Friday, December 22, 2006

How To Quit Smoking Once And For All

It is undisputed that smoking is harmful to your health. It increases chances of a heart attack; is a leading cause of lung and other types of cancers; and is also an expensive habit. But, smokers who try to quit will attest to the fact that quitting is not easy. The nicotine found in cigarettes is highly addictive and most smokers who try to quit attempt to do so several times before being successful.

It is best to prepare yourself for quitting by removing all cigarettes, ashtrays and other signs of smoking from your environment at home, work and in your car. Seeing them is only a reminder and will hamper progress. Decide you want to quit and be determined. Do not smoke during this time even a little. The one cigarette you have may encourage you to have more, impeding your ability to quit altogether.

A support system is very important to quit. Make sure family and friends are aware of your decision to quit and will help support you in your decision. If you have family and friends who smoke, ask them not to do it near you for awhile so you don’t have the urge to smoke with them. There are many support groups available as well. You can find telephone support or group therapy in just about every major city. Most of these are free and can provide a valuable boost to your morale during this difficult time.

Try to reduce the stress levels in your environment. Stay busy and active to promote good health. Taking long walks, indulging in a hot bath, spending some time at a day spa or getting a massage are great ways to reduce stress levels while keeping occupied. Ensuring you are distracted will help curb cravings for cigarettes.

Nicotine replacement is helpful in overcoming the addiction while allowing you to concentrate on the removal of the other harmful effects of smoking. Most entail a gradual reduction of nicotine so your body becomes more used to not having it. There are many types from skin patches to gums and lozenges. Studies indicate one method is no better than the next and is dependent on personal preference. Acupuncture and hypnosis have gained popularity as ways to help quit smoking. Consult a physician for a referral to a reputable hypnotist or acupuncturist before committing to this type of treatment.

Making the decision to quit smoking can be one of the most difficult things to do but will greatly benefit you in the long run. With a little support from friends and family the process will be much smoother. Try to stay active to distract from cravings. If you have intense withdrawals use a nicotine replacement such as a patch or gum to help curb cravings. The advantages of living a smoke-free life are many. Improve your health and the health of those around you by quitting.

About the author:

Gray Rollins is a featured writer for CanQuitSmoking.com. If you'd like quit smoking help, or to learn the best way to quit smoking, http://www.canquitsmoking.com/quitsmokinghelp/

How To Quit Smoking - Using Zyban

In general, an addiction to smoking can be a very difficult one to overcome. Depending on how long you've smoked, how much you smoke, and genetic factors, you may find it extremely difficult to quit smoking. It is a well known fact the genetic factors are at play and determine how susceptible someone is to a nicotine addiction, and for this reason some people need more than their will power to quit smoking. There are medical aids to quit smoking that help address the body's dependence on nicotine, leaving you to concentrate your will power on other aspects of the addiction: namely, the social associations you likely have with smoking.

For many years the standard medical stop-smoking aid was the nicotine patch, which is attached to the skin and releases a steady supply of nicotine to the bloodstream. Fairly recently, though, another approach has become popular: the use of the drug Zyban (bupropion hydrochloride.)

Zyban's development as an anti-smoking aid is a curious one: it was originally designed as an anti-depressant, and during clinical trials of the drug is was discovered that as a side effect, many smokers participating in the trails lost interest in cigarettes and found it very easy to quit. Further research revealed that the drug was an effective stop-smoking aid, and it was approved for use as such in 1997 by the FDA.

Zyban works in a completely different way from the nicotine patch. Instead of supplying nicotine to the bloodstream, Zyban alters brain chemistry in such a way that the desire for smoking is greatly reduced - many people find that cigarettes simply become unappealing after taking the drug. At no point does Zyban supply or regulate nicotine in the bloodstream.

To work effectively, Zyban is usually taken a few weeks before you actually stop smoking. Like all anti-depressants, it takes time for its effects to manifest. Once you've been taking the drug for some time, you stop smoking, and if all goes well you'll find the process much easier than an unaided attempt.

