Archive for the ‘Health And Fitness’ Category

Stop Smoking Fast and Easy

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
Ryan Kerns asked:




If you are not completely confident that you can resist the urge to smoke after you have quit, it may be necessary to remove any visual reminders of smoking from your living and work areas. Throw away or give away those leftover cigarettes, get rid of lighters, ashtrays, matches, and anything else that could be associated with smoking. Why should you force yourself to resist the urge to smoke when it is far simpler to just remove the reminders. If you keep a pack of cigarettes in your home or office, there is a good chance that you may pick one up. Just this one may be the cigarette that hooks you again.

COPING WITH THE SYMPTOMS OF WITHDRAWAL

Dizziness may occur during the first one or two days. Take a quick break, it will pass.
Headaches may appear at any time during the first weeks. Try to relax. Take any usual remedy for headache, a cold cloth on the back of your neck, or relieve the stress by taking a short walk.
Tiredness may occur during the first few weeks, but if you meditate or relax during the first few weeks, it will pass. Coughing may actually increase during the first few days, simply because the residue from the smoke has not been flushed from your system. Tightness in the chest may occur in the first few days. Rest and take deep breaths, it will go away.

Sleeping problems may occur in the first few days. Try to stay away from drinks that have a high caffeine content, try not to exercise too strenuously in the hours prior to bedtime. A hot bath prior to retiring at night may also be helpful.

Constipation may occur in the first month after you quit. If this occurs, eat foods with a high fiber content, drink plenty of fluids, and do some light exercise.

Concentration may tend to wander during the first few weeks. Be ready for this, take a break or do something physical for a short period of time. On a daily basis, chart each cigarette that you smoke during the day. Enter the time, place, and with whom you smoked, the reason for smoking, whether it will be easy or difficult to give that one up, and the weapon that you will use to fight the urge to smoke that one.

Simon

Smoking Stories

Tuesday, May 18th, 2010
Chadhols Kimball asked:




He was 57 years old with diabetes since the age of 18, served in the military for 6 years. Was a successful salesperson for a well-known company in the lumber industry. He had started smoking at 18 with little health risk at the time and without knowing what the future would hold continued to smoke after that first cigarette.

Over the years, he had stopped smoking a few times with being successful when he did quit. As thing becomes upsetting in his life, he would turn back to smoking for the ability to calm down. As he thought, smoking would help with stress and anxiety that was in the life. As time went on, he continued to smoke. At the age of 42, he had a major heart attack ending up with five by passes and pacemaker for the heart. As everyone knows smoking is not good for the health. Doctors would tell him all the time this. He would hear of smoking stories.

His regular doctor after years of preaching the non-smoking slogan and said, “I see your mother could not get you to stop smoking, so I guess I won’t be able to either.

Ten years went on with him cutting down smoking, almost quitting, found him once again with more health problems. As being a diabetic, the right leg was losing feeling and the toes were turning colors. He had gangrene in the toes and to have all of them amputated. Life for him, he thought, was getting better now and yes continues to smoke but again less. Doctor prescribed some anxiety pills to help with the depression and anxiety going on in his life at that time. This did help with cutting down the number of cigarettes a day but he continued.

Two years later, he had a stroke that paralyzed his right side, sending him to a nursing home for a month to recover. Recovery was quick as he was always strong and did a great job at the recovery. Only to get out to smoke, smoking I think by now had become his passion. In addition, the smoking stories have not stopped him. The years went on and the health was stable until his foot, the right one that had the toes amputated had gangrene having the leg removed just below the knee. From there the health went done. Each day things become more difficult with only one good leg.

Couple of years later he ended up with rotor cup surgery, which after several weeks he had a major heart attack as that led to congestive heart failure. Within the course of 3 years, the health went down. He went blind, without getting up and moving a lot the lungs would diminish leaving congestive heart. Not eating properly, excising some on a regular basis, left him very ill and helpless. On December 28, 2005, Ken died in his home with smoking his last cigarette about 4 hours before he died. Ken never did give the smoking up even when health and life got better or worse.

He always told me he would die smoking and he did.

