Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Quit Smoking Benefits - Looking at the Improvements That Occur

The habit of smoking can be a difficult one to break and for that reason many are afraid to commit to the process. In order for some people to realize the necessity of quitting smoking they need to look at quit smoking benefits that will occur once they stop smoking. Of course the most common ailment we hear associated with smoking is cancer, but there are many other problems that you should be concerned with as well. Unfortunately, Quitting smoking is thought to be more difficult that quitting heroine! This gives you an idea of the seriousness of this issue.

Finding Out About Quit Smoking Benefits

Once a person stops smoking there are immediate quit smoking benefits that set about. The body starts immediately to repair itself and things such as blood pressure, heart rate and the body temperature of the hands and feet increases within twenty minutes of smoking that last cigarette.

Within eight hours the carbon monoxide level decreases to normal and the oxygen level returns to normal. During the first year after quitting smoking people report improve in energy, circulation increases, shortness of breathe decreases and people report being able to smell better.

The quit smoking benefits for up to fifteen years include the risk of a stroke becoming that of any average person and the potential for a hear attack also decreases when a person stops smoking. The chances of developing lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and cancer of the mouth, throat, kidney, bladder and esophagus also decrease.

The overall health improvement of a person who quits smoking is dramatic. They will find that they feel better and can be as physically active as they want without the need to stop and catch their breathe. People who quit smoking also add to their life expectancy, living longer and healthier lives is certainly a quit smoking Medicare.

There are also health benefits to those around you too. Folks who are exposed to second hand smoke are also at an increase risk of lung cancer and other health difficulties including asthma. Children who are exposed to second hand smoke are sick more often than those that are not, by stopping smoking those around you can have healthier lives too.

Other quit smoking benefits include things as simple as monetary benefits. Not only do non - smokers receive better health insurance rates they are also saving money because they aren ' t spending it on cigarettes. The monthly fee for cigarettes can be very costly and by eliminating this cost, people find they are actually saving money.

Smoking is a difficult habit to break but there are many beneficial reasons to stop smoking and these should be considered and evaluated. By stopping smoking a person adds years to their own life as well as those around them.

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Top Tips to Help You Quit Smoking Fast

Learning how to quit smoking can be a very difficult thing to do. There are many techniques and approaches one can try and it can get easy to get confused as to which ones might work well for you. Here are some tips to help you on the road to quitting permanently:

Tip 1: You must first want to quit

Willpower is critical when it comes to quitting and you must be serious about wanting to let go of smoking as there will always be moments where you will feel like going back.

Tip 2: Focus on the negatives of smoking and positives of not smoking

As human beings we tend to things in order to avoid pain and gain pleasure. You should focus on all the pain that smoking has brought into your life like lack of stamina or other negative health effects and focus on the positives that not smoking will bring into your life such as improved health and energy levels and also having more money from not having to buy cigarettes anymore.

Tip 3: Give it up gradually

Going cold turkey will be too difficult for most people so consider reducing the amount you smoke slowly until you do not need to smoke anymore. Setup a plan where you will smoke 2 to 3 less cigarettes a day or a week until you no longer feel the need to smoke. Most people smoke to relax and the deep breaths that smoking forces you to take can be soothing and stress relieving. Why not take the deep breaths without the cigarettes as this can be just as effective anytime you feel stressed.

Tip 4: Chew gum

Every time you feel like you need to smoke try chewing some gum instead as it can help to reduce cravings. You can try the nicotine gums if you like as they may be useful at reducing cravings better than normal gum. Follow the directions closely when trying the medicated gums in order to get the best results possible.

Tip 5: Join a quit smoking club

If you can network with others that are trying and have successfully quit then your chances of quitting are better since you will receive support and positive feedback for your efforts which will motivate you further to quit. Another good strategy can be to find a friend who has a similar goal of quitting and work together to help each other quit and stay on course even when things seem tough.

