Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Smoking Cessation & Prevention

Smoking prevention and cessation among youth

The impact of smoking prevention and cessation interventions among adolescents is not well understood. Given the availability of smoking cessation medications for the large number of addicted youth, it is important to see if the youth is opting for smoking cessation interventions. Research on smoking prevention programs and smoking cessation medications tailored to youth should be a high priority.

Youth smoking prevention

Some of the programs geared towards tobacco prevention and control in youth include peer-based interventions, community interventions, computer-based systems, penalties for possession and use, school policies, vendor penalties, clean indoor air laws and interventions that focus on adolescent risk taking or problem behaviors. However, little or no data is available currently that shows if these programs are effective or not.

Youth smoking cessation

It is important to tailor smoking cessation prevention programs and make them more ‘youth-centric’. The present smoking cessation programs and help are not structured keeping the youth in mind. The reasons for which adults and adolescents smoke are different; therefore, the focus of programs should be different too. There are many smoking aids such as nicotine replacement therapies, hypnosis and medications that help adults in smoking cessation. It is important to impart knowledge to the youth about benefits of giving up smoking and give them easy tips on how to give up smoking to help them get better results.

How to give up smoking?

Teenagers and adolescents may not take health benefits of smoking cessation as seriously as adults. The focus for them should be on other aspects of smoking cessation effects. Giving up smoking effects can be felt on their personal relationships with their friends and dates, their prospects to get a good career and job and other aspects such as money saving. It is important to highlight the socio-economic benefits of quitting smoking in order to influence the youth to opt for smoking cessation.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Harmful Effects of Smoking

Smoking affects not just your lungs and heart; it also negatively affects almost every organ in the human body. Cigarette smoking is known to cause 25 fatal diseases and 11 types of cancers. It is the leading cause of ailments such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, arteriosclerosis and stroke; various types of lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema are also associated with smoking. It is the chief cause of cancers of the lung, mouth, esophagus, larynx, kidney, pancreas and the cervix.

Apart from life-threatening conditions, smoking may also cause a myriad of other harmful effects on your body. It may cause various types of dental problems such as teeth discoloration due to tar, gum bleeding, bad breath and tooth decay. Smoking increases the production of acids in the stomach leading to ulcers and heartburn. Smoking also adversely affects your skin causing various types of skin diseases and makes your skin appear older than your actual age. Smoking may also cause erectile dysfunction in men.

Cigarette smoking is known to be particularly harmful for females. Women who smoke during pregnancy are likely to suffer from miscarriage or have a lower birth-weight baby. Besides, babies born to women who smoke are at the risk of dying from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Quit smoking cigarette

Quit smoking cigarette before the effects of smoking overpower you

The smoking statistics show that an estimated 26.2 million men and 20.9 million women in the United States are smokers. It means that a large population in the US is at an increased risk for serious smoking related diseases and therefore there’s a strong need for quit smoking now.

Effects of smoking

The long term smoking effects are serious and can appear in the form of diseases like lung cancer, heart attack, stroke, blood vessel diseases, impaired vision in older people, and premