Jun
30
Smokers would often wonder how to quit smoking when they are hooked on their nicotine addiction. For them, how could they let go of something that they have grown to love and has been a part of their life for the longest time? Will they be able to stand living without cigarettes and let go of smoking? The answer does not rely on other people or on any help that they can get. It is still in their own hands if they are dead serious and determined to kiss smoking goodbye.
The most important step in quitting smoking is for the smoker to have the desire and determination to quit. They must want to stop so bad to have an effective motivating factor in their battle against nicotine addiction. They must be honest in their will to stop smoking so that they can continue with the process of eliminating it in their life completely. If they go through with it half-heartedly, then it’s almost guaranteed that they will fail.
Make a list of benefits (if there are any real benefits) that you can get from smoking. On the other hand, list down as many disadvantages too that you can get from the same activity. After doing so, compare both lists and see which outweighs the other (isn’t it obvious!). You may also want to list the reasons why you are quitting. It may include wanting to live longer or wanting to save money or even setting a good example for your children. Always keep your list handy as they may help in times when you badly want to smoke again.
The key to eliminate thoughts of smoking in your head is finding some other alternative activities that would keep you from thinking about smoking. Give more time to physical activity and change your routines if it is what it takes for you to stay away from cigarettes. For instance, if you’re used to smoking before you sleep, then do some exercise before sleeping instead so that you’ll eventually tire out and go to sleep without smoking. You can also replace your early morning smoke with a dose of heavy jogging or walking. They can definitely keep cigarettes out of your mind and reach.
There is no easy way on how to quit smoking. Smokers should try their very best to turn their love for nicotine into disgust! If you really feel the urge to smoke, buy the least quality of cigarette that you really hate so that it won’t satisfy you anymore. The way to success is not easy, but it is never impossible.
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Jun
29
One Day at a Time - Why Smokers Should Take it One Day at a Time When it Comes to Quitting
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A smoker’s battle with his nicotine addiction usually becomes a lot easier if he deals with it one day at a time. Like any other traumatic or abusive situations that a person has to overcome, taking it one day at a time is an acceptable technique for therapy or treatment to work better. Quitting smoking is just like being addicted to some substance that is why this technique is also applicable for smokers who want to quit. It’s a good way to strengthen the will of a smoker to really give up his bad habit day by day.
When a smoker envisions the rest of his life without cigarettes, it can be a stressful and a painful thought for him. This will affect his determination to stop and will somehow contribute to his giving up of the whole quitting process. On the other hand, taking it a day at a time somehow lightens the burden of not being able to smoke. A smoker will only have to deal with today’s difficult situation, tomorrow will be another day. Without his noticing, by just saying no one day at a time, he is able to go through weeks or even months without having to take even a puff!
This will mean a better life for the smoker. He will be able to slowly realize the benefits of not smoking. He can now start living a healthier, cleaner, and fuller life. Even the fears that he has of quitting are reversed and he can learn to face them on his own. But then there will still be times in his life when he gets the urge to smoke. These may be brought about by the stress at work or at home that will trigger his cravings for cigarette. During these times, he should learn to tell himself to not smoke today, and worry about tomorrow by tomorrow. This can stop his urge to smoke and he won’t even think of smoking the next day!
Taking it one day at a time is what a smoker should practice as he goes through quitting. He should learn to do it every day most especially on days when he is again tempted to smoke. By not smoking for a day, he can be proud of himself on being true to his commitment and his family and friends can be equally proud of what he has achieved. For someone who has been hooked with nicotine for years, going through a day without having to smoke is a great accomplishment. It shows that he is able to take control of his life and not allow his addiction to dictate his actions.
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Jun
29
The media’s role in banning smoking has been very important as it remains to be the most effective way of putting messages across which encourage people to stop smoking. From print, television, and radio, they all contributed to the idea of slowly making smoking an unaccepted habit especially in public places. Although it is quite an expensive mode of advertising, it allows the message to stop smoking be seen and heard by people around the world.
When we see advertisements on TV with anti-smoking themes, they also put up numbers that you can call if you are serious in quitting smoking. This can encourage more smokers to quit since they will be able to get help on their quitting process. Smokers used to reason out that they don’t know where to get help in quitting that is why they end up failing on their attempts. Now that different groups that cater to smokers who want to quit and even the government have taken steps to put up messages against smoking, they will have significant effects on the whole smoking population.
The message against second-hand smoke that was launched in all forms of media was a hard-hitting message all over the world. In England, the legal age to smoke was raised from 16 to 18 and smoking was considered to be an adult activity which children should not participate in. Through the ads, people were able to realize that smoking not only kills the person smoking but as well as the children and other non-smokers that get to inhale second-hand smoke. Immediate action prompted other governments as well to control smoking.
