http://www.healthzine.org/feed/ http://www.healthzine.org/ Every day new articles and updated info on all your health, beauty and fitness concerns. Wed, 1 Jul 2009 08:48:38 +0200 Wed, 1 Jul 2009 08:48:38 +0200 http://www.healthzine.org/Quit-smoking/the-Hazardous-Effects1 http://www.healthzine.org/Quit-smoking/the-Hazardous-Effects1 Yesterday we talked about the hazardous effects of smoking. Today I will teach you simple and easy to do ways on how to quit smoking, the many benefits of quitting smoking and the many kinds of cancers caused by smoking. But first and foremost, do you know any person in your life that you consider as a chain smoker? The reason for this is for you to have a target; now if the person you know is yourself, then your motivation is geared towards yourself, but if it’s another person, then that person is your motivation. Let me start by saying that the only reason why “Man made his pencil with erasers, is because he knows that he’s Imperfect”. Indeed man is imperfect, but this imperfection does not excuse you at all. Yes we are all imperfect, but this does not mean that we should also neglect our health… you see quitting is as easy as 123. The steps are simple, but the question is, Are you man enough to take the challenge? Or will you also fail like the others? Intrigued? Good then, because I’m motivating you, because I want you to be healthy! So to start off, I believe that this vice is one of the major causes of many serious health problems. To prove this, let me site a few examples. Women who smoke are 30% more likely to have lung disorders compared to those of non-smokers. In cases of pregnant women; babies of smoking mothers have been found to be smaller by at least 200grams at birth, the worse part is these babies have a larger percentage of dying a few days after their birth. Another is, young children of smoking parents have doubled their susceptibility to coughs, colds, and soar throat. The sad part in this scenario is that children of smokers are more likely to have poor physical and intellectual development, and is more likely to take up smoking when they grow up! In the case of other people, smoking may at any given time provoke any asthmatic attacks to your non smoker friends with asthma. So smokers, if you place little value to yourself, remember that you also have loved ones, so protect them, and be a good role model. There are people who say that since everyone is destined to die, then they choose to die by smoking, but when they are faced with complications, they now want to live. But what if it’s all too late; Still prevention is better than cure, right? So here are ways to quit this vice. But first and foremost the decision is yours, because once you decide to stop, then half the battle is already won. Next is to persuade a smoker to stop together with you. Lastly ask your family to remind you each time you are tempted to smoke. With regards to the many benefits, well one is, you would have a healthy heart, fresher breaths, whiter teeth, healthy lungs and body and so many more. Talking about being healthy, a person who does not smoke is free from cancers like lung cancer, as well as those of kidney, bladders and pancreas. As an addition, here are three ways to stop smoking. "Mark the day", "Slowly kill", and "The Program". Mark the day means you smoke as usual until your marked day of stopping, and when you say stop; do so religiously. The Slowly kill process on the other hand means, you slowly cut down the cigarette sticks that you consume in a day, until you reach the point of not having any at all. And lastly, the program means that you should join an organized group to help you with your desired end. These groups can help you through counselings, discussions, role-plays and video shows. These are proven programs and can help you reach your goal. You can do it! About the author. Dr. Rose Windale is a successful Health & Wellness Coach who has been advising and coaching individuals for many years. Rose now decided to share her knowledge through this site, Healthzine.org. You can sign up for her free weekly newsletter and learn how to become truly healthy and happy. Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:41:48 +0200 http://www.healthzine.org/Quit-smoking/the-hazardous-effects http://www.healthzine.org/Quit-smoking/the-hazardous-effects What is the first thing that comes in your mind when you see a person who smokes? Would they look sexy to you because they’re cool? Or would they look gross to you? Certainly we all have our own point of views regarding the subject cigarette smoking. In my case, I strongly oppose this, simply because I am a health and wellness coach, it therefore means that I know the many hazards it can bring to its users. So let me start by saying, “There are no good reasons in cigarette smoking”. And to me the reasons that smokers have in their indulgence to smoke are all self-centered; these includes individual freedom, boredom, addiction, “Curiosity” and many more but there are a lot of good reasons why people should stop smoking. These reasons include the prevention of air pollution, which is a way of saving the planet, there is also the reason of protecting yourself as well as others from heart diseases and other degenerative diseases like lung cancer and many more, and lastly when you stop smoking, you immediately become good role models for children. You see cigarette smoking pollutes the air; as a proof, smokes’ coming from tobaccos contains at least 4000 chemicals which are poisonous and is capable of polluting the air. Furthermore atmospheric pollution has already destroyed the ozone layer, which caused the climatic alterations worldwide. And because of cigarette smoking; fire accidents increased, because of careless disposals of their cigarette butts. And it all began from a simple cigarette, but the power of its damage is devastating and great. But cigarette smoking incidents does not only limit to the cities, there are also cases regarding forest fires, where a driver unconsciously throws “ONE” cigarette butt which is half lit who later consumed a speck of dried leaf or weed which soon developed into a forest fire, and destroyed a “HUNDRED” trees. But enough about forest fires; let us now go to the subject of health, and how cigarette smoking can affect the health of a person. Let me start by asking, how much money have you spent when you suffer from chronic coughs at night or in any given day? Certainly medicine does not come cheap, right? And follow up question; are you willing to continue giving “donations” to pharmacies or doctors? I mean c’mon people you are only making their pockets heavier; and yours well, you answer that yourself. Bottom line is health care costs