It is important to keep in mind, however, that Zyban is a prescription drug that alters brain chemistry - in fact researchers are not even exactly sure how it works, only that it does for many people. Naturally, you doctor will be consulted in your decision to take Zyban, and it is crucial that Zyban is not taken in combination with other drugs. Make sure you talk to your doctor about the possible side effects of using Zyban to quit smoking: some common side effects include insomnia, dizziness, and dry mouth. In rarer cases, more serious side effects like seizures can occur. You must also discuss with your doctor the situations in which Zyban should not be taken, like if you are abruptly stopping the use of alcohol, or have a history of seizures.

While Zyban should be approached with some caution, as long as it is properly discussed with your doctor, it can be a very effective aid in your battle to quit smoking.

About the author :

Brandon C. Hall maintains Free Info Blog which contains many articles and resources to quit smoking as well as many other topics.
http://www.freeinfoblog.com/category/quit-smoking/

How To Quit Smoking - The Nicotine Patch

Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances known. Study after study shows that one can get addicted to nicotine as quickly as cocaine and other illegal drugs that we generally associate with crippling addictions. It is for this reason, of course, that is can be so difficult to quit smoking. One top of this physical addiction - that is, the body's craving of nicotine - there is a psychological component: because smoking is both legal and socially acceptable in many situations, it can be difficult to avoid it completely. Any attempt to quit smoking, therefore, should involve a comprehensive plan that deals with both the physical and psychological side of the addiction. One way to address the physical addition to nicotine, to leave yourself free to concentrate on the psychological aspects of your addiction, is to use a nicotine patch.

The nicotine patch is one of the oldest, and certainly best-known, medical aids to quitting smoking. Patches are placed on the skin, and work by releasing a slow and steady supply of nicotine into the bloodstream. The idea is that the patch helps wean your body off nicotine - instead of nicotine being immediately absent from your system when you quit smoking, it is gradually reduced.

The way the patch works is to break your body's desire for nicotine "spikes." When you smoke a cigarette, your body receives an immidiete spike in its nicotine levels. As the level of nicotine slowly dissipates after the spike, it will eventually drop to a point where you desire to have it "topped up" again - the need for another cigarette. If you picture a graph of your body's nicotine levels when you smoke, you would see a steady series of peaks and valleys - the peaks corresponding to the spike in nicotine levels when you smoke a cigarette. A graph of your nicotine levels when wearing the patch, on the other hand, would show a steady line: the line wouldn't be as high as your peaks, but it wouldn't be as low as your valleys either. The idea is that the patch goes for the middle ground, and your body slowly adjusts to not having spikes in its nicotine levels.

As you become more and more used to lower levels of nicotine in your system, you can reduce the dosage of the patches you wear, until eventually your body is nicotine free. Another good thing about the patch is that it is an extremely strong deterrent against smoking: if you smoke while you're on the patch, your levels of nicotine will become too high and you could suffer from a nicotine overdose, which can result in sickness and even death.

The patch is a very effective stop smoking aid. It does, however, have some disadvantages: it is fairly expensive, and at the early stages of quitting it can often cost more than cigarettes did. The patch can also cause problems with sleeping if you wear it to bed - and at the same time if you don't you will wake up with no nicotine in your system, and feel pretty bad until you put on a morning patch and it starts working. Despite these drawbacks, the patch remains the medical aid of choice for people dealing with serious nicotine addictions.

About the author :

Brandon C. Hall maintains Free Info Blog which contains many articles and resources to quit smoking as well as many other topics.http://www.freeinfoblog.com/category/quit-smoking/

Tips On Giving Up Smoking

Smoking is a habit you cannot easily give up, especially if you have a long history with it. Most of us are aware of the fact that smoking seriously damages our health and that of the people around us, but no one seems to be too keen on quitting.

