Everyone knows smoking is not good. However, it can be hard to put into words. If you are looking for reasons not to smoke, then you certainly came to the right place. Whether you or someone you know smokes, you will find plenty of reasons to quit here.
Let's start with the face.
If you smoke, you can rapidly age your face. In 10 years of smoking, you can add up to another 10 years of wrinkles on your face. That means if you started smoking when you were 20, by the time you were 30 you would look 40!
These wrinkles usually start around the mouth and eyes. When it comes to aging the skin, smoking comes in second only to the sun. So if you have not started smoking don't. If you have it's not to late take action now and stop.
Moving On to the Teeth
Smoking really does a number on your teeth too. It is not real pretty. Smoking causes severe discoloration of your teeth. You know the yellow, in some cases brown look?
Not only will it cause discoloration, but it also gives you really bad breath. This bad breath can become chronic, otherwise known as halitosis.
The news gets worse. You could develop gum disease, which could lead to tooth loss. Or leukoplakia, which is little white patches in the mouth that may or may not lead to oral cancer.
So, very obviously, these are good reasons to never start smoking or if you are a smoking stop. It's not too late!
Next Up: The Nails
Ever see the smokers with the dark yellow brownish nails? Wonder how they got that way? Well, if you said smoking you are right.
Cigarettes have tar in them and this is what stains the nails. The more you smoke the darker they get. Not only can your fingernails get stained but the fingertips too. This can all be remedied by not starting smoking or if you are a smoker, stopping.
There are numerous tools available today for anyone looking to quit. Nicotine replacement therapies help a lot of people. You can always go cold turkey. But if you consider all the risk involved smoking, it is not worth it. Quit today.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Why Smokers Fail to Quit
If you are considering quitting smoking you are not alone. Each year millions of people try to quit but only about 8 percent actually succeed. There are many different reasons why people fail. For starters, nicotine is a powerful, addictive drug that smokers become physically addicted to. When you quit smoking the body tends to crave nicotine and go through what is known as "nicotine withdrawal." This can bring on feelings of anxiety, restlessness, depression, and irritability. Other common withdrawal symptoms include; headache, difficulty thinking, being sick to your stomach, and problems sleeping. Generally, these symptoms are short lived and don't all happen at once. When quitting smoking the withdrawals can go in phases. Because nicotine withdrawals don't feel good people tend to give up in order to relieve the symptoms.
Smoking is a habit and one that typically has been practiced for many years several times a day. It can be difficult breaking habits that are so ingrained into your everyday life. Smokers have a habit of smoking in the morning, after meals, with a cup of coffee, on work breaks, etc. Throughout the day when these things occur they trigger the urge to smoke, increasing the difficulty in quitting.
Not only are smokers physically and habitually addicted to smoking but they are also psychologically addicted. Over many years, people smoke to help control their moods. People smoke to control boredom, anger, depression, anxiety, stress, and many others. The biggest reason why people fail to quit smoking is because of stress. Even though there are many healthy methods to dealing with stress they simply don't know how to deal with it without smoking.
Quitting smoking can be hard but it is far from impossible. Over 1 million people quit each year and there are different methods to help you quit. Many are not successful on their first try but with persistence and determination a person can quit smoking and improve the quality of their lives.
Smoking is a habit and one that typically has been practiced for many years several times a day. It can be difficult breaking habits that are so ingrained into your everyday life. Smokers have a habit of smoking in the morning, after meals, with a cup of coffee, on work breaks, etc. Throughout the day when these things occur they trigger the urge to smoke, increasing the difficulty in quitting.
Not only are smokers physically and habitually addicted to smoking but they are also psychologically addicted. Over many years, people smoke to help control their moods. People smoke to control boredom, anger, depression, anxiety, stress, and many others. The biggest reason why people fail to quit smoking is because of stress. Even though there are many healthy methods to dealing with stress they simply don't know how to deal with it without smoking.
Quitting smoking can be hard but it is far from impossible. Over 1 million people quit each year and there are different methods to help you quit. Many are not successful on their first try but with persistence and determination a person can quit smoking and improve the quality of their lives.
5 Ways to Help You Quit Smoking
Most smokers recognize the dangers of smoking these days. Authorities around the world, certainly in the developing countries, are making it harder for smokers to indulge their habit. But stopping isn't easy, so let's look at the main ways to stop smoking.
Of course, once they make the decision to let go of the habit - or become a non-smoker - smokers find it hard to let go of this habit. The reasons for this, broadly, is that the act of smoking has become an entrenched habit and it is linked very closely with the addiction which body has adopted to the chemicals in tobacco smoke.
Unfortunately, as smokers over the years have discovered, stopping smoking isn't like flicking the 'off' switch. When you've decided, what are the main ways to help you stop?
- Cold Turkey.
We should call this willpower - because that is really what it is. You, as a smoker, decide that you are going to quit - maybe you set a date, such as the first of the month, or an event, maybe your birthday, maybe tomorrow - and then, you commit to working against the habit which has been formed, and against the chemical dependence which has developed and you 'overcome' the desire to smoke. The will to succeed, plus persistence and determination, will lead to success. Unfortunately not every one has the willpower required.
- Nicotine Replacement.
Because nicotine is a chemical, which, in this case, is produced as a result of the burning of tobacco in cigarettes, and nicotine is a chemical on which the body can develop dependence, the body's need for this chemical often will be so strong that the individual's willpower is simply not strong enough to counter the effects which the chemicals are having on the physiology. Hence, the development of nicotine replacement. There are various ways in which the nicotine replacement approach is taken:
- Nicotine patches.
- Nicotine Gum or lozenges.
- Nicotine inhalers.
Nicotine replacement, however, is just that. The approach is designed to have people reduce the dependence on cigarettes for the nicotine needs which may have developed as a result of smoking.
This approach does not address the behavioral habit or any underlying issues which may be associated with the need that the person feels to smoke.
- Prescription Medication.
You may seek the advice of your physician or general practitioner to see what prescription medication is available. And in recent years there have been some improvements in this area although in my experience, many doctors are reluctant to go down the medication route.
But let's look at two drugs in this area. Pharmaceutical giant, GlaxoSmithKline, markets the first of these, Zyban. This drug works by reducing the withdrawal effects of smoking. This is a gradual process, with smokers taking the medication and reducing over time the number of cigarettes until the desire to smoke is no longer there.
Another is Chantix (or in some areas, marketed as Champix), produced by Pfizer. Like Zyban, it does not contain nicotine. With all medication, there is a reason why it requires the advice of your doctor - there may be side effects with any of these medications so it is important that you explore these fully with your doctor before beginning on your course of treatment.
It's advisable to get your doctor's advice on this.
- Natural Supplements.
A number of natural therapies have been developed in recent years - and many claim to have achieved great results. Whilst I can't claim to have reviewed any of the products on the market, there are strong claims about the effectiveness of some of the products available.
Zero Nicotine are patches which contain a herbal preparation and it's designed to eliminate the nicotine addiction. The process, claim the makers of this product, when taken in conjunction with their support program takes around 30 days.
Another herbal preparation is Smoke Deter which the makers say is an 'All-natural, homeopathic, sub-lingual spray.'
In considering the herbal approach, it is advisable to check with others who have tried the products.
- Hypnotherapy.
Hypnotherapy is recognized as one of the more effective ways to stops smoking. Unlike prescription medication or nicotine replacement or herbal therapy, hypnotherapy does not involve taking any substance into the body. Often people are skeptical about hypnosis but the fact is, it's a natural process and for therapeutic purposes has been used for thousands of years. Yes, even the ancient Egyptians used a similar process - though, it's likely they didn't have the need to use it to stop smoking.
Increasingly over recent years, hypnotherapy is being recognized as a powerful and effectiveness therapy in so many areas - and particularly for helping people to stop smoking. How does it work? Well, different practitioners may well have slightly different approaches, but the effective approaches will deal with the reasons why you smoke, release the subconscious attachment to the habit, and deal with the body's addiction to the chemicals, such as nicotine, to which the body may have developed dependence. Two to four sessions are required usually and people who try hypnotherapy find it a very pleasant experience. In my experience, many people leave the first session as non-smoker'.
It's important when seeking out a hypnotherapist, as in looking for any health practitioner, that you choose one who has the appropriate professional - and that means 'recognized' - qualifications and has experience in the area you are seeking his or her help for.
If you're a smoker, whichever process you choose to follow, the decision to stop smoking may well be one of the more important decisions you make in your life, for your life.
Of course, once they make the decision to let go of the habit - or become a non-smoker - smokers find it hard to let go of this habit. The reasons for this, broadly, is that the act of smoking has become an entrenched habit and it is linked very closely with the addiction which body has adopted to the chemicals in tobacco smoke.
Unfortunately, as smokers over the years have discovered, stopping smoking isn't like flicking the 'off' switch. When you've decided, what are the main ways to help you stop?
- Cold Turkey.