do not come cheap. This is why; I am a believer of the popular phrase “Prevention is better than cure” Another area of which cigarette smoking affects, is "Your consideration to others". Do you think you are the only person, who is affected when you smoke, because you said, it is your Individual freedom? Of course not! Remember these smokers, when you smoke, you also intrude people of their freedom to inhale clean air. So I say “Shame on you!” The point that I’m pushing here is “Your freedom ends when someone’s nose begins”. And one other thing smokers, when you smoke, you only get 25% of the smoke but the bad thing is others get a larger percent of the smoke, they get 75% of the smoke. This is called passive smoking. The bad thing about this is, those people who indulge in cigarette smoking get’s less because they exhale the smoke, and the rest of the smoke is suspended in the air. But if there is a person "NEAR" a smoker, he/she ends up breathing nearly 90% of the smoke. So I therefore choose to live a life free from the hazardous effects of inhaling smoke. That is why I choose life, and saving the planet as well. Imagine, inhaling the sweet freshness of clean air, beautiful isn’t it? It is still possible, and it starts with you! About the author. Dr. Rose Windale is a successful Health & Wellness Coach who has been advising and coaching individuals for many years. Rose now decided to share her knowledge through this site, Healthzine.org. You can sign up for her free weekly newsletter and learn how to become truly healthy and happy. Tue, 10 Mar 2009 09:40:13 +0100 http://www.healthzine.org/Quit-smoking/smoking-effect-and-damage http://www.healthzine.org/Quit-smoking/smoking-effect-and-damage Smoking feels good, and it makes you look suave and glamorous huffing a cigarette stick. But perhaps you should be aware of the repercussions of these feel-good and glamour effects of smoking. You might be a habitual smoker for several reasons. It can be a means for you to cope with and relieve stress. Others do it to look good and be popular. And sadly for many others, smoking has become a habit or an addiction. But then again, you probably don’t need to be told about the dangers of smoking. Information about the it has been widely disseminated. But one manner in which the habit harms you is by damaging your skin. Feeding your skin is an inside job. It means your skin is nourished from the inside. This nourishment primarily comes from the foods we eat. Foods we take in are broken down into nutrients and waste. Nutrients are transported by the bloodstream all throughout the body, the various organs. Among these organs is the skin, which is also the largest. So it goes for nutrients being transported by the blood. The same actually applies for oxygen circulation in the body. Oxygen in the body is absorbed by the cells. Oxygen is crucial for the health of the organs and it is vital to the life process itself. Oxygen absorption and circulation takes place when we breathe. But it’s entirely different if you are breathing in cigarette smoke. Among the most toxic components in a cigarette is carbon monoxide. When smoking, you inhale carbon monoxide and this is absorbed by your blood, specifically by the hemoglobin. Carbon monoxide is absorbed by the blood twice as fast as it absorbs oxygen. So throughout the whole absorption and circulation process, much oxygen in your body is displaced by toxic carbon monoxide. As a result, organs in your body begin to be deprived of life-giving oxygen, including your skin. In fact, your skin would eventually be poisoned by carbon monoxide. More than carbon monoxide, there is a host of other toxic elements contained in cigarette smoke. Butane, hydrogen cyanide, carbolic acid, ammonia, nicotine, collidine, lutidine, formic aldehyde and arsenic are some of them. Considering the aggregation of these poisonous elements are ingested into your system, the effects are catastrophic. Your skin bears the significant brunt—it would turn yellowish for one thing. It’s because your liver can no longer function efficiently. There’s too much waste and the liver goes overdrive trying to expel them. Your skin’s usual radiance would vanish, but instead it would take on a yellowish-grayish color. The more cigarettes you smoke, the more chronic this smoking effect and damage is. Other than this, smoking also hastens the aging of your skin. Habitual smoking wreaks havoc on your skin. It’s because smoking uses up vitamin c in your body. For every cigarette stick you smoke, 35mg of vitamin C in your body diminishes. This causes skin aging and damage because vitamin C is essential in preserving collagen. Collagen on the other hand is a substance which gives the skin its youthful and supple appearance. Smoking causes wrinkles to develop, particularly around the eyes and the mouth. Even the act of smoking itself causes you to squint, furthering deepening wrinkles around the eyes. And the pursing of the lips when your smoke wrinkles the skin around the mouth. These are among the basic damages you get out of smoking, and that’s from the inside out. Damage caused from inside your body towards the surface is not to be taken lightly. So next time you have the urge to smoke, think for a while. Is the suave and glamorous image worth it? And even if you get relief from smoking, what would you get in the long run? About the author. Dr. Rose Windale is a successful Health & Wellness Coach who has been advising and coaching individuals for many years. Rose now decided to share her knowledge through this site, Healthzine.org. You can sign up for her free weekly newsletter and learn how to become truly healthy and happy. Wed, 14 Jan 2009 10:06:23 +0100 http://www.healthzine.org/Quit-smoking/ways-to-stop-smoking http://www.healthzine.org/Quit-smoking/ways-to-stop-smoking Smoking is an expensive way to get sick or even die. It could lead to some serious health problems like stroke, lung cancer, cardiac arrest and such other serious ailments. Almost all people know this, even smokers themselves. It does not only harm the smoker but also those surrounding them, most especially their family and friends. But why do they continue to smoke despite of all these? Well, they’re not as stupid as you think. They just find it difficult to stop. It requires a lot of determination and self discipline plus the support of the people around them. If you are a smoker too and you want to quit this harmful and expensive habit, you may find these ways to stop smoking helpful. Firstly, gradually limit the number of cigarette sticks you consume to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Then control and divert your cravings. When you feel the urge, don’t give in. Instead, find ways to divert