could, and I smoked them periodically at school, especially when others were doing it, and especially if they were attractive females. This made me think I was cool enough to associate with them. As the months went on, I started getting more and more stressed with school and work, I slowly grew dependent on cigarettes. By the time I was 19, I needed to smoke whenever I studied, worked, or socialized with my friends, because most of my friends were also smokers. I have quit numerous times and succeeded at the goals I’ve set because I would set goals such as not smoking for two weeks, however I have never set a permanent goal due to fear of losing my crutch. For example, I would not smoke for two weeks, what allowed me to abstain was the thought that I can have a cigarette after two weeks.

Tracy Orleans, et al., (1991) conducted a research study on quitting smoking interventions. The study consisted of four groups, (a) the self help group, who were given a standard self quitting guide to quit with no other support, (b) the social support group, who were given the same self quitting guide along with a support guide for their family and friends, (c) the telephone group, who were given the same self quitting material, but with four telephone calls to a counselor, and (d) the control, who were given only tips to quit smoking and a referral to local quit smoking programs. The results of the study were not significant, the quit rates of the control and experimental groups were about the same, the only difference was the way the two groups quit. The experimental groups tended to quit using behavioral requiting strategies (e.g. setting a quit date, switching brands, etc.) while the control group tended to use outside interventions (like voluntary group therapy, nicotine gum/patches, etc). An interesting finding in this article was that heavier, long time smokers were less likely to quit using self help interventions alone, than were lighter, less addicted smokers (Orleans et al., 1991). This may appear like common sense in hindsight, because clearly longer, heavier smokers are more addicted, therefore its harder for them to quit, similar reasoning could be added to the opposite; lighter smokers are less likely to quit because they feel that the health threats are trivial because there is no immediate concern, whereas long time smokers are more likely to be diagnosed with a chronic illness as a result of their smoking, thus forcing them to stop due to their health. Although the former is a finding as a result of the study, the latter was found in my specific intervention, as well as my brief encounter with smokers in the past.

My specific strategy was to monitor my smoking for five days, then implement my plan, which was to smoke one less cigarette a day. Now I only smoked about 4-5 cigarettes a day so my plan was to start with five, then kick it down to zero. Of course, as I’ve stated before I knew this would be easy because my goal for the future was to smoke again. I started my change in behavior smoking five the first day, only three the next day, but then on the third day I was angry at the thought that nicotine was controlling me, so using self control, I smoked no cigarettes on day three. Day four I was supposed to smoke two, but only smoked one at night, this one cigarette at night felt better than any cigarette I had previously smoked in weeks. I wanted this feeling again; I knew it was from nicotine withdrawal. The next three days I went off track of my original plan and smoked one cigarette a night. I used a form of operant conditioning, where “the individual performs a behavior, and the behavior is followed by positive reinforcement” (Taylor et al., 2006). In this case the very euphoric feeling of a nicotine rush is the reward due to a nicotine withdrawal from not smoking all day (which is the behavior). Sure this may not be the ideal goal of operant conditioning, but it did greatly reduce the number of cigarettes I smoked in a day.

This behavior change was only temporary in my mind, as were the past attempts. I chose to monitor my smoking habits because it is probably my most health compromising behavior (aside from riding my motorcycle but I don’t think that is a “health” issue, more of a “lifestyle” issue). According to the text, “smoking is the single greatest cause of preventable death…In the United States, it accounts for at least 430,700 deaths each year” (Taylor et al., 2006) Even without the book, and without the media telling me the negative effects of smoking, I knew it could not be good for me. When I go to sleep just after smoking, I notice my heart rate is very high, anytime I do strenuous physical activity, I always gasp for air after, although I do notice that I can hold my breath longer than many of my non smoking peers. I smoke mainly because the immediate payoffs outweigh the immediate consequences, and because I am human, evolutionary psychology shows that my immediate future is more salient than anything many years ahead (Ornstein, 1991). Sure I can get lung cancer or heart disease in 20-30 years, but that is less salient on my mind, besides I, like many others fall into the false consensus effect theory; I believe that the same health compromising behavior that kills hundreds of thousands a year, probably won’t affect me.

After the twelve day period, I continued with the one cigarette a night, after a few days of that, I went to one every other night. As I am writing this paper, I am down to two a week. My goal is to bring it down to zero, however as I have implied, the thought of being able to smoke in the future is the only thing allowing me to go without a cigarette for a period of time. What worked well in my intervention was that I did not give in to the abstinence violation effect which is “a feeling of loss of control that results when a person has violated self-imposed rules” (Taylor et al., 2006). On a couple of days I gave in and smoked more then I was supposed to, mainly because I was with my smoking friends, a main effect of abstinence violation is relapse, but I made sure I did not by telling myself it was a one time thing and I will continue with my original plan, that definitely helped me from saying “screw it” and continue to my old ways of four to five cigarettes

This intervention has taught me a lot about my specific cues for smoking and I have realized that for the most part it is not a severe addiction for me; rather it is just something to do between classes, lunch breaks, or socializing with friends. I am very thankful that I had the opportunity to do this, as I probably would have never monitored my smoking otherwise. Because of this project, I have cut my cigarettes down to only six percent of what I used to smoke, with no signs of relapse, or cravings during the day. Perhaps for the future, I will only smoke when girls hit on me, which is never. :)

References

1) Orleans, CT, Schoenbach, VJ, Wagner, EH, et al. (1991). Self-help quit smoking interventions: effects of self-help materials, social support instructions, and telephone counseling. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 59(3), 439-448.

2) Ornstein, R (1991). Evolution of Consciousness: The Origins of the Way We Think. New York: Touchstone

3) Taylor, S.E (2006). Health Psychology: Sixth Edition, Health-Compromising Behaviors (pp. 133-148), Health Behaviors (pp. 54-78). New York: McGraw Hill

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