We should call this willpower - because that is really what it is. You, as a smoker, decide that you are going to quit - maybe you set a date, such as the first of the month, or an event, maybe your birthday, maybe tomorrow - and then, you commit to working against the habit which has been formed, and against the chemical dependence which has developed and you 'overcome' the desire to smoke. The will to succeed, plus persistence and determination, will lead to success. Unfortunately not every one has the willpower required.
- Nicotine Replacement.
Because nicotine is a chemical, which, in this case, is produced as a result of the burning of tobacco in cigarettes, and nicotine is a chemical on which the body can develop dependence, the body's need for this chemical often will be so strong that the individual's willpower is simply not strong enough to counter the effects which the chemicals are having on the physiology. Hence, the development of nicotine replacement. There are various ways in which the nicotine replacement approach is taken:
- Nicotine patches.
- Nicotine Gum or lozenges.
- Nicotine inhalers.
Nicotine replacement, however, is just that. The approach is designed to have people reduce the dependence on cigarettes for the nicotine needs which may have developed as a result of smoking.
This approach does not address the behavioral habit or any underlying issues which may be associated with the need that the person feels to smoke.
- Prescription Medication.
You may seek the advice of your physician or general practitioner to see what prescription medication is available. And in recent years there have been some improvements in this area although in my experience, many doctors are reluctant to go down the medication route.
But let's look at two drugs in this area. Pharmaceutical giant, GlaxoSmithKline, markets the first of these, Zyban. This drug works by reducing the withdrawal effects of smoking. This is a gradual process, with smokers taking the medication and reducing over time the number of cigarettes until the desire to smoke is no longer there.
Another is Chantix (or in some areas, marketed as Champix), produced by Pfizer. Like Zyban, it does not contain nicotine. With all medication, there is a reason why it requires the advice of your doctor - there may be side effects with any of these medications so it is important that you explore these fully with your doctor before beginning on your course of treatment.
It's advisable to get your doctor's advice on this.
- Natural Supplements.
A number of natural therapies have been developed in recent years - and many claim to have achieved great results. Whilst I can't claim to have reviewed any of the products on the market, there are strong claims about the effectiveness of some of the products available.
Zero Nicotine are patches which contain a herbal preparation and it's designed to eliminate the nicotine addiction. The process, claim the makers of this product, when taken in conjunction with their support program takes around 30 days.
Another herbal preparation is Smoke Deter which the makers say is an 'All-natural, homeopathic, sub-lingual spray.'
In considering the herbal approach, it is advisable to check with others who have tried the products.
- Hypnotherapy.
Hypnotherapy is recognized as one of the more effective ways to stops smoking. Unlike prescription medication or nicotine replacement or herbal therapy, hypnotherapy does not involve taking any substance into the body. Often people are skeptical about hypnosis but the fact is, it's a natural process and for therapeutic purposes has been used for thousands of years. Yes, even the ancient Egyptians used a similar process - though, it's likely they didn't have the need to use it to stop smoking.
Increasingly over recent years, hypnotherapy is being recognized as a powerful and effectiveness therapy in so many areas - and particularly for helping people to stop smoking. How does it work? Well, different practitioners may well have slightly different approaches, but the effective approaches will deal with the reasons why you smoke, release the subconscious attachment to the habit, and deal with the body's addiction to the chemicals, such as nicotine, to which the body may have developed dependence. Two to four sessions are required usually and people who try hypnotherapy find it a very pleasant experience. In my experience, many people leave the first session as non-smoker'.
It's important when seeking out a hypnotherapist, as in looking for any health practitioner, that you choose one who has the appropriate professional - and that means 'recognized' - qualifications and has experience in the area you are seeking his or her help for.
If you're a smoker, whichever process you choose to follow, the decision to stop smoking may well be one of the more important decisions you make in your life, for your life.
Here Are Some of the Best Reasons to Quit Smoking
Most smokers are well aware that smoking is not good for their health or their wallets yet they continue to smoke for some odd reason. I think it may be because they don't have specific reasons to quit smoking. So, in order to help you kick the habit, here are some compelling reasons not to smoke.
Cigarettes contain many noxious or carcinogenic substances which as you know can be harmful to your health. Well, harmful is actually an understatement - they can kill you.
When you stop smoking instantly your likelihood of contracting cancers associated with smoking is diminished. Be that as it may, most people don't realize that Emphysema and Arterial disease kill more smokers than cancer does.
As a female of child bearing age one of the big reasons to quit smoking is that female smokers have a much higher incidence of fertility issues and birth defects. If you smoke while on the pill your chances of contracting heart disease or stroke increase ten-fold.
Once you cease smoking your clothing, hair and home will lose the nicotine smell. You probably can't smell it because you smoke, but I can assure you that your non smoking friends and family can smell it and it is disgusting.