it. Look for some worthwhile activities to focus on like walking, cooking, painting and reading. If there are materials available, read on some articles about the effects of smoking on your health. In this way, you’ll be reminded of how disgusting this habit is and you will find it less tempting to smoke. You may also be able to find some more ways to stop smoking. Or you may eat fruits like apples, oranges and grapes. Secondly, detoxify your body by drinking plenty of water. Have at least 6 to 8 glasses a day. It does not only flush out toxins from your body, but will also help a lot to keep your senses from craving. So every time you want to smoke, just drink water. It will lessen your cravings. Thirdly, have time to relax and get some regular exercise. Joining a yoga program would be best because it can do so much to help you relax. A lot of smokers tend to smoke too much when they’re stressed. So have time to relax always after some draining activities and do the first two ways to stop smoking mentioned earlier. Fourthly, get the support of your family, friends and co-workers. Since quitting requires a lot of determination and self-discipline, it would be very helpful for you if they help you in this endeavor. It’s difficult to stick to these principles when there are a lot of temptations roaming around you. Lastly, stick to your objective no matter what. Again, quitting this habit requires a lot of determination and self-discipline. You’ll never be able to do it if you start it and then suddenly stop when you’re almost halfway there. Avoid going to places where you’ll find many people smoking. This doesn’t mean that you have to deprive yourself of parties and some night outings. Just avoid them at least for the meantime while you are still on the process of controlling your cravings. Once you strictly follow these ways to stop smoking, you will surely be able to achieve your objective. This may be difficult at first, but you will find it easy as you go on. And you’ll realize that quitting is not too difficult at all. Plus you will save yourself and your loved ones from the evils and other diseases caused by smoking. About the author. Dr. Rose Windale is a successful Health & Wellness Coach who has been advising and coaching individuals for many years. Rose now decided to share her knowledge through this site, Healthzine.org. You can sign up for her free weekly newsletter and learn how to become truly healthy and happy. Fri, 10 Oct 2008 03:19:50 +0200 http://www.healthzine.org/Quit-smoking/chain-smoking http://www.healthzine.org/Quit-smoking/chain-smoking Dependency- too much of it- on someone or something has many disadvantages, to say the least. When a person is (too) dependent on a thing or person, they constantly need it or them. This dependency is more often a habit, and a difficult one to break. Take the case of chain smoking. Of all the categories of the habit, chain smoking is foremost on the list. A chain smoker may find in very trying to break free from this smoking habit. A chain smoker is most likely a person who has been smoking for years, and it can even be for decades. For a lengthy period of time, they have been ingesting nicotine into their system and at any time at that. Considering the propaganda against smoking and having gained a broader awareness, a chain smoker might decide to quit. They can quit, but it is going to be one of the most difficult challenges to battle with. A-pack-a-day or more of cigarettes most often categorizes chain smoking. For a person enmeshed in such a habit, it means they light up almost every 30 minutes of their waking life. Constant smoking it may seem, a tendency one is compelled to give in to. People are used to seeing a chain smoker almost always with a cigarette in their mouth. Huffing and puffing, their system being served with a regular dose of nicotine everytime. Consequently, nicotine has become an indispensable need. Along with this dependence, they also develop physical habits and rituals. Chain smoking results to a chemical and physical dependence on nicotine and the habit. A person caught in this dilemma might many times think or attempt on quitting, but it most often will be arduous. They have high rates of being unsuccessful. They may be aware of the tragic consequences of their habit, but they cannot quit. Not in the sense that they do not want to, it is because they cannot. Help or assistance is necessary in such instances. Others may have thought about quitting cold turkey, but it is highly inadvisable. Abrupt quitting will be traumatic to the chain smoker is so many ways. Physically and psychologically, they are most likely to suffer. The cold turkey method can cause severe withdrawal symptoms. What is most likely to be effective is to undergo a long-term quit smoking program, or a long-term approach. Nicotine dependence ought to be eased out gradually. There are various nicotine replacement therapies to resort to, as well as quit smoking drugs. These are among the measures a chain smoker can opt to take, and chances for successful quitting are much higher. In quitting smoking, one can use the aid of natural products and other natural means. Through these natural measures, the body’s natural health and balance is restored. One can then be on a better way towards living a healthier lifestyle if they choose to. It is a gradual process trying to break free from an unhealthy chronic habit. Habits can be undone and relearned, the mind and the body reconditioned if one has the will. When a person has become aware and made the resolve to change for the better, it can make the entire difference. About the author. Dr. Rose Windale is a successful Health & Wellness Coach who has been advising and coaching individuals for many years. Rose now decided to share her knowledge through this site, Healthzine.org. You can sign up for her free weekly newsletter and learn how to become truly healthy and happy. Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:31:25 +0200 http://www.healthzine.org/Quit-smoking/nicotine-addiction http://www.healthzine.org/Quit-smoking/nicotine-addiction Many are well aware of the dangers of smoking, even smokers themselves. There is pleasure derived from smoking, that’s why it can easily become a habit. A habit, especially when kept to for a long time, is one of the most difficult things to break free from. When smoking has become a habit for you, you may be aware that you have to stop. The media has not failed to inform the public of the health risks a smoker is exposed to. These health risks are threatening and can lead to early death. At the back of your head, you may have that nagging thought that smoking is dangerous, and you have got to quit. So what do you do about it, and what is the first step for you to take? In your effort to quit smoking, you need to have a strong motivation. To help fortify your motivation, you need to be well-informed. Did you know that cigarette or nicotine addiction is as dangerous as cocaine or heroin addiction? The same part of your brain which receives pleasure out of these addictive drugs does the same thing with nicotine addiction. It comes as no surprise why only 5% of people involved in nicotine addiction are able to break free and recover. In trying to quit smoking, one of the things you have to understand is the difference between physical dependence on nicotine and constant smoking because of a habit. When you wake up in the morning, have a cup of coffee and then instinctively lights up a cigarette, then that’s a habit. It means you are smoking because you are feeding your habit, not because of nicotine addiction. You pick up a cigarette each day, everyday, because that’s how you’ve been doing it all along- a habit. This is a learned behavior rather than a compulsion to fulfill a physical craving. But still, it is a habit which can potentially become threatening, even dangerous. What are some measures which can help with your stop smoking program? Primarily there is low level laser therapy. Laser therapy can deal with the problem of nicotine addiction by stimulating the auricular and meridian points. Doing so will remove the physical desire for nicotine. Laser therapy in fact functions like acupuncture, but without the needles. Laser therapy can also help with symptoms arising from nicotine withdrawal. Some of them are food cravings, stress and anxiety. This is how laser therapy can help with the physical craving for nicotine. But when you “crave” for nicotine to feed a habit, laser therapy will not be able to deal with it. So in applying laser therapy for nicotine addiction, the difference between habit and physical dependence should be defined. If smoking is a habit, then change and recovery depend on the person’s initiative. When trying to quit smoking as a habit, then habits have to be changed. It’s a matter of reprogramming yourself. This may not come so easy and acknowledge that it takes time. But teach yourself little by little each day and your subconscious will adapt to your new behavior. It can be tedious, but once you’ve attained your goal, you will be fulfilled not only health-wise or in the physical sense, but personally all in all. About the author. Dr. Rose Windale is a successful Health & Wellness Coach who has been advising and coaching individuals for many years. Rose now decided to share her knowledge through this site, Healthzine.org. You can sign up for her free weekly newsletter and learn how to become truly healthy and happy. Thu, 10 Jul 2008 06:38:52 +0200 http://www.healthzine.org/Quit-smoking/stop-smoking-programs http://www.healthzine.org/Quit-smoking/stop-smoking-programs The dangers of smoking are out in the open. Everybody knows about it, even smokers themselves. And there is quite a large percentage of people who are hooked into the habit. For years and years, they have been smoking, and at a certain point they know they should do it- quit. As they say, a habit is easily formed, but it takes quite a struggle to break it. If you have been into the smoking habit for years, you may wonder if you can really quit successfully. Many smokers like you want to quit, but they are looking for the best means to do so. There are smokers who try to quit spontaneously and abruptly- on their own. This is called the “cold turkey” method. What do statistics show when it comes to this quitting method? It only has 5% rate for success, which is rather low. What has been said about quitters who failed and smoke again is that they become more more chronic smokers afterwards. So trying to quit on your own isn’t likely to be a good idea. You would have a 95% chance for failure by quitting on your own, and you’ll have more tendency to have a bigger smoking problem in the long run. It always pays when you devise a scheme or a program in wanting to achieve a goal. A plan of attack, so to speak. So it is when you’re planning on giving up smoking. Stop smoking programs would help you be able to properly manage your plan of quitting. But like many other smokers, you could be wondering if stop smoking programs really work. Well the answer to that is YES- stop smoking programs can work. Remember that when you try to quit on your own, you have a 95% probability of failing, which is rather scary. And you’d be more likely to smoke again within a year if you do fail. So why get yourself into that dilemma when you don’t have to. Make means to manage quitting through a program and you’ll have more chances for success. One of the more popular quitting programs is a combination of prescription drugs and therapy. Statistics have shown that with this scheme, a person has 30% more chances of being successful than quitting on their own. Thirty percent rate of success is certainly better than 95% probability of failure. Then there are also over the counter programs, another popular method. Through such programs, a person is said to have 15% chance of being successful. Lesser rate than the prescription drug and therapy combo, but the odds are still better than when you try to quit alone. Statistics hardly lie, so let this be a guide in your decision. Quitting smoking is one of the best, life-changing decisions you can ever make, so don’t do it haphazardly. Devise an effective scheme- get into a program. That’s how it is better done when you are aiming for health and well-being which is a worthwhile goal. Be well and take good care of you – you owe it to yourself. About the author. Dr. Rose Windale is a successful Health & Wellness Coach who has been advising and coaching individuals for many years. Rose now decided to share her knowledge through this site, Healthzine.org. You can sign up for her free weekly newsletter and learn how to become truly healthy and happy. Mon, 16 Jun 2008 04:56:25 +0200 http://www.healthzine.org/Quit-smoking/giving-up-smoking1 http://www.healthzine.org/Quit-smoking/giving-up-smoking1 Aiming to be a better and healthier person is always worth it. When it comes to this, you’ve got to strive to live healthily. Eat the right foods and exercise regularly which are the pillars of good health. Bad habits should also be done away with, like for instance, smoking. Smoking is among the deadliest habits you can ever engage in. You might even be aware yourself of the dangers of smoking just like most smokers are. You could be considering giving up smoking, but you don’t know where to start. But giving up smoking is a health measure that you have to do. You’d spare yourself from