stopsmoking

A new year has begun and you are ready to make good on that promise of all promises: you will finally quit smoking.  Or perhaps you are expecting a new addition to the family and there is no time like the present to get rid of that unhealthy habit.  Whatever your motivation may be, quitting cigarettes or any other tobacco product will quite possibly be the most far-reaching decision you are making. It will improve your overall health, reduce your risk for many illnesses, improve your outward appearance, and even save you a lot of money!

No matter what your resolve, the biggest issue to deal with at this time is that of the smoking temptations in your life.  Quitting nicotine is not an easy process, and even though many have done so, each one will be able to testify to the enormous difficulty and even adversity they had to overcome to make their resolve permanent.  Here are ten ways to get rid of smoking temptations in your life:

When you decide to quit, get rid of all smoking related paraphernalia.  Toss out your lighters, crumple up and throw away your cigarettes, and give away your ashtray collection.  Do not keep anything inside the house that you use for smoking. Be certain to clean out all areas that may hold some stray cigarettes, such as the glove compartment of your car, your desk at work, or your purse and jacket.

When taking a break at work, is may have become an ingrained habit to go outside for a smoke with your coworkers. It is time to come up with a new and equally enjoyable routine that incorporates the interactions with coworkers while staying far away from the smoke and cigarettes.  Perhaps make new acquaintances in the break room with your non-smoking coworkers.  Or perhaps this will be a great time for a quick and refreshing walk around the block to stretch a little bit and to take some deep breaths. You may also want to consider taking up crossword puzzles, as they will occupy you and may take away the temptation to reach for a cigarette.

While watching TV, many experience extraordinary cravings due to the ingrained habit of kicking back, watching an enjoyable program, and smoking.  While it would be easy to suggest simply getting out and taking a walk, in and of itself this is not a realistic idea for every time you are sitting down in front of the tube.  Instead, take up a new hobby, such as knitting, that will occupy your hands while you watch TV.  Small quantities of unshelled sunflower seeds or pistachio nuts will also help to assuage the behavioral cravings.

Avoid locations that you associate with smoking, such as the local bar, the smoking section of your favorite restaurant, or the area in front of the pro-shop at your golf course.  Find new hangouts.

If you feel vulnerable, avoid people who smoke.  While you will come across the occasional smoker and will most likely be able to withstand the temptation, it is imperative to avoid the big events that draw many smokers.

Mimic responses to common questions and suggestions.  You role-play with your children to help them deal with certain situations, and the same works for you.  Practice saying “no thanks” in front of the mirror. Practice saying “no thank you, I quit.” Don’t be shy about communicating your resolve.

Involve your friends and families to help you quit.  They will be able to help you cope with temptations, and may even be able to eliminate some of them.

Change your peer group.  If all else fails, and your friends will not support you in your decision and perhaps even try to tempt you with cigarettes, it is time to make some new friends.

Consistently remind yourself of the reasons for quitting.

Reward yourself for your resolve by spending the money you have saved by not buying cigarettes on something special just for you.

While these ideas may not guarantee that you will never again face a temptation in your life to light up, they do help you to let go of many of the habits that form around the actual activity of smoking. Stay firm and good luck!

Are you a smoker who is scheduled to have surgery? No matter what kind of surgery you are having, your health will suffer if you decide to smoke for several weeks before and after your surgery.  As difficult as it is, if you are going to have surgery, you should seriously consider quitting for your health.

Smoking and Surgery: What Can Go Wrong

There are a number of complications, risks, and potential infections that can develop as a result of smoking pre- or post-surgery.  What exactly can go wrong?  Here’s a run-down on the most common and serious complications that can arise as a result of smoking pre- or post-surgery:

Wound Infection.  One of the most common complications that can occur if you smoke is wound infection.  Smoking, in effect, steals oxygen from cells that are in the process of healing. Smoking is a risk factor for wound infection in almost any kind of surgery.  Researchers have found that smokers continue smoking before surgery are at a much higher risk of developing wounds that do not heal properly.

Cardiopulmonary complications.  Tobacco smoke is very hard on the heart, lungs, and the entire immune system.  If you are scheduled for any type of heart surgery, it is imperative that you quit smoking for at least six weeks before your surgery.

Vasoconstriction.  Vasoconstriction refers to the shrinking of the small blood vessels.  Many heavy smokers are apt to experience vasoconstriction because smoking steals available oxygen from cells.  When this happens, the small blood vessels shrink and the amount of hemoglobin that is needed to move oxygen from one part of the body to another.  Smoking also interferes with other chemicals that let the body release enough oxygen to the cells.