Giving up smoking has so many benefits to it, the first being the fact that you will most certainly look younger. People who smoke look older than those who don't. It's a fact. People who smoke got nicotine stains on their teeth and fingers, their skin looks older, their voice is different and their general physical condition is poor. Stopping smoking will knock off 10 years of your age. Quitting thiswill help you gain control on your own life and health. Perhaps the most important achievement is to take control on your health.

Smoking cannot do anything but harm you and the persons next to you. There are dozens of cancers, vascular disease, heart diseases and lung diseases that smokers suffer from. The chances for getting lung cancer is 20 times higher for a heavy smoker compared to non-smokers. Smoking is simply a very damaging thing to do.

Think about the money you will be saving if you quit smoking! Smokers usually do not think about all the great things they could do with the money saved from cigarettes. You can even place the money in a vacation account that you can enjoy with your family and friends.

Another reason for giving up this bad habit is the fact that you will be more socially accepted, as many places nowadays do not allow smoking. Bars and restaurants, working spaces and country clubs do not accept smoking in their area. If you give it up, you will be more welcomed instantly, anywhere you would want to go!

Many of you will agree that people use cigarettes as a means to relax and deal with pressure. But you must also accept the fact that most people who stop smoking, learn how to deal with stress in other ways. Not to speak about the bad smell smokers usually have. When you quit smoking, the smell starts go away little by little.

So, if these reasons are enough for you, make the good decision regarding your health and your life! Quit smoking and start living the life you have been missing until now!

About the author :

Dalvin Rumsey - Want to Quit Smoking ? This site will help you to find the information you need and Stop Smoking . http://www.vicereview.com/medicinal

Choosing A Stop Smoking Program

The problems that can appear when you give up smoking are described for the smoker to understand in a stop smoking program, and it also tells you how to cope with them. Because giving up smoking requires support and encouragement, the program provides it, and that way helps you a lot.

Therapy, both individually or in groups are included in the best smoking programs, because the therapy is decided on the basis on an individual’s health, which in many cases, may vary, so, the smoker is required to undergo a full medical check up.

During a period of 2 weeks, trained counselors conduct a number of sessions, with duration of about 20 – 30 minutes. The duration of the program or the sessions can be modified depending most on the participating group.

Nicotine Anonymous is a group that runs stop smoking programs. To give the best help, the programs are led by people who have considerable experience in this area. Nicotine Anonymous works on the same principles as Alcoholics Anonymous and smokers can attend its meeting without paying anything. Such programs are sponsored by the American Cancer Society, Health Department and The American Lung Association.

To avoid programs that aren’t ethical, or programs that use only pills as a method of treatment it’s important to do some research. Also, surely must be shunned the programs that refuse to disclose the details of, for example the chemicals used in the injections (or pills), as well as programs that promise instant results for high fees.

Because it takes time and patience to give up smoking, it’s important to join a program that is well planned, and is willing to help you on a long-term basis.

About the author:

George Wood is a successful webmaster of many popular sites including yoga and blog site. If you want to read more about stop smoking, click over to George stop smoking site. http://www.stopsmokingpower.com/

Quit Smoking Success Tips

So you’ve decided to quit smoking. Congratulations, quitting smoking is probably the best thing you can do for your health and you’ll feel proud knowing that you’re able to kick this ugly habit. Be forewarned, it is not easy to quit smoking. Statistics show that it takes 9 times for the average smoker to actually quit. The secret is to not get down on yourself if you have a relapse. Learn WHY you weren’t able to stop and better prepare yourself the next time you quit. Look at your relapses as LEARNING EXPERIENCES and not failures. Most importantly do not stop trying! You CAN do it.

When I quit smoking, I set a date and told everyone I knew. I think this helped me as I had to live up to my word and save face. A lot of people didn’t believe me, because I did fail in the past but it was an added incentive to prove to them all that I was strong enough to do it. One more thing I should mention is that you should prepare yourself to quit smoking. Gradually try to decrease the amount of cigarettes that you smoke. If you wake up during the night to puff, try to last through the night. If you have one first thing in the morning, try to wait a half an hour or an hour. It will be hard but you need to prepare for your cravings as your quit date arises.