Michael

Quit Smoking Now – There Is No Easy Way Out

Monday, May 17th, 2010
Arturo Ronzon asked:




Stop waiting for the easy way to quit smoking, because there is no such thing as an easy way out. Quitting smoking is a serious fight that requires your determination and all you can put into it. The reason many people are still smoking is because they are waiting for the best time, the easy method to use to quit. They try a method and when they are no longer able to control themselves, they give saying the method is not good for them, they out there looking for what is suitable not knowing that the suitable is what is available.

The most important thing to do is to be disciplined, without discipline no one can quit, and discipline is not an easy way, it is a tough way. Smokers need to be tough on themselves by exercising self control with determination to stop the habit of smoking.

There are many people that quitted without any therapy or external help. All they did was to decide and be self controlled, the rest was history. The reason you are still addicted to smoking is because of laziness. Get rid of laziness and fight that destructive habit with discipline and self control.

Just decide on a day to stop, and when that day comes quit smoking without looking back, remove all traces of cigarette from site and live without smoking on day at a time without discouragement.

If you relapse, do not give start again, for it does not matter how many times you fail, be focused and be determined to quit, whenever you relapse, don’t wait, start the quitting program immediately without delay and you will see that the end will speak for itself. No matter how strong the urge to smoke is, control yourself and never go back. Be in control of the fight and you will certainly win.

Steven

Non Nicotine Cigarettes – The Answer to Quitting Smoking?

Sunday, May 16th, 2010
Joe White asked:




Could non nicotine cigarettes really be an answer to quitting? Discover the truth to herbal and alternative cigarettes and whether they are a worthy method of quitting in this article.

Beadies

My friend once bought some herbal cigarettes called “beadies”. They were advertised in an “alternative” store as being “nicotine free”.

We checked them out and they looked like they were made from a dried clean leaf with its seams sewed together. So he bought some and took them home.

I watched him as he opened the window in our apartment and lit one up…

Almost immediately, I noticed copious amounts of tar pouring out of the seams! I warned him and he looked and noticed that he had treacle-like tar all over his fingers!

That was the end of the “beadies” experiment!

Non Nicotine Cigarettes Defeat The Point

I can understand why someone would want to try these. Perhaps you feel that the act of smoking is just a habit. And maybe if you still have something to smoke that doesn’t contain nicotine then you will be able to break your addiction.

Unfortunately, it just doesn’t work this way.

You smoke because you know that cigarettes contain nicotine. Knowing that non nicotine or herbal cigarettes do not contain any nicotine will completely affect your psychology.

I am telling you know that if you smoke a non nicotine cigarette you will not get through more than a pack and then will just go back to smoking regular cigarettes.

Try it now if you don’t believe me.

Other Ways To Quit Smoking

I quit over 8 years ago using a book based on CBT or cognitive behavioural therapy. This type of therapy follows the same principles as curing someone who has a fear of flying.

It is far more effective than patches, shots or hypnosis.

Jeff

Harmful Effects of Smoking Cigarettes – 3 Deadly Reasons to Quit

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010
Dana Chapman asked:




Ask just about any person who smokes cigarettes, and they’ll tell you that they want to quit, and they’re going to “one of these days.” But for many of them, that day never seems to roll around. Why? Because they don’t realize just how deadly smoking is. Oh, sure, they’re vaguely aware of the harmful effects of cigarettes, but it really hasn’t sunk in for most of them. So here are three cold, hard reasons to quit.

Lung cancer. There it is. When it comes to the harmful effects of cigarette smoking, it doesn’t get much worse than lung cancer. It’s on the side of your cigarette pack, but who ever reads that? But cancer is a horrible, awful way to die. And fact of the matter is, nearly 9 out of 10 cases of lung cancer in the United States are linked to cigarette smoking. If you’ve ever had a loved one die from lung cancer, I don’t have to tell you that it’s about the worst kind of prolonged death you can imagine.

Pancreatic cancer. This is another form of cancer that’s linked to smoking. And it may be even more painful than lung cancer. It’s also one of the hardest kinds of cancer to treat. In fact, in most cases it doesn’t respond to treatment. A diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is a virtual sentence of a terribly painful death. And every day you keep puffing away on your cigarette you increase your chances of contracting it.

Colon cancer. Yes, colon cancer is another of the really harmful effects of smoking cigarettes. Smoking is linked to about 20 percent of all cancers in the United States, but that percentage is much higher for colon cancer. It’s more treatable than the other two forms, but treatment often fails. And even when it works, the person is often forced to undergo a colostomy, meaning they go to the bathroom through a hole in their side into a bag for the rest of their life.