a host of health problems if you do. You’d even be saving your life as the habit would actually shorten your life span. The first thing that you have to do is motivate yourself. Think that giving up smoking is something that you want to do and not only something that you need to do. Think that you don’t want to suffer from cancer, heart disease and stroke. Say to yourself that you want to live longer and enjoy life with your loved ones. And now imagine what it would be like if you would suffer from cancer. Think of the misery you’d go through having to suffer from ill health. All the trouble it would cost you, ranging from the expenses to the inconveniences. Wouldn’t it be better if you are healthy? Where you enjoy energy and vitality as you don’t put in toxic elements into your body? Healthy almost always equates to being happy. You not only look good, but more importantly you feel good. And so you can enjoy life better. You could fight stressors head on and you wouldn’t be laden with the negative energy of ill-health. Think of all these worthwhile reasons why you should quit smoking. It’s because you value life and yourself. With your motivation, you can then muster the will and determination in giving up smoking. Then think of measures which can help you quit. You could resort to products which would aid you in putting a stop to your habit. There are countless in the market as there are thousands of people like you wanting to quit. You could research on which products would be effective. In the internet, thousands of sites can give you valuable information. Reviews of products can also guide you. Or better yet, you can seek the advice of an expert, or your healthcare professional. Tell your friends and family of your decision so that they would support you. Support system is actually valuable in giving up smoking. Giving up a habit may not come so easy. It took years for you to form it and it wouldn’t be broken instantly. It takes sacrifice and going through inconvenience, but think that this is all for your good. Think always of the positive, of what is good. For your health and for yourself. Life would be more fulfilling if you do. Because if your start thinking positively, good things will start to happen. This, in giving up smoking, achieving good health and in any other endeavor. About the author. Dr. Rose Windale is a successful Health & Wellness Coach who has been advising and coaching individuals for many years. Rose now decided to share her knowledge through this site, Healthzine.org. You can sign up for her free weekly newsletter and learn how to become truly healthy and happy. Thu, 22 May 2008 14:17:25 +0200 http://www.healthzine.org/Quit-smoking/effects-of-smoking2 http://www.healthzine.org/Quit-smoking/effects-of-smoking2 There are many reasons why people smoke. People who are usually in the habit of smoking merely think on a short term scale. It could be because of its perceived glamour- men look more manly and women look more sexy. Or perhaps simply because it makes them feel good. There are people as well who smoke for stress reduction- it makes them feel relieved so to speak. But of all these perceived benefits, can one really get any good? Are these benefits really worth it in the long run? The answer is apparently a big NO. When somebody comes to think of the harmful effects of smoking, would they still consider the habit? Perhaps not, and if you are a habitual smoker as well, then you should be aware. But first thing, many smokers already know about these ill-effects. The thing however is they remain oblivious- they chose not to care. Perhaps they think that such ill effects will in no way affect them. Or maybe they even think that they are not addicted to smoking at all. Many habitual smokers are in denial that they are addicted to nicotine. They think that what they have is a harmless, passing thing. But then, a habit is a habit and it can be difficult to get rid of. It has become inherent to your lifestyle and you do it instinctively. It is a saddening fact indeed when smoking has become a habit for you. You may even now be at the point of addiction and you constantly crave for it. Day to day living is just not what it seems when you don’t do it. As much as you think that you need it and it has become a part of your life, you have got to quit smoking. Why? It has been an established fact that smoking causes cancer. Lung cancer has been foremost on the list of the habit’s most dangerous effects. But the effects of smoking go far beyond lung cancer. Cancer of the larynx, the mouth, the esophagus and the bladder are also other possibilities for perennial smokers. What’s more, the cervix, the kidney the pancreas and the stomach will also be affected. As stated by the Surgeon general, ninety-percent of all smoking related deaths are due to lung cancer. Lung diseases are also associated with the habit. Among them are emphysema, bronchitis and pneumonia. There’s actually more in store for habitual smokers- they are posed to more risks of cardiovascular disease. One of the major detriments for this populace is chronic heart disease. These are just a few of the long-term health risks for smokers. If you are one of these people, the answer is obvious. You have got to quit and take action now. Get into a program if you must, or resort to one of those quit smoking measures. Products are available as well to help you in the endeavor. Even cigarette manufacturers themselves put a disclaimer on cigarette packs. It means that they are aware of the dangerous effects of smoking, and you should be, too. About the author. Dr. Rose Windale is a successful Health & Wellness Coach who has been advising and coaching individuals for many years. Rose now decided to share her knowledge through this site, Healthzine.org. You can sign up for her free weekly newsletter and learn how to become truly healthy and happy. Fri, 2 May 2008 09:29:34 +0200 http://www.healthzine.org/Quit-smoking/nicotine-withdrawal1 http://www.healthzine.org/Quit-smoking/nicotine-withdrawal1 If you have decided to finally quit smoking, then it’s a good, life changing choice. Perhaps you want to quit because you are simply aware of the dangers of smoking. Most smokers usually are, but you, you have decided to take action. This is certainly something commendable. But there is a challenge entailed when you want to quit smoking. Hurdles and obstacles to cope with and overcome. They can be difficult, but yet it is possible to succeed. Among the major hurdles you’ve got to contend with is nicotine withdrawal. Nicotine in itself is not harmful, but it’s the element in cigarettes which make them addictive. As your system has been accustomed to the substance, drastically stopping its ingestion