Post-surgery complications are greater for smokers.  Scientists at Bispebjerg University Hospital in Denmark found that patients who quit smoking before surgery were significantly less likely to develop complications post-surgery.  The researchers found that, on average, patients who quit smoking pre-surgery were kept in the hospital two days less than those who kept smoking before their surgery.

Remember, you should strive to come to surgery with a body that is at its healthiest.  The trauma of surgery is hard on your body.  Smoking will only make it harder for your body to heal.  In some cases, surgeons may even elect not to treat a patient if they are smokers.

Smoking Cessation for Surgery

If you’re a smoker, the best thing you can do for your body prepare for surgery is to quit altogether, or at least reduce dramatically the number of cigarettes you smoke each day.  Recent research suggests that smokers stop smoking at least six to eight weeks prior to surgery.  Unfortunately, many of the smoking cessation products that would normally be available to smokers are not recommended for those heading into surgery.  Nicotine gum and nicotine patches are not advised for surgery patients.  The nicotine in the gum acts similarly as cigarette nicotine, interfering with the healing process in much the same manner.  Nicotine patches are also dangerous because the flow of nicotine can interfere with the flow of blood.

Many hospitals and clinics offer smoking cessation clinics that help surgery patients stop smoking before their scheduled surgery.  Here are a few general guidelines on smoking cessation for surgery.

Stop immediately.  If you are scheduled for upcoming surgery, you don’t have time to wean yourself off cigarettes.  Most doctors advise that you stop smoking as soon as you are told about your surgery.  For many people, the health scare is enough to throw the cigarettes out!

Read up on your surgery.  Take the time to learn about your surgery.  This will help you stay focused on your health, and the importance of keeping your body in good shape for the surgery.  While you don’t have to go into detail, become familiar with the procedure.

Speak to your physician about smoking cessation aids you can use.  Many times, surgery patients are unable to use such smoking cessation aids as nicotine gum and the nicotine patch.  Find out what options are available for your specific case.

Quit together.  Find someone to quit with you.  Making the commitment to quit with someone else will help keep you focused on staying cigarette-free.  Also, you should strive to maintain a smoke-free household during your recovery.  Some doctor’s recommend that all household smokers quit or dramatically reduce smoking during the patient’s recovery period.

If you’re a smoker, quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health.  The health benefits to quitting are well documented.  As soon as you quit smoking your body will begin to repair itself.  Your blood pressure will decrease, your body’s temperature will increase, the carbon monoxide in your blood will begin drop, you’ll experience a better lung capacity, your sense of smell and taste will improve, and your chance of a heart attack will decrease significantly.  These are just some of the health benefits that your body experiences immediately after you quit smoking.  What are some of the lifestyle and cosmetic benefits to quitting smoking?  Here are ten benefits that will make you want to kick the smoking habit for food.

1) More money in your wallet.  With the prices of cigarettes at their highest, and taxes going up all the time, you’ll definitely feel the effect of quitting in your wallet.  Think of all the things you’ll be able to purchase with the money you currently spend on cigarettes.  Sit down and do the math.  How much do you spend on cigarettes each week?  How much for a year?  Make a list of all the things you could afford to do or buy if you quit smoking now.

2) More energy.  Smoking drains a lot of your body’s reserves.  Quitting means your body will receive more of the oxygen that nicotine and smoke used to steal away.  You’ll feel more energized and less sluggish once you quit.  You will feel stronger, and not have to worry about the damage you are doing to your body by smoking.  You will be able to work out like you couldn’t before.  You can climb a set of stairs again without puffing!

3) Your complexion will improve.  Smoking wreaks havoc on your skin, causing signs of premature aging and an all around bad texture. Quitting will help your skin’s elasticity and texture improve significantly.  No more yellow skin or wrinkles around your mouth!

4) Your house, car, and clothes will smell good again.  Many lifelong smokers olfactory sense is suppressed by cigarettes, so they cannot smell just how bad cigarette smoke really smells. Cigarette smoke clings to fabrics, causing an unpleasant odor.  When you quit smoking, you no longer have to worry about the smell of your personal items or environment.

5) Cigarette stains on your teeth will begin to fade.  Cigarettes are notorious for yellowing teeth.  Once you quit, the stains will begin to fade.

6) Your sense of smell and taste will improve. Cigarette’s suppress your sense of smell and taste.  When you quit smoking, food begins to taste better. You will be able to smell the roses again!

7) No more anxiety or guilt.  With so many warnings directed at smokers, it’s very easy to develop a sense of anxiety and guilt over being a smoker.  When you quit smoking, you no longer have to feel anxious about the damage you are doing to your body.  And you no longer feel the guilt for exposing family or friends to second-hand smoke.