I know this stuff sounds horrible. It’s intended to. Because every day you put off smoking you increase your chances of coming down with one of these awful, killer cancers. Don’t put it off any longer.

Mike

Easy Way to Quit Smoking – You Can Stop in Less Than 24 Hours

Monday, May 10th, 2010
Robert A. Craig asked:




Do you believe there is an easy way to quit smoking that really works?

Have you tried to quit smoking many times, but always eventually given in to your cravings and ended up lighting up another cigarette? Me too, I have been there many times. But I’ve now been stopped for 6 years…. and you can do it too….

Think about this one question – do you believe that you really want to stop smoking….?

It might come as a shock to discover that you probably don’t really want to quit smoking. Intellectually you know that you should stop smoking for reasons of your health and many other reasons. The PROBLEM is that your subconscious mind wants to smoke. Your subconscious mind associates nice things with smoking – feelings of pleasure, comfort, relaxation and other pleasurable experiences.

Think of your mind as being like an iceberg. You can see the part of the iceberg above the water, probably about 20% of the iceberg is visible. But about 80% of the iceberg is below the water and invisible to the naked eye. Your brain is similar, the conscious part of your brain is like the visible part of the iceberg – that’s the logical intellectual part of your brain and that conscious part of your brain knows you should stop smoking. But just like the iceberg, deep beneath the surface is the subconscious part of your brain and in your subconscious brain is your values, your beliefs and your habits.

Your subconscious brain controls and drives you – your self esteem for instance comes from the subconscious part of your brain. Your subconscious brain controls your habits, and your subconscious brain controls whether you smoke.

The key to the easy way to quit smoking is to persuade your subconscious mind that you don’t want to smoke. When you change the associations your subconscious mind has with smoking – instead of associating pleasure, your subconscious mind starts to associate smoking as being bad for you, things that are un-pleasurable – that is the secret to the easy way to quit smoking.

If the easy way to quit smoking is to convince your subconscious mind that smoking is a horrible experience that is bad for you, how do you do that?

There are some very easy, safe, effective, and fast ways to stop smoking which have been developed by hypnotherapists and psychotherapists which are now used everyday to stop people smoking. They do this by permanently convincing your subconscious mind that smoking is bad for you and disassociating any feelings of pleasure with smoking.

This is the easy way to quit smoking, however maybe you are a little apprehensive about the thought of using this kind of method? A lot of people feel that way at first, I personally know a number of people who felt apprehensive when this method was first suggested. But when they explored the idea further, they found that it was much more easy and straightforward than they ever imagined.

The easy way to quit smoking is to change the way your subconscious mind thinks about smoking. To help you understand better how it works, you can watch an actual recording of a stop smoking session using hypnosis by clicking on the link below and watching the video (towards the bottom of the page which opens).

Josh

How To Quit Smoking – 7 Easy Steps

Saturday, May 8th, 2010
Tim Bock asked:




Why should you quit smoking? There are too many reasons to count. Millions of people die each year because of cigarette smoke. With so much information out there, it’s easy to get confused. We will list a 7 easy ways to quit smoking that you should seriously consider doing, while you’re still healthy.

1) Exercise- This is the healthiest way of quitting. Not only will you be able to test your lung capacity on a regular basis, but you’ll also keep your mind from your habit. The important thing is to find a specific time to do it every day and make sure you stick to your routine.

2) Do your research – Many times reading about how smoking has affected others will encourage you to quit. There are so many sad stories out there, of people who have died from cancer or other smoking related illnesses. This doesn’t include all the stories of people who have lost loved ones. You don’t want this to happen to you.

3) Talk to others – Many times sharing your plight with others can turn into a positive thing. This support system can give you the encouragement you need to quit. It’s also helpful to find people who have previously tried to quit. That way they’ll be sure to understand what you’re going through.

4) Find natural solutions – Many times the real addiction is in the habit of smoking, such as lighting up after every meal. Sometimes this habit can be replaced by other healthier solutions, such as chewing a piece of gum.

5) Nicorette – This is a popular form a Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT). Nicorette has gums, patches and nasal sprays available that can help you quit.