Nicotine leaves yellow stains on the teeth of those that smoke and smokers are also more likely to have problem with gum disease.
If you have ever calculated how much you actually spend on cigarettes a year you know this is actually one of the big reasons to quit smoking. How much travel or dinners out could you buy with that same amount of money?
Children of smokers can hardly avoid second hand smoking. It has been shown in a number of studies that these children more commonly suffer from asthma, bronchitis and other childhood diseases.
Cigarettes and the smoking techniques have been linked to increased facial wrinkles.
Physical exertion done while still a smoker will become much easier once you stop smoking.
Ceasing smoking will help alleviate that nasty smokers cough plus you will be able to breathe better.
Around most of the world smoking is becoming much less socially acceptable. Bars and restaurants through most European countries no longer allow smoking. Offices have long banned it inside and smokers are forced to spend smoking breaks hanging around outside somewhere.
Cigarettes contain many noxious or carcinogenic substances which as you know can be harmful to your health. Well, harmful is actually an understatement - they can kill you.
When you stop smoking instantly your likelihood of contracting cancers associated with smoking is diminished. Be that as it may, most people don't realize that Emphysema and Arterial disease kill more smokers than cancer does.
As a female of child bearing age one of the big reasons to quit smoking is that female smokers have a much higher incidence of fertility issues and birth defects. If you smoke while on the pill your chances of contracting heart disease or stroke increase ten-fold.
Once you cease smoking your clothing, hair and home will lose the nicotine smell. You probably can't smell it because you smoke, but I can assure you that your non smoking friends and family can smell it and it is disgusting.
Nicotine leaves yellow stains on the teeth of those that smoke and smokers are also more likely to have problem with gum disease.
If you have ever calculated how much you actually spend on cigarettes a year you know this is actually one of the big reasons to quit smoking. How much travel or dinners out could you buy with that same amount of money?
Children of smokers can hardly avoid second hand smoking. It has been shown in a number of studies that these children more commonly suffer from asthma, bronchitis and other childhood diseases.
Cigarettes and the smoking techniques have been linked to increased facial wrinkles.
Physical exertion done while still a smoker will become much easier once you stop smoking.
Ceasing smoking will help alleviate that nasty smokers cough plus you will be able to breathe better.
Around most of the world smoking is becoming much less socially acceptable. Bars and restaurants through most European countries no longer allow smoking. Offices have long banned it inside and smokers are forced to spend smoking breaks hanging around outside somewhere.
Three Tips to Quit Smoking For Good
Many people take the new year as a chance to quit smoking for good. Here are three ways and tips to help you quit smoking for good so that you never have to think about spending an exorbitant amount of money each year ruin your health again.
Quit With a Friend - Quitting with a friend is a good way to quit smoking for good because you have a mutual support system and someone you can lean on whenever one of you slips. Quitting with a friend simultaneously drastically increases your chances of quitting for good for the both of you because of the cooperative motivational factors.
Make it Official - Telling your friends and loved ones that you want to quit smoking for good earns you their support, but just as importantly holds you accountable for actually quitting. Tell them the specific date that you would like to quit and cut back as you approach that day until you smoke your last one. Your loved ones will certainly be very supportive and thank you for what you're doing.
Join a Forum - You should also think about joining an online smoking forum for help to quit smoking for good. Here you can introduce yourself and explain your reasons for wanting to quit and you'll find support from dozens and hundreds and thousands of others just like you in your exact same position. They know exactly what you're going through as they're doing it, as well, and can help you get through it day by day as you celebrate each victory until you take that final step and final cigarette with it, not to mention it's also a great way to make some new friends in the right situation.
Quit With a Friend - Quitting with a friend is a good way to quit smoking for good because you have a mutual support system and someone you can lean on whenever one of you slips. Quitting with a friend simultaneously drastically increases your chances of quitting for good for the both of you because of the cooperative motivational factors.
Make it Official - Telling your friends and loved ones that you want to quit smoking for good earns you their support, but just as importantly holds you accountable for actually quitting. Tell them the specific date that you would like to quit and cut back as you approach that day until you smoke your last one. Your loved ones will certainly be very supportive and thank you for what you're doing.
Join a Forum - You should also think about joining an online smoking forum for help to quit smoking for good. Here you can introduce yourself and explain your reasons for wanting to quit and you'll find support from dozens and hundreds and thousands of others just like you in your exact same position. They know exactly what you're going through as they're doing it, as well, and can help you get through it day by day as you celebrate each victory until you take that final step and final cigarette with it, not to mention it's also a great way to make some new friends in the right situation.
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