Tip 6: Hypnosis

There are many hypnosis training systems that can help you to quit smoking. These systems will train your mind to avoid cigarettes. Many people that have smoked heavily for years are able to quit rapidly because they learned to use the power of their mind to help them quit fast. It is important to have an open mind and believe that the hypnosis system you are trying will be effective otherwise you will have a harder time getting good results if you do not believe in it first. Try some of these quit smoking tips to help you lead a healthier life.

Joseph is an online researcher, author and a regular contributor to a health and fitness site. Learn more about how to stop smoking and also be sure to stop by and read our Fat Loss 4 Idiots Review as a possible weight loss solution.

Real Facts About Smoking and a Review of a Program to Help Quit Smoking

Tagged:quit smoking, quit smoking fast, smoking facts, quitting smoking, smoking statistics
I want to begin my article with several facts about smoking, which you might have not even been aware of (and hopefully which will make you quit smoking, or at least make you rethink of what you are doing with your body) Later I will talk about a program to help quit smoking.

Fact 1: Smokers have a blood pressure about 10 points higher than normal and their heartbeat is about 20 beats faster than in a non smoker.

Fact 2: In US alone, nearly half a million people die annually because of smoke related conditions.

Fact 3: About 25% of the world's population are smokers. That is about 1 and a half BILLION people.

Fact 4: Tobacco companies are one of the most profitable companies in the world, and the most profitable of those companies that make money by degrading people's health.

Fact 5: 1 out of 5 deaths that happens is tobacco related.

The facts are shocking, and a lot of people who find about them are horrified. I will not recommend that you quit smoking. I will not hint you to quit smoking. I will demand that you quit smoking. By smoking you do not just hurt yourself but others around you as well.

Second hand smoking is often regarded as even worse than smoking itself.

Now that I am through the scary part of smoking let me talk about a program to help quit smoking as fast as you have learned it. the program is called Quit Smoking Today. The program is for those smokers out there that have tried the pills, gum, patches, and other methods of quitting. The program claims to make you quit smoking in the first day of you trying it. However, the results may vary for everyone because everyone's bodies are different and work at different rates.

My mother actually tried the program not too long ago, and guess what? After 27 years of being a smoker, she finally is a non-smoker.

To find out more about scary facts about smoking, I recommend going to http://www.smoking-facts.net

To find out more about the program Quit Smoking Today go to My Wordpress Blog

Help! I Can't Stop Smoking

"Help! I can't stop smoking". Have you ever said that to yourself or have you ever actually said that to someone? I am not a smoker but my father has been a lifetime heavy smoker. He has reached out and asked for help and I can see deep inside that he is screaming for help.

It has been a very difficult journey for him in the quest to stop smoking. As far as I can remember, he has tried to quit smoking. He tried cold turkey, the patch, the gum, and anything that was suggested to him. He even tried to chew tobacco thinking that would stop the smoking habit. Nothing has worked for him and he feels like a failure. This is a man who had always helped others, loved his farm, loved to travel, loved adventure and the outdoors. He is unable to help anyone, needs constant care, and is unable to enjoy all the things he loved.

Today, he can barely take a few steps because he can't breath. He is in a wheelchair and needs a tank of oxygen. He constantly gets infections even though he coughs out mucus all day. He has given up on himself and life, accepting what has happened and doesn't want to try anymore. He has lost all his hope. At this point, I see a man waiting to die. The most devastating thing about all of this is that he still smokes. He cannot quit and his life depends on it.

He has been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This disease has severely limited him from enjoying the rest of his life. He already misses things like, fishing, camping, hiking, traveling, driving, just to name a few. He has lost a lot of his independence and daily tasks become increasingly difficult. He also had to sell his farm that he worked so hard to acquire, just to help with his medical expenses.

I can see that trying to quit smoking, failing to quit smoking, and the disease has been mentally draining on him. All I can say as his daughter to anyone in this similar situation is to please don't give up on yourself. Keep trying to stop smoking whatever it takes and for as long as you possibly can. And as a father who has been struggling with smoking and smoking related diseases, if you are unable to fight for yourself any longer, please fight for your children and all who love you.