6) Keep records – It’s a good idea to keep a record of your progress. The first couple months are the hardest. If you can make it that far, you’ve won half the battle.

No matter how you try to quite, if it’s by using Nicorette or talking to others, it’s important that you start today. Not only for you, but those people who care about you.

Josh

Quit Smoking Exercises – 9 Exercises to Help You Quit Smoking

Thursday, May 6th, 2010
Michael Jaikishan asked:




The road to quit smoking is often littered with useful aids, supplements and replacement products as we are told in the media. However, many smokers opt to go ‘cold turkey’ only to discover that this is a difficult path to a healthier life. Many methods and techniques are at the disposal of smokers to assist them on their endeavor and among this, exercises for quitting smoking can be equally beneficial. Smoking is incompatible with a healthy active life and if you opt not to use a replacement aid or supplement, adopting a few simple exercises can greatly assist you on your path to kicking the habit.

Exercise improves mind and body functioning and well-being and this can be of assistance to beating the withdrawal symptoms of nicotine. Most smokers who decide to quit are often unsuccessful as they are overwhelmed by the craving for nicotine and experience boredom once they quit their daily habit. Exercise can address both these factors by reducing the severity of withdrawal symptoms as well as keeping the mind and body occupied with constructive activity.

A smoker is at risk of cardiovascular disease due to the effects of tar and other harmful chemicals from smoking. Therefore it is essential that a smoker initially undertakes milder physical activity once they start an exercise program.

1. Walking – a brisk walk for 20 to 30 minutes a day will assist a smoker to combat the withdrawal symptoms and boredom without putting excessive strain on the body. It is preferable that walking be done in conjunction with a partner on a scenic route to prevent boredom and monotony setting in.

2. Yoga – yoga revitalizes the mind and body as it provide mild physical exercise with a relaxed mental state. Yoga should be started with the assistance of a suitable instructor who can assist with proper movements and prevent strain or injury to any body part.

3. Golf – all sport is a form of exercise with each having specific pros and cons. Golf has the benefit of limited physical exertion compared to other sports while providing a fun and distracting activity over a long period of time.

4. Swimming – swimming provides an all round physical activity exercising every part of the body. As an exercise, swimming can be altered to the physical ability of the smoker and due to its need for rhythmic breathing, it improves lung function. The effect of water and exercise can often leave one feeling
revitalized both physically and mentally which is ideal in combating the withdrawal symptoms of smoking.

5. Gym – gym provides a range of strength training and cardiovascular exercises in a social setting. This environment provides a range of exercises to prevent boredom from a specific activity while allowing the smoker the opportunity to interact with other active individuals in an exercise conducive environment.

6. Jogging – jogging is a fun and physically demanding exercise that is ideal for a smoker who has is prepared to undertake a more strenuous exercise regimen. Scenic settings and participating with a jogging group can keep a smoker focused on the activity and assist with improving mental and physical well-being.

7. Performance and endurance sports – undertaking a performance or endurance sport like sprinting, weight training or marathon running is ideal for a smoker of a suitable health status. These sports allow you the ideal exercise regimen when training and if a smoker opts to take the sport professional or participate in events and competitions, they have a goal to work towards both mentally and physically.

8. Group sports – participating in a group sport, like soccer, football and basketball can be beneficial to a smoker who is attempting to quit as these sports provide the necessary exercise in a controlled training environment while still allowing social interaction among your team mates.

9. Family activities – exercising by partaking in family activities allows you both a range of fun activities and exercises with the social support of loved ones to assist you in quit smoking.

Any smoker who has attempted to quit smoking will agree that the withdrawal symptoms and boredom experienced by smokers is often the reason for relapse. Adopting a healthy lifestyle with exercise and activity is a useful tool in your battle with smoking. Always consult with your medical practitioner before starting any exercise program.

Sebastian

Quit Smoking Methods – 6 Different Ways to Stop Smoking

Tuesday, May 4th, 2010
Carolyn Langlois asked:




There are many different ways to stop smoking once you have made the decision to quit. Some quit smoking methods may be more effective than others for you. Only you can decide which method to use, but here are six for you to consider.