You don’t have to worry about going to non-smoking venues anymore.  With so many anti-smoking measures enacted in cities across the country, it can be easy to feel unwelcome at many restaurants, clubs, and other non-smoking venues.  When you quit smoking, you can go anywhere and do anything without having to worry about ducking out to smoke.

9) Your diet will probably improve.  One major lifestyle benefit of quitting smoking is that it will probably improve your diet.  Most smokers use cigarettes as a substitute for food at one time or another.  When you quit smoking, you will no longer wreak havoc on your body by smoking in place of a well-balanced meal.  And you will be able to taste your food better than before!

10) Quitting will give you a sense of pride unrivalled by almost anything else you will do for your health.  Quitting smoking is like running a marathon successfully.  You can take pride that you accomplished perhaps one of the most difficult things you will ever do in you life.  You will feel like a champ, and this sense of strength and pride will probably affect all other aspects of your life.

When someone smokes, their body becomes dependent on the nicotine in cigarettes, cigars, or pip tobacco. Nicotine is a chemical that can have physical and mood-altering effects. Because these effects are pleasant in the short-term, this helps people become addicted. This addiction is also reinforced by the sometimes severe withdrawal symptoms associated with stopping use of nicotine.

However, even though withdrawal may be difficult, the use of tobacco and nicotine can cause numerous health problems. Although lung cancer may be one of the best known ailments associated with smoking, it also affects your heart, blood vessels, appearance, and senses, as well as fertility and childbirth.

Lungs

Smoking causes 87 percent of lung cancers. In addition to lung cancer, smoking can also cause emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Smokers are up to 20 times more likely to get lung cancer—a likelihood that is affected by the length of time a person has smoked, and the number of cigarettes smoked on a daily basis. Someone who quits smoking, on the other hand, will lower their risk of lung cancer, although it will still be higher than that of a non-smoker. In addition, secondhand smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals—of which, more than 50 are known to cause cancer in people or animals.

Heart and Circulatory System

The heart and circulatory system can also be under attack by smoking, since smoking can result in an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The reason for this connection is unknown, but researchers believe the nicotine may cause adrenal glands to produce heart-stressing hormones that make blood pressure and heart rate rise. Additionally, the carbon monoxide in the smoke takes oxygen away from the heart and other organs. Smokers may also be at a greater risk of heart attack or stroke, since smoking causes blood vessels to constrict.

Cancer

As mentioned in reference to the lungs, smoking is the main cause of lung cancer. However, it is also a major cause of cancer in the esophagus, larynx, throat, and mouth. Smoking can also contribute to cancer in the bladder, pancreas, liver, kidney, cervix, stomach, colon and rectum. Finally, smoking may also be partially responsible for some leukemia.

Appearance

Smoke ravages a person’s appearance and makes him or her look years past their age. Skin is greatly affected by smoking. The skin becomes starved of oxygen, which makes it look dry, irritated, and prematurely wrinkled—particularly around the mouth and eyes. It can also cause stained teeth, fingers, and fingernails. Smokers may have bad breath, gum disease, and bad-smelling clothes and hair.

Fertility

Smoking negatively impacts the fertility of men and women. Women smokers may experience increases risks of infertility and miscarriage, while men risk infertility and impotence because of damaged blood vessels in the penis. Smoking can also affect sperm quality and density, as smokers may produce less sperm and sperm with more abnormalities. If women smokers do conceive, it usually takes longer and they are more likely candidates for a miscarriage.

Pregnancy and Newborn Complications

Even after successful conception, smoking parents will still have difficulties. Mothers who smoke during pregnancy risk low birth weight, premature delivery, and impaired lung function in their babies. Babies with mothers who smoke are also more likely to be stillborn, die shortly after birth, or die from cot death. Within the first year of life, babies with smoker parents are more likely to contract pneumonia and bronchitis. They have a higher risk of suffering from frequent, severe asthma attacks, and are more likely to become regular smokers as they grow up.

Senses

When you smoke, your senses of taste and smell are deadened. Food is not as appetizing and you become unaware of perfume or scented candles. In addition, a smoker doesn’t notice the smell given off by her own clothes and hair, which can be very unappealing.

Conclusion

Smoking affects more than just your lungs. It affects your entire body—and those of the people who inhale secondhand smoke. By quitting smoking, you can reverse many of the effects mentioned above. Even if the risks of smoking cannot be completely erased, by quitting you can reduce them as much as possible and return your body to a happy, healthy state.