Since media has been giving smoking a negative impression, it has also increased the people’s awareness of the health risks that it brings. This is why smoking is now banned in most public places and more and more of the smoking population are now considering quitting to be able to enjoy social events like non-smokers do. Statistics of tobacco-related illnesses have somehow declined slowly and this shows that putting a ban on smoking is working.
The media’s role in banning smoking has been one of the most effective campaigns. The habit of smoking is slowly becoming unacceptable and at some places, even considered as impoliteness to the people around you. Some medical practitioners have also declined to treat smokers and life insurance providers have raised their premiums on their smoking clients. There are even cities in the world that do not allow people to smoke except when they are in their own homes. These results show that media is still the strongest means of spreading information on the dangers of smoking.
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Jun
28
The hardest thing for a smoker to deal with after he decides to quit are his smoking cravings. This almost uncontrollable desire to smoke again when you finally decided to stop tops the reasons why most smokers fail on their battle against smoking. It seems impossible to deal with your cravings, but if you know why they happen and how you can equip yourself against them, chances are you will be successful in your attempt to quit.
Cravings happen for many reasons. The most common cause for them is the withdrawal symptoms brought about by the lack of nicotine in the body. At this stage, your cravings are at the most difficult to control as withdrawal symptoms can affect a smoker physically and mentally. Symptoms at this time include severe headaches, trouble sleeping, irritability, lack of focus and attention, anxiety, and even sudden increase in appetite. These symptoms manifest in a come and go manner which usually lasts for up to a month or maybe longer. The important thing to remember is that they will eventually go away and so you do not need to satisfy your craving or else you will go back to step 1 or even fail in your mission.
Another type of craving is the kind associated with your habits. After how many years of smoking, lighting up a cigarette seem to come naturally for you. Your daily routine or any simple activity might become instances when you want to smoke. Examples of habits that remind you of smoking may include driving in your car, when you have just finished a meal, while taking alcoholic beverage, talking on the phone, or just because you are bored. These simple activities can be detrimental to your commitment to quit if you allow yourself to smoke again just because you’re used to doing it. Like the first type of craving, this type to will not last forever so just make sure to have enough self-control and discipline.
Finally, your smoking cravings are also triggered by the memories of the times you used to smoke. There will be times when you will be reminded of the pleasant feelings and relaxing moods you had when you were still able to light a cigarette. Of all the cravings, this type will usually last for the longest time, although it can be the easiest to deal with. The trick is to not get caught up in the pleasantries that smoking has given you. Remember that you chose to quit because you want to start living a healthy life and you want to preserve your family’s health as well. Have the courage and the strength to keep your promise of quitting to prevent smoking from killing you.
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Jun
27
Risks After Quitting - Taking Care of Yourself After Quitting Smoking
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The health risks after quitting are the things an ex-smoker has to be aware of once they are off the habit of smoking. The use of tobacco has put them at risk for diseases like cancer even if they have quit. If you have health care providers, you should let them know of your history of tobacco use so that they will know what preventive measures to offer you to ensure you stay healthy as much as possible. They can set aside a part of your health care which will cater to tobacco use related illnesses.
One way of having preventive maintenance measures is by regular check-ups with your doctor or dentist. Whenever you visit them, make sure they include checking your mouth, tongue and throat as changes on these areas may indicate certain diseases or even cancer. By taking note of the changes at these areas earlier, it can make treatment of tobacco related-illnesses still possible or find cancer at an earlier stage where it can still be treated.
The most common cancer to hit smokers and ex-smokers is lung cancer. Unfortunately, most people who acquire it do not feel any symptoms until the cancer has affected all other vital organs. At this stage it might be too late for treatment. It helps to remember some signs of lung cancer so that you can immediately inform your doctor about them and proper therapy can be administered as early as possible:
· Coughing of blood
· A new cough
· Chest pains
· Loss of appetite
· Trouble in breathing
· Feeling tired most of the time
· Sudden loss of weight
· Frequent headaches
· Bronchial and lung infections that never heal
Tobacco users usually have higher risk of lung cancer and other cancers as well. It is best that you equip yourself with information regarding these possible illnesses so that you’ll know how to deal with them if ever they happen to you. Knowing the extra risks brought about by your history of tobacco use can make you well-prepared to battle any of them.
The risks after quitting smoking are all serious matters that an ex-smoker should face. Because of being once addicted to nicotine, you might pay the price of your once foolish habit. If ever you have concerns related to tobacco use, see your health care provider immediately. Always remember that the best way to stay healthy and to live longer is by completely halting your smoking habit. Don’t ever make the mistake of going back to it as you’ll only end up putting into waste everything that you have worked hard for to overcome your addiction.
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