I have not given up on my father even though he has given up on himself. I will keep trying to help him stop smoking even if he has to try a method, two, three, or more times until something works. Don't ever give up on yourself.

To any smoker who has not yet succumbed to any smoking related diseases, and for whatever reasons, you want to quit, try to quit as soon as possible. Keep trying. Don't find yourself in the same position as my father and so many others out there struggling with a disease, the heartache, and the mental anguish.

COPD doesn't have to be a death sentence.

http://www.copd-international.com/

http://www.my-linker.com/hop/nlptostopsmoking

Monday, August 11, 2008

Ways to Stop Smoking. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

There are many ways to stop smoking but they are not all equal in effectiveness. Let's take a closer look

Willpower Alone

I call this bad because the success rate is very low. When you think about it, it's obvious why. Going cold turkey, you will feel cravings almost immediately and require incredible willpower to get through the first week and month.

Very few people are successful with this method.

The Patch

I call this ugly because it deceives you into thinking that it is a good way to stop smoking.

What happens is that you come off the cigarettes and onto the patches. You then cut down on the patches over a period of 12 weeks.

Then you have the problem of coming off the patches.

This method is no different to cutting down on cigarettes and is designed to keep the drug companies in profit. Steer well clear of the patches.

Hypnosis

I would call this a moderately good method. Why?

Because, at first glance, it looks great. You see a hypnotist and they put you into a trance. During this trance, they give you various suggestions such as "incredible willpower" and "no cravings".

What then happens is that you are highly likely to stop smoking on the day of the hypnosis.

But you are also extremely likely to start again. After 6 months, over half of patients have started again. And after a year, it's over 80%.

You cannot call hypnosis a good method.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

This method is different. It's used for all sorts of other conditions such as phobias.

Think about this technique for a moment. If someone has an irrational fear of flying that they know is crazy but they can't help it, then CBT can help them. The therapist breaks down the irrational fear bit by bit until the person sees it for what it is - a totally irrational and illogical thing.

CBT is used in exactly the same way for smoking. There are many myths that you believe because you are a smoker and it is hard to convince you otherwise. But, bit by bit this can be broken down and your addiction quashed.

CBT is definitely a good method.

I quit smoking 25 a day over 8 years ago. If you're lazy and don't feel like quitting then don't visit my site, http://www.QuitSmokingWithJoe.com

The Beginners Guide to Quitting Smoking

"Quitting smoking is one of the hardest things you will ever do".

If you have been a smoker for any length of time, I'm sure you've heard this many, many times before.

The fact of the matter is, this is nothing more than a myth. A very dangerous one. It is dangerous because too many of us believe it to be true.

Unfortunately, this way of thinking prevents many of us from successfully quitting smoking. I know this, because I was one of them.

If you wish to quit smoking, there is one thing you must have. That one thing is belief. If you believe you can quit, than you can. If you don't, you are already on the path to failure. I failed to quit numerous times because I didn't have self-belief.

It comes down to the age old adage, 'Whether you believe that you can, or believe you can't, either way you are right.'

If you want to quit and believe that you can, then make a firm decision. Quitting smoking takes 100% commitment, nothing less. If you go into the process thinking, "I'm not sure I can quit but I will give it a go," then I'm not sure you should bother trying . You have pretty much convinced yourself you can't do it before you have even begun.

Set yourself a quit date and stick to it. Give yourself time to think it over and prepare mentally. If you reach your quit date and still believe 100% that you can do it, then the time to quit has come.

Here are some tips to help you out in the early stages.

  • On your quit date get rid of everything that reminds you of smoking. This includes all your cigarettes/tobacco, lighters, matches, ash trays, etc.
  • For the 2-4 weeks try to avoid all smokers and smoking areas. This may mean staying low for a while. Seeing and being around other smokers is the worst thing you can do early on.
  • Stay positive throughout. Always think about the reasons why you have decided to quit. Keeping these thoughts in your head will help keep motivation high and willpower strong. Quitting smoking is one of the most positive moves you can make, always remember this.