When you decide to quit smoking you need to be strong. Remember that even though cravings will arise throughout your whole life, they’ll get fewer and fewer as time passes. You’ll feel very uneasy the first couple of days. Be strong. It will get easier.

I highly recommend that you mentally prepare for your quit date and continue to mentally prepare for future cravings with visualization even when you quit smoking. Know what your smoking triggers are and be ready. If you failed in the past, what made you cave in? Was it stress? Was it being around other smokers? Was it having a beer or a cup of coffee?

To practice visualization, the first thing you want to do is relax. Find a comfortable place and breathe deeply and slowly into your belly. Try to make each breath slower than the previous one. Once you reach a state of relaxation, imagine a trigger that will prevent you from being able to quit smoking. For instance imagine a situation in which you are stressed. Imagine you being strong, fighting off the craving. The important thing is to stay relaxed. If you feel stressed, continue your breathing until you’re relaxed and try a little less hard of a situation. Once you master that situation, try a harder one.

Finally practice affirmations whenever you can especially when you find yourself thinking badly. If you’re thinking “this is too hard, I’m not meant to be a non smoker” mentally repeat an affirmation. For instance, “I feel strong and powerful now that I’m able to fight my cigarette cravings” or “I love myself completely now that I am a non smoker.”

With these techniques you WILL be able to quit smoking. Remember it is a process to quit smoking. If you have a relapse, you haven’t failed. You just learned where you need more practice the next time you quit smoking. Don’t give up, eventually you’ll kick this nasty habit and quit smoking for good!

About the author :

John Karnish is the author of a quit smoking blog. Visit his blog for more quit smoking tips. http://letsquitsmoking.blogspot.com/

Five Reasons Why People Should Quit Smoking

In this article I am going to write about the reasons why I believe people should stop smoking. I hope it proves to be an inspiration for many people who are potentially thinking of quitting these cancer sticks once and for all. Smoking does and will have a negative impact on your life if of course you continue with this nasty habit, therefore it is definately worth starting to look for the best ways to quit smoking.

I have to admit that I used to be a smoker, I was never on lets say twenty a day but was more of what people would call a social smoker. I would at that point find it very difficult to go out with my friends for a few beers without being able to smoke etc. It actually would be something that I would look forward to and at the stage I had no real reasons as to why I should not do it. After a hard and stressful week at work there was nothing better than the thought of having a pint of lager with a cigarette to go with it.

The problem started to occur when I began to buy packs of ten cigarettes in the week to take to work with me. In my mind I had thought that to smoke at work would give me the same type of pleasure that smoking did whilst drinking etc. I felt very let down when I realised that it just was not the same but for whatever reason I continued to buy and smoke them.

My colleagues at work started to comment on the fact that I was smoking and stated that my clothes really stunk of cigarettes. People in my opinion started to treat me differently, it was like I was a second class citizen. I decided that I needed to stop smoking for these and other reasons, especially as I did not really enjoy it that much apart from when I was in a bar of course.

I stopped smoking for five main reasons:

1. To save money as a packet of cigarettes costs a lot of money.

2. I did not like my clothes smelling of cigarettes.

3. Health reasons, smoking is the cause of many health problems including cancer.

4. Smoking can be a big turn off to women. I found it hard enough to meet and attract women and to give them another reason not to like me was just being stupid.

5. I wanted to be classed as a non-smoker as I felt that I was been treated like some sort of loser when I was a smoker.

It was not easy to quit smoking but it is certainly worth while, why not give it a go, you may well surprise yourself.

About the author:
By: blueboy

Stop Smoking Programs - Advice For Smokers To Quit For Good!

There are several stop smoking programs, but for millions of smokers, for reasons that they find strange, none of these work. But I am going to tell you that none of this is really a mystery.