can cause withdrawal symptoms to occur. Some of these nicotine withdrawal symptoms are anxiety, nausea, feeling stressed and feeling irritable to name a few. These are more apt to manifest especially if you aim to quit through “cold turkey”. Quitting through “cold turkey” is rather drastic and more uncomfortable. This will cause a sharp shock to your system, and withdrawal symptoms are most likely to happen. And besides, success rates of smoking cold turkey are small. In fact, it may be unreasonable for you to quit through such means. You can use the aid of nicotine replacement therapy or NRT products. Remember that nicotine alone is not a harmful substance. So when you smoke, it’s the other 4,000 or so of chemicals in cigarettes which are rather damaging to your health and well-being. Nicotine is simply that substance which makes cigarettes addictive. So try cutting down on your smoking first, like 10-20% every week. And then when you get the craving, use NRT products. There are patches, gums, sprays and inhalers for that. NRT products serve as a fall back when your body craves for nicotine. That way, nicotine withdrawal may not be so discomforting and traumatic to your system. As there are varied NRT products, you can choose one which you like or you think is most suitable. It all goes down to your personal choice although there is a new product which you could find more convenient. The product is called nicotine water, and it’s increasingly becoming more popular. Isn’t it more convenient to just drink (nicotine) water when you get the urge to smoke? It can be better than wearing a patch or chewing a gum or using sprays and inhalers. And what’s more, this organic supplement can also promote health and a general sense of well being. It can also help boost your attention and memory. Nicotine water is likewise seen to help with the treatment of depression and obesity. Your health in general can be promoted with this organic supplement. It is commendable that you’ve decided to quit smoking. In the process of doing so, keep your will and determination at hand. NRT products are also there to aid you in your endeavor to live a better, healthier life. It takes making the proper choice along with your resolve to be successful in your undertaking. Making health and well-being your priority is one of the worthy goals you can ever aim for. Good luck! About the author. Dr. Rose Windale is a successful Health & Wellness Coach who has been advising and coaching individuals for many years. Rose now decided to share her knowledge through this site, Healthzine.org. You can sign up for her free weekly newsletter and learn how to become truly healthy and happy. Fri, 11 Apr 2008 09:16:35 +0200 http://www.healthzine.org/Quit-smoking/giving-up-smoking http://www.healthzine.org/Quit-smoking/giving-up-smoking Why consider giving up smoking? For quite a lot of reasons, and those reasons are, well, reasonable. For one thing, a person who has habitually smoked will have a shortened life span. They would die 10 years earlier than they should. When a person smokes, they inhale about 4000 chemicals, most of which are harmful. Such chemicals include formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, tar, hydrogen cyanide and nicotine. One stick of cigarette is toxic in itself which instigates harmful effects in the body. What more if it’s smoked and huffed and puffed for years? One should well think of all the toxins they have inhaled, and the health detriments they create in the body. Not only to themselves, but to other people as well- the people they live with. Their relatives, their partners and their children. Statistics have shown that 42% of children in the United Kingdom are passive smokers. This is because they live with at least one adult who smokes habitually. An estimated 17,000 of these children are hospitalized each year due to respiratory problems. And what of women who smoke? Why is quitting the habit necessary for them? Fertility drops by 10% to 40% for women who smoke. Doing the habit while pregnant would increase the chances of a miscarriage. There are also heightened risks for premature or underweight babies for these women. Another convincing reason for giving up smoking is the fatality it causes. One hundred six thousand people die each year because of this destructive habit. And yes, the habit is deadly. This statistics indicate the a fifth of all deaths which may have been prevented. But the fact is, many smokers are aware of these. But still, why don’t they think of giving up smoking? Well maybe they don’t because they won’t and they can’t. Many people cling to the perceived benefits of smoking. Whatever they are, though, the risks and the detriments would outweigh them. Smoking, in all its sense is deadly in the long run. It would only be tremendously disheartening and alarming when it has become a smoking addiction. But by all means, one has to stop and break free. The health industry and its associated industries have established and acknowledged that predicament that smokers are in. Such is why there are quite a number of stop smoking measures. Among them are nicotine replacement therapy products, counseling and even hypnotherapy among others. It takes much will and effort to put a stop to a habit or an addiction. More so if psychological and physical dependence are involved. But the will and the effort mustered for giving up smoking will be worth it. Lives are involved in it, not only of the smoker, but of others as well. Giving up smoking means giving way for a healthier and better quality of life. It means living longer and being kind to oneself and to others. For those who are caught up in the smoking habit or addiction, they must take measures, or otherwise seek help. Help can be availed of through many agencies, and even products. When one has the will and the resolve, change can happen, and best if it is for the better. About the author. Dr. Rose Windale is a successful Health & Wellness Coach who has been advising and coaching individuals for many years. Rose now decided to share her knowledge through this site, Healthzine.org. You can sign up for her free weekly newsletter and learn how to become truly healthy and happy. Tue, 25 Mar 2008 08:04:23 +0100 http://www.healthzine.org/Quit-smoking/smoking-cessation1 http://www.healthzine.org/Quit-smoking/smoking-cessation1 It can be tough trying to break free from a habit. After all, it has become inherent to a person. It is what they have lived with for so long and have been used to it. What can be worse is when a habit involves physiological and psychological dependence. This is how it could be with the smoking habit due to nicotine addiction. Tobacco remains to be the foremost cause of deaths