Quitting cold turkey. You will probably need lots of support from family members and friends to successfully quit cold turkey. However, you have a good chance of success if you metabolize nicotine slowly because you may not be as physically dependent on nicotine as others. Slowly reduce the number of cigarettes. This will only work if you choose a pace that is realistic and that you are comfortable with. For instance, if you smoke two packs a day, don’t say that by the end of two weeks you will have stopped. You are most likely setting yourself up for failure in this case. Instead, choosing to smoke one less cigarette a day may be a more realistic goal. Additionally, lighting up your first cigarette of the day, five minutes later each day is another small step to try. Change one thing at a time. Most smokers smoke at least some of their daily cigarettes out of habit more than because of an actual craving for a smoke. Raise your awareness of why you are actually lighting up. Ask yourself if you are really craving a cigarette or just lighting up out of habit. Try to cut out the “habit” cigarettes while continuing to smoke the ones you cannot do without. When you have gotten rid of smoking “habit” cigarettes, then you can start on the rest. Remember to do this in small steps to have a better chance for success. Reduce the number of cigarettes that you smoke in certain situations. For example, you may be used to having two cigarettes when you are on a break at work. Instead, slightly delay lighting up the first cigarette and don’t smoke the second one at all. This way you are cutting down on your physical dependency in a relatively painless way because it is such a gradual change, as well as smoking less. Consider using nicotine substitutes such as gum, spray or patches. These may help because they supply nicotine in ways other than smoking. Nicotine substitutes help smokers kick the smoking habit by allowing a gradual reduction in the amount of nicotine in the body. Aversion therapy may work where other methods fail. The basic idea is to make smoking so completely unpleasant that you will not want to smoke. For instance, smoking one cigarette after another without pause and smoking until your mouth burns and you feel nauseous is one example of using aversion therapy to stop smoking. This works even better if you do this on a day where you wake up with a headache or have had little sleep.

So whether you are a heavy smoker or smoke a relatively small amount, finding the right quit smoking method is a personal decision. You may find using a combination of these methods may be even more effective than using a single method. Regardless of the method you choose, the most important thing is your decision to stop smoking.

Josh

New Stop Smoking Pill – Tortoise and the Hare

Sunday, May 2nd, 2010
Josh Darity asked:




Chantex is a an anti-smoking program that has an effect that is very different from any other programs of its type. Its main ingredient is Varenicline, which is a special kind of salt that has the capacity to directly work in the brain area. Unlike other cessation medications, Chantex is not a nicotine replacement therapy. It targets and blocks the specific synapse that tells the brain that it wants a smoke.

Chantex promotes a more honest and scientific view of smoking as a serious, difficult-to-treat addiction-and spreading the word not only to smokers but also to physicians. Some studies have shown that Chantex is more effective than Zyban. Others state that the drugs are approximately alike.

From Day 1 to Day 3, the usual dosage of Chantex is 1 white tablet (0.5 milligrams.) From Day 4 to Day 7, the dosage increases to 2 white tablets, one in the morning and one at night. The research to date for Chantex is provocative. Studies show that 44% of smokers successfully quit by the end of the full 12 week course of treatment.

The most commonly reported side effect from Chantex is lucid dreams. Many testimonials even report that this is something of a pleasure. Chantex is the best option for people who are seeking a quit smoking drug which helps them with annoying withdrawal symptoms. Not all people are well-equipped with patience and endurance to face withdrawal symptoms.

Chantex is a tablet meant for oral administration which is supplied in 0.5 mg and 1 mg capsular biconvex. The 0.5 mg tablet has CHX 0.5 written on one side and the company name on the other. It is white to off white in color, while the 1 mg tablet has CHX 1.0 on one side and Pfizer on the other and has a light blue color.

Chantex helps adults stop smoking. It is taken about one week before an individual wants to quit smoking, allowing the drug to build up in the body. It is usually continued for a total of 12 weeks. You should consult your doctor to determine if this drug is suitable for you.

At the start of the treatment, lower dosage of Chantex is prescribed and the dose is increased over time. You may have to face certain Chantex side effects. Just because is popular doesn’t mean it is for you. Also, since there are many fake pills available, one must be careful in selecting where to purchase the medicines.

Chantex may be the best help you can get today to help you quit smoking. One of the problems that users have noticed is actually the ultimate reason Chantex is so effective. It basically takes away any enjoyment derived from the smoking experience.

Josh