Smoking termination programs aren't the answer. I know as a former smoker who has not had a cigarette in at least three years. I tried a slew of stop smoking programs, as well as nicotine gum, cigarette rationing, and switching to lighter and lighter smokes, but nothing worked for me. The reason was that stop smoking programs aren't really the answer.

No, I am not going to pitch some fresh product, or revolutionary fresh program to end smoking. Come on, keep reading – I don't have anything to sell you. The simple truth is the only way to stop smoking is to just discontinue. That's it. No stop smoking programs, no incentive systems, no rules about only smoking with friends, or only smoking one day a week, or only smoking on days you sleep in or are hung over. None of this works.

Whatever stop smoking programs tell you, the thing that is hard about not smoking is the re-arranging of your social routine, not the actual nicotine cravings. It is nice to be able to grab a smoke with friends, nice to be able to take a moment to step outside and enjoy a tasty cancer stick. So, you have to be completely firm with yourself and not give an inch. The only successful stop smoking program is to tell yourself that, from now on, I will not smoke.

Don't be too ambitious all at once. Many people suddenly get an impulse to transform every phase of their life at once, enrolling in stop smoking programs in the same week that they start exercise programs and new diet plans. This is a bad idea, and will not help you quit smoking.

The most excellent way to well and truly end smoking is to let yourself go a little in other ways. Its okay to put on a small number of pounds, its okay to have some junk food, or let your exercise routine go. If you have too many rules for yourself at once, you will lose all of them. And yes, for some people, stop smoking programs can work because they provide a support group. But remember, the only real crucial stop smoking program is your resolution to, once and for all, stop smoking.

About the author:

Linda E. Joy provides readers with up-to-date commentaries, articles, and reviews for home, family as well as other related information. http://www.home-and-health-guide.com/

It's Time To Stop Smoking, Today!

Smoking cigarettes will kill you! A slow painful death is eminent for those who choose to smoke. Are you thinking that statement was cruel and mean hearted. Well, the fact remains, cigarette smoking is associated with many fatal illnesses. The Surgeon General's report last year, linked smoking to cancers of the cervix, breast, kidney, lungs, pancreas and stomach. On average, it is reported that smoking will shorten the life span by 15 years.

So what are you waiting for. Is the difficulty of quitting this nasty habit preventing you from stopping or do you really not care about the deadly hazards, or maybe you think it won't happen to you. No one will argue that an addiction to nicotine is a serious one and it is also multifaceted: indeed, there is a physical component to it since your body craves the nicotine thecigarettes contain, and there's the psychological one, in that many habits and situations become associated with cigarettes for the smoker. Smoking is believed to be 10% physical addiction and 90% psychological addiction.

The first step to smoking cessation is to make sure you have a strong desire to quit. Just telling yourself you should stop is not the same thing as saying I want to stop and I will stop. Quitting smoking is not easy, if you do not have the determination you will have a difficult time being successful.

Find a method for quitting. You need help, don't try to go it alone. Nicotine replacement products work very well, supports groups and hypnosis are excellent as well. The best thing is you can use them all in conjunction with each other. Hypnosis has become a top choice for anyone that is trying to break addiction habits of any kind. And now there are self-hypnosis programs you can download and try at home. Hypnosis can be used to reinforce someone's motivation to quit, to strengthen their resolve to make healthier lifestyle choices, to lessen feelings of anxiety, to reduce cravings, or to enable them to be less affected when around others who are smoking.

However you choose to quit smoking, stay with it. You can do it and the reward is a long and healthy life. Here's to your new way of life!

About the author:

By: Tommy Thompson - http://stopsmokingadvisor.com/Stop_Smoking_Hypnosis.html

How To Finally Keep That New Year's Resolution

For anyone who has ever broken a New Year's resolution, fallen off a diet or given up on ever really changing, a new book delivers a breakthrough system for making changes that stick.

In fact, "This Year I Will..." by M.J. Ryan (Broadway Books) is fast becoming the go-to book for self-improvement. Ryan's book deals with everything from resolutions to lose weight, stop smoking and change jobs, to getting out of debt and falling in love.

