If You are so Smart Then Why Do You Smoke

•March 17, 2009 • No Comments

Have you got a reason to quit smoking?  If you study human nature you know then that you must have a strong reason to do anything. Quitting smoking is no exception. You must have a strong reason to quit.

One of the keys to successfully kicking the cigarette smoking habit  is you really have to want to quit.  Having the right attitude is also important.  Just say to yourself “I am a non-smoker now” whenever you feel the urge to smoke should help you get through the tough times. You’ll find that as you go along to becoming a successful quitter you will find yourself saying this statement less and less.

Here are some things you can look forward to when you quit smoking:

  • You’ll have more time to get things done. Every cigarette takes about 7 to 10 minutes. Making coffee to go along with that smoke also takes time if you usually like to have a coffee with your cigarette. Stopping at the store to buy a pack takes about 5 to 10 minutes out of your way every day and sometimes 2 times a day.
  • Your clothes won’t smell like smoke.
  • Food will taste better.
  • You won’t have to go outside in the cold and rain to smoke.
  • You won’t have to ask for permission to smoke at someone’s home or in someone’s car.
  • You’ll breathe easier. You won’t get out of breath when you walk up a flight or two of stairs. if you’re so inclined you can even start singing again because eventually you’ll get your singing voice back.
  • People won’t look down on you because you smoke. Smoking is not cool anymore. You won’t be stigmatized by society as smokers are.

The right attitude makes all the difference. Check your self talk. Say “I no longer smoke. I am a non-smoker now.”  I hope with these few words you’ll find success in kicking the smoking habit.  Just remember it gets easier with time but the important thing is that you must start.

Сontraband tobacco

•January 28, 2009 • No Comments

A coalition against the contraband tobacco trade has floated out the idea the federal government should be taking stronger, more strategic action to stem the tide of illegal cigarettes and tobacco flooding across the Cornwall-U. S. border for the sake of saving $1 billion in lost revenue.

The Canadian Coalition for Action on Tobacco, an affiliation of health groups such as the Non-Smokers’ Rights Associations and the Canadian Cancer Society, says it has developed a plan for the government to recoup the large yearly chunk of money.

“In this time of economic recession, a time when governments are desperate for revenue, it is critical that the government recover over a billion dollars in unpaid tobacco taxes,” said Garfield Mahood, executive director of the Non-Smokers’ Rights Association.

The coalition pointed out that the provincial government is losing out on $500 million annually as well.

Stormont, Dundas and South Glengarry MP Guy Lauzon met with the coalition before Christmas to discuss their plan. Lauzon agreed the amount of money missed out on because of people buying illegal cigarettes manufactured — for as little as $6 per baggie of 200 — at nine manufacturers on the U. S. side of Akwesane is considerable, but couldn’t verify it is $1 billion.

“It’s a large amount of money, there’s no doubt about it,” said Lauzon. “I can’t speak to the (CCAT’s) figure, but it’s a significant amount.”

Lauzon sent a letter to Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan after three people were killed in a collision in November on Cornwall Island. The driver of the vehicle that collided with an elderly couple’s car was allegedly a cigarette smuggler spooked by a police chase.

Van Loan apparently responded right away with a call to Lauzon.

The MP said Van Loan’s parliamentary assistant, David McKenzie, a former police chief, is currently working on a plan to better combat cigarette smuggling.

Possibly the biggest obstacle to putting the brakes on contraband tobacco products smuggled into and sold in Canada is the country’s difficulty convincing the U. S. federal government to work at shutting down the illegal cigarette manufacturers on their side of the border.

Sgt. Michael Harvey of the RCMP’s Cornwall detachment says the U. S. District Attorney’s office claims not to have the resources to deal with contraband cigarette smuggling.

Third-hand smoke

•January 6, 2009 • 1 Comment

Washington (dbTechno) - A new study has showcased the true dangers of what is known as third-hand smoke, which can exist after a cigarette has been put out.

Third-hand smoke remains after a cigarette smoking is put out as the tobacco smoke gets into a surface such as furniture, clothing, etc.

This toxic substance can then be spread in the air and can cause health problems for kids and adults.

Researchers from Massachusetts General carried out their study to see what type of effect third-hand smoke had on people.

What they found was that those at highest risk of developing health problems from third-hand smoke were children.

This is due to the fact that they are usually on these contaminated substances.

A child is more likely to play on a sofa which could be contaminated with the third-hand smoke.

This means that even if a parent is alone, and their child is not home, they can still do damage by smoking as the third-hand smoke could get the child later on.

Residue found in third-hand smoke can include carinogens, radioactive materials, etc.

The study has been published in the journal Pediatrics.