all over the world. Such is how alarming the dangers of smoking have become. There had been tobacco control movements to make an impact on the psyche of the smoker. Among them are anti-tobacco advertising campaigns, smoking restriction policies, tobacco taxes and other strategies. Smoking cessation programs have also been launched. Majority of smokers may have been familiar with the term “smoking cessation”. But still, many who are hooked on the habit continue with their puffing. And there are those who have become aware and know they have to quit. For those who want to break loose from the chains of smoking, there is hope. Will and determination are what it takes to cut loose from the grip of this destructive and deadly habit. A perennial smoker well realizes that cessation may not be easy. But there are effective ways for this endeavor. First, one has to make that decision to stop. They have to muster the will and the motivation. Then one can get into a smoking cessation program. Such programs offer individual or group therapy. Along with them are cognitive behavioral therapy, pharmacological counseling, coaching and motivation interviewing. Another means is through the telephone quitline, which is quite accessible. The professional quitline service may however be helpful only for less addicted smokers. An effective measure for smoking cessation is through a combination of support and medications. Medications such as Wellbutrin or nicotine replacement therapy products can increase the chances for success. It can be very difficult trying to break free, especially as one could gain weight after ceasing to smoke. Drug companies then when formulating medications for cessation take this factor into consideration. Cold turkey is another popular cessation option. By this, it means the smoker abruptly tries to quit. Eighty to ninety percent of smokers have resorted to this measure. Hypnosis as well can help when one wants to break away from nicotine addiction. So are herbal preparations for detoxification and acupuncture. Many people have taken the alternative route which could be effective. Then there is laser therapy, and self-help books and quit meters. When weighed rationally, the risks of smoking certainly outweighs the benefits. And these risks, they are not to be taken lightly. The consequences have to do with ill health and a shortened lifespan. More so, not only of the smoker but those around them as well. It’s worth mulling over, and the facts have been established. Smoking is deadly, and one should well think if a good life is worth compromising. If one takes the time and the effort, they can break free and such a decision has a better way to go. About the author. Dr. Rose Windale is a successful Health & Wellness Coach who has been advising and coaching individuals for many years. Rose now decided to share her knowledge through this site, Healthzine.org. You can sign up for her free weekly newsletter and learn how to become truly healthy and happy. Thu, 6 Mar 2008 04:25:47 +0100 http://www.healthzine.org/Quit-smoking/effects-of-smoking1 http://www.healthzine.org/Quit-smoking/effects-of-smoking1 No matter what good one imagines to get out of smoking, it certainly won’t outweigh the harmful effects of the habit. Yes, the effects of smoking are far too dangerous. The whole point is that SMOKING KILLS, and that is a fact. This fact has been proven by researches and studies. To be more specific, it causes 25 ominous diseases and 11 cancers. This is certainly not to be brushed aside. When one habitually smokes, it is for sure that they will suffer from ill health as a consequence. Not only them, but the people around them too. Their families- people they love. Smokers drag others with them to ill health and possibly to the grave as well. How grave are the effects of smoking? Four hundred forty thousand people in the United States die each year for conditions related to it. Each cigarette contains approximately 4000 chemicals in it. Among these 4000, 400 of these substances are toxic- poisonous – and 25 of these on the other hand can cause cancer. Within the list are nicotine, tar, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, arsenic, acetone, DDT, hydrogen cyanide and ammonia. The scenario definitely doesn’t look good. It’s in fact alarming, and yes, frightening. One tiny cigarette stick is harmful and poison in itself. What more if someone is in the habit of smoking it for years? Heart disease, stroke and lung cancer- these are the foremost life-threatening effects of this risky habit. Such diseases have high possibilities of causing death. Eighty percent of lung cancer deaths are effects of smoking, as well as 20% of all deaths related to cancer. What are some of the other harmful effects of smoking? A person who regularly smokes has greater chances of suffering from a heart attack. Peptic ulcers, diabetes, back pain and vision problems, they are all linked with it, too. One is also more likely to suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. As for pregnant women, chances are their cigarette habit would lead to miscarriage, premature birth or stillbirth. Asthma and allergy sufferers will also have their conditions worsened. And most everybody is aware of the harmful effects of passive smoking. Innocent people’s lives are put to illness and danger. Children of smokers become vulnerable, and they themselves are more likely to smoke. These children, too, they would become susceptible to other ailments such as middle ear infection, breathing problems and chronic bronchitis and asthma. The cigarette habit leads to stained and bad teeth and bad breath. So it is with discolored skin of the hands and nails. As for women who smoke, this would likely cause them early menopause and menstrual and fertility problems. Miscarriage and pregnancy problems are also risks. Smoking women also have higher chances of developing osteoporosis. As for men, they are in danger of suffering from impotence and reduced fertility. What’s more, their likelihood of having penile cancer is also increased. All these said, it’s clear and expedient that this dangerous habit should be stopped. That is, if one wants to live longer and enjoy a better quality of life. About the author. Dr. Rose Windale is a successful Health & Wellness Coach who has been advising and coaching individuals for many years. Rose now decided to share her knowledge through this site, Healthzine.org. You can sign up for her free weekly newsletter and learn how to become truly healthy and happy. Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:29:55 +0100 http://www.healthzine.org/Quit-smoking/stop-smoking1 http://www.healthzine.org/Quit-smoking/stop-smoking1 Smoking is cool, and that’s all. All it can do is make one look glamorous or manly. Others do it to relieve tension or stress. But in any way it is perceived, it is unreasonable to smoke. Smoking can easily rob away one of good health. When one is in the habit of smoking, they are taking years away from their life. Why so? Because smoking leads to the development of deadly diseases such as cancer, emphysema and other respiratory diseases, even cardiovascular diseases. It is only imperative for one to stop smoking when smoking has become habitual. Why stop smoking? It’s because any attempt made to stop smoking and implementing it is sure to have benefits. Stop smoking measures can readily alleviate the dangers caused by smoking. Stop smoking measures, even with just a little try can make a difference. More so if one’s resolve to stop smoking is permanent. It is like lifting off a heavy weight which slowly drags one down to their early grave. What are some stop smoking measures which can be effective? The health sector has been advocating the dangers of smoking, and so stop smoking measures, they are in demand. There are countless of them and many smokers are willing to give them a try. The stop smoking industry has become lucrative, especially as many people are intent on stopping smoking. Smoking can be a compelling habit. Once a person is caught up in it, it can be difficult to break free. But smoking is an expensive habit in that it costs lives. One of the best life changing and life saving decisions a person can ever make then is to stop smoking. There are may ways to stop smoking, some effective, others not. But there are popular means for quitting smoking, one of them is the NRT or the nicotine replacement therapy. The NRT method is used for a short duration. Twenty to forty percent of smokers find success with the NRT. There are many methods for NRT. They can be through patches, gums, inhalers and sprays containing nicotine. The NRT method is able to reduce withdrawal symptoms when one quits smoking. These symptoms can be irritability and tiredness among others. Then there is also the drastic stop smoking method called cold turkey. Only 5% of smokers find success with the cold turkey method. With the cold turkey method, one immediately tries to quit smoking, without any preparation. Smokers have to try this over and over again to be successful. Apparently this is not at all easy. The cold turkey doesn’t make use of gums or patches. Smokers who do this often experience withdrawal symptoms, and when they do, they may drink lots of water or take a quick walk. They may also count from 10 to 0 when having a nicotine craving, or talk about their struggle to a friend. Anything to divert their attention and to stop them from lighting a cigarette. It takes resolve and patience when one wants to quit the smoking habit. But for all it’s worth, it can spare one of ill health and early death. About the author. Dr. Rose Windale is a successful Health & Wellness Coach who has been advising and coaching individuals for many years. Rose now decided to share her knowledge through this site, Healthzine.org. You can sign up for her free weekly newsletter and learn how to become truly healthy and happy. Mon, 21 Jan 2008 09:35:36 +0100 http://www.healthzine.org/Quit-smoking/smoking-facts1 http://www.healthzine.org/Quit-smoking/smoking-facts1 As far as centuries ago when smoking started, smoking facts have been there. These facts may be good or bad then. To this day, however, what is it that has been established about smoking facts? They have been proven- smoking facts which validate that there is nothing beneficial to be gained out of smoking. Most people smoke to look glamorous or sociable. Others smoke for stress relief. Still, others do so to lose weight. But of all these perceived “good” out of smoking cigarettes, there is an accompanying danger. Ranging from minor respiratory illnesses, to lung cancer, emphysema and early death. Weighing the options, is smoking worth it? Research has long proven the smoking facts that smoking is absolutely associated with health. Or ill health for that matter. In the olden days, these smoking facts were not yet established. Previous generations were unaware of the link between smoking and threatening diseases. Unfortunately, though, more and more people became addicted to nicotine. They got enmeshed in the habit of smoking oblivious to its consequences. And then the truth about smoking facts hit the deadline. Professionals, cigarette manufacturers and habitual smokers took them rather heavily. When these smoking facts came out to the public, there was also a great deal of misinformation. By then, smoking facts which abound were also laden with fallacy and superstition. But to this day, smoking facts have been determined and proven. And they are all directed at one truth- there is nothing good to be gained out of smoking. And yet smoking facts also tell of a disheartening truth. The reality of teenage smoking, and how it can lead to a perennial smoking habit until it instigates a possibly deadly health havoc. It remains to be alarming- the percentage of people taking up the smoking habit. And the frightening smoking facts about young people being introduced to smoking. How it can potentially bind them to a lifelong smoking habit and addiction. How it can only lead them down the drain of ill health and premature death. The first concerns about the dangers of smoking were voiced in 1858. Fears about the effects of smoking on health were then raised in the Lancet. It wasn’t until in 1950 when smoking facts about smoking and cancer were established. A considerable time subsequent to this event, the claim began to be accepted as the truth. More of smoking facts? Smoking is by far the one of the biggest causes of home fires. In these tragedies, it is not only the smokers who may die, but their families and children as well. And so are the firefighters who try to save them. Worldwide, approximately 5 million people die annually due to diseases caused by smoking. Worse, they may suffer months or even years of debilitating illness prior to this. One of the most disheartening smoking facts is that children whose parents smoke are 4 times more likely to smoke. And that more teenage girls smoke than teenage boys do. Minor illnesses result from smoking as the immune system is compromised. More than this, smoking is life-threatening taking off 10 to 20 years of a person’s life. About the author. Dr. Rose Windale is a successful Health & Wellness Coach who has been advising and coaching individuals for many years. Rose now decided to share her knowledge through this site, Healthzine.org. You can sign up for her free weekly newsletter and learn how to become truly healthy and happy.