The book offers ingenious strategies and inspiring stories. Many will find that thanks to the sheer motivational energy of "This Year I Will...," their resolutions might actually get kept.

The book is structured around stages, beginning with "Preparing to Change" and continuing with "Getting Into Action" and "Keeping Going."

At the beginning of the book, Ryan makes the reader aware of some of the top resolution pitfalls, which include:

• Being vague about what you want.

• Procrastinating and excuse making-no time, wrong time, dog ate my homework.

• Being unwilling to go through the awkward phase.

• Trying to go it alone.

• Turning slipups into giveups.

Ryan points out that before you just launch out there with great enthusiasm-joining that expensive gym, eating only tofu burgers, papering the Internet with your resume-don't skip the all-important step of taking the time to prepare.

The reason?

You will greatly increase your chances of success if you stop long enough to get clear on your motivation, understand why you've been doing what you've been doing, and learn about what fosters and supports real change.

M.J. Ryan is one of the creators of the "Random Acts of Kindness" series, which has sold more than 1 million copies. Her latest book is now in bookstores.

In a new book called "This Year I Will...," the author, M.J. Ryan, empowers readers with the motivational energy to keep their resolutions.

About the author :

Stacey Moore

Steps to quit smoking

Cigarette smoking is assosiated with a long list of debilitating conditions that have been well-documented, with heart disease and stroke, cancer, and chronic bronchitis and other respiratory diseases primarily amongst them. While group health plans routinely cover the cost of treatment for these smoking-related illnesses, however, that is not the rule for programs to help smokers quit.

If you too feel that you are in this vicious circle and need to leave the habit then it could be easily done by following the simple easy steps:

1. You should think about cutting down or quitting smoking
It can be easily done if you talk to others about smoking and observe that how a non smoker reacts to a smoker at the same time look at the negative steps of smoking. You can even smoke before the mirror to watch what exactly goes on while you smoke.

2. Gather more information about quitting
You can ask ex smokers how they managed to leave the habit or tell your friend that you wish to opt healthy alternatives to smoke. Whenever you feel the urge to smoke, wait for a moment before lighting up, again experience the urge fully and think different ways to respond to this situation. You can even reward yourself when you feel that you are aware about your smoking habits.

3. Try to modify your smoking risks such as switch brands or cut down
You can start a smoking journal and then record when you smoke more or less than usual. At the same time you can try certain stress reduction techniques and adopt more healthier activity that is in compatiable with smoking such as swimming, dancing etc. You can even switch to a low brand and then reward yourself for each risk modification.

4. You should decide to quit
You need to keep a track of the number of cigarettes you smoke every day , again stop buying cartons and make it one at a time. Try to identify what are your top smoking triggers. Brushing your teeth many times a day shall help and then list the reasons that you want to quit. Switching brands each week with lower brands each time will help. Postpone every third cigarette you smoke.

5. Set a quitting date
Decide yourself that you have to quit and therefore sit at non smoking sections of restaurants and airplanes. Prepare a minimum of three responses to your top cigarette triggers. Try to cut back upon alcoholic beverages and also set up a health bank.

6. Try to remain far away from cigarettes for about 24 hours
Schedule healthful activities such as walking, fishing. You can also indulge yourself in different activities such as brushing your teeth or sending your favourite clothes for washing meaning thereby keeping yourself busy and diverted from smoking. Do remember to discard all your ashtrays.

7. Make sure you complete one year as a non smoker
Reward yourslef on a daily basis such as massages, hot baths and then avoid smoking or drinking places and observe how better does your food tastes.
These are some of the ways that could help you out in quitting smoking but again many people face trouble in getting rid of this drug abuse. To this, there are certain smoking cessation medicines that work in a way to help the person quit smoking.

About the author :

Olivia Andrews, writing for www.benzer11.com/zyban.html is a freelance journalist and has written many reviews on subjects such as finance, education, health, entertainment, music, gifts, crafts, travel, apparels and mobile phones.