Tobacco Addiction treatment

•December 8, 2008 • No Comments

cigarettes 

 

Tobacco addiction is a chronic disease that often requires multiple attempts to quit. Although some cigarette smokers are able to quit without help, many others need assistance. Generally, rates of relapse for smoking cessation are highest in the first few weeks and months and diminish considerably after about 3 months. Both behavioral interventions (counseling) and medication can help smokers quit; the combination of medication with counseling is more effective than either alone.
Behavioral Treatments
Behavioral treatments employ a variety of methods to assist smokers in quitting, ranging from self-help materials to individual counseling. These interventions teach individuals to recognize high-risk situations and develop coping strategies to deal with them. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) national toll-free quitline, 800-QUIT-NOW, is an access point for any smoker seeking information and assistance in quitting.
Nicotine Replacement Treatments
Nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs), such as nicotine gum and the nicotine patch, were the first pharmacological treatments approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in smoking cessation therapy. NRTs deliver a controlled dose of nicotine to a smoker in order to relieve withdrawal symptoms during the smoking cessation process. They are most successful when used in combination with behavioral treatments. FDA-approved NRT products include nicotine chewing gum, the nicotine transdermal patch, nasal sprays, inhalers, and lozenges.
Other Medications
Bupropion and varenicline are two FDA-approved non-nicotine medications that effectively increase rates of long-term abstinence from smoking. Bupropion, a medication that goes by the trade name Zyban, was approved by the FDA in 1997 for use in smoking cessation. Varenicline tartrate (trade name: Chantix) targets nicotine receptors in the brain, easing withdrawal symptoms and blocking the effects of nicotine if people resume smoking.
Current Treatment Research
Scientists are currently pursuing many other avenues of research to develop new tobacco cessation therapies. One promising intervention is a vaccine that targets nicotine, blocking the drug’s access to the brain and preventing its reinforcing effects. Preliminary trials of this vaccine have yielded promising results.

What is Tobacco effect on the Brain?

•December 8, 2008 • No Comments

Cigarettes and other forms of tobacco, including cigars, pipe tobacco, snuff, and chewing tobacco, contain the addictive drug nicotine. Nicotine is readily absorbed into the bloodstream when a tobacco product is chewed, inhaled, or smoked. A typical smoker will take 10 puffs on a cigarette over a period of 5 minutes that the cigarette is lit. Thus, a person who smokes about 1/2 packs (30 cigarettes) daily gets 300 “hits” of nicotine each day.

Upon entering the bloodstream, nicotine immediately stimulates the adrenal glands to release the hormone epinephrine (adrenaline). Epinephrine stimulates the central nervous system and increases blood pressure, respiration, and heart rate. Glucose is released into the blood while nicotine suppresses insulin output from the pancreas, which means that smokers have chronically elevated blood sugar levels.

Like cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, nicotine increases levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which affects the brain pathways that control reward and pleasure. For many tobacco users, long-term brain changes induced by continued nicotine exposure result in addiction—a condition of compulsive drug seeking and use, even in the face of negative consequences. Studies suggest that additional compounds in cigarette smoke, such as acetaldehyde, may enhance nicotine’s effects on the brain.  A number of studies indicate that adolescents are especially vulnerable to these effects and may be more likely than adults to develop an addiction to tobacco.

When an addicted user tries to quit, he or she experiences withdrawal symptoms including powerful cravings for tobacco, irritability, difficulty paying attention, sleep disturbances, and increased appetite. Treatments can help smokers manage these symptoms and improve the likelihood of successfully quitting.

Tobacco Adverse Effects on Health?

•December 4, 2008 • 1 Comment

Cigarette smoking accounts for about one-third of all cancers, including 90 percent of lung cancer cases. In addition to cancer, smoking causes lung diseases such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and increases the risk of heart disease, including stroke, heart attack, vascular disease, and aneurysm. Smoking has also been linked to leukemia, cataracts, and pneumonia. On average, adults who smoke die 14 years earlier than nonsmokers.2
Although nicotine is addictive and can be toxic if ingested in high doses, it does not cause cancer; other chemicals are responsible for most of the severe health consequences of tobacco use. Tobacco smoke is a complex mixture of chemicals such as carbon monoxide, tar, formaldehyde, cyanide, and ammonia—many of which are known carcinogens. Tar exposes the user to an increased risk of lung cancer, emphysema, and bronchial disorders. Carbon monoxide increases the chance of cardiovascular diseases. Smokeless tobacco (such as chewing tobacco and snuff) also increases the risk of cancer, especially oral cancers.
Pregnant women who smoking cigarettes run an increased risk of miscarriage, stillborn or premature infants, or infants with low birthweight. Maternal smoking may also be associated with learning and behavioral problems in children. Smoking more than a pack of cigarettes per day during pregnancy nearly doubles the risk that the affected child will become addicted to tobacco if that child starts smoking.
Secondhand smoke, also known as environmental tobacco smoke, consists of exhaled smoke and smoke given off by the burning end of tobacco products. According to CDC, approximately 38,000 deaths per year can be attributed to secondhand smoke.2 Nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work increase their risk of developing heart disease by 25 to 30 percent4 and lung cancer by 20 to 30 percent.2 In addition, secondhand smoke causes respiratory problems in nonsmokers, such as coughing, phlegm, and reduced lung function. Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at an increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome, acute respiratory infections, ear problems, and more severe asthma.
Although quitting can be difficult, the health benefits of smoking cessation are immediate and substantial, including reduced risk for cancers, heart disease, and stroke. A 35-year old man who quits smoking will, on average, increase his life expectancy by 5 years.5

 
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