Throughout the quitting process, always believe in yourself and your abilities. The longer you stick at it, the easier it becomes.

Smoking is far, far more a mental addiction than it is a physical one. The more you believe you can quit, the easier the quitting process becomes.

If you believe you can quit smoking, then you can. It really is that simple.

Todd Williams is a reformed smoker who wants to help you quit smoking. Chat to him in the quit smoking forum at his website. Follow this link for more free tips on stopping smoking and to download his informative free eBook. For more free information on how to quit smoking please visit the blog.

Craving a Cigarette - How Long Will it Last?

Craving a cigarette is, of course, one of the main worries about quitting smoking. How long the cravings for cigarettes are going to last after you have had that last cigarette is probably the main concern any smoker feels when they stop. It is such an overwhelming fear, that most smokers doom themselves to failure because they become obsessed with the little facets of the difficulties of quitting, like the ongoing cravings.

I do not mean to say this is a demeaning way. Smokers who want to quit (and by some research, that could be as many as 80% of them) usually try to quit smoking with a lot of pre-conceived ideas about how difficult it will be - including worrying about overwhelming cravings! The solution to these difficulties lies in education and knowledge.

There is absolutely nothing unusual in having pre-conceptions about how difficult it will be to quit, but by being so 'certain' of the pitfalls beforehand, you close down opportunities to make it easy.

So how long do cravings really last? Well, the first three days are always the worst, with day three often reported as the tensest. After that, cravings will subside rapidly and are often non-existent after a month to six weeks. But this is irrelevant in terms of taking your quit attempt from a plan to real success.

Let me explain with an analogy.

If you were to give a speech at a wedding, there are two ways to go about it; confidently or fearfully right?

If you are confident it will go well, you automatically dismiss lots of fears about a deadpan audience, worries and anguish over your jokes falling flat and so set about preparing you speech in a confident and positive mood. The result is very likely to be a confident and positive speech, packed with laughs and applause! Well done you!

If you are fearful, you start by preparing our speech in a fearful and fretful manner. You are not confident of your jokes and when you deliver your speech, you are filled with trepidation which reflects in your delivery. The result is a silent but polite audience and a lot of commiseratory comments after the speech as you search for a shovel with which to dig yourself a big hole to go and hide in!

The thing is, if you start out confident of success, you stand a damned good chance of getting the success you desire. If you start out fearfully and lacking in confidence, there is a good chance this will be reflected in your experience on the day. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

So what has this got to do with cravings I hear you ask? Well my response is who cares about how long the cravings last? If you have decided to quit smoking, you should be so steely and determined, that piffling little cravings will be mere bumps in the road, not rock-falls and landslides blocking the way.

When you decide to quit smoking, you should understand that you will have cravings for cigarettes but you should have already decided that these cravings are a price that you must pay to enjoy the bounty on the other side - a smoke free you. Your health and well-being and confidence will all improve once you have achieved you goal and the reward will be great if there was effort involved.

How you view and perceive that effort depends greatly on you mindset and attitude to what you are trying to achieve. If you enter into trying to quit smoking, fearful, crestfallen and lacking confidence, your result will more likely failure. If you take a positive, determined and unswerving attitude, your success will readily manifest itself.

Having said that, don't make 'not craving for cigarettes', your goal. Your cravings are merely a measure of your success. Your goal is to know that you have overcome you dependence on cigarettes and that requires you to change your pre-conceptions on smoking as much as anything else.

If you would you like to learn more about changing your mindset before you quit smoking so you can make it a walk in the park, then the EasyQuit System might just be for you. You don't need willpower or effort to quit, just understanding with this remarkable approach. Available online to download right now at http://easyquitsystem.net with a full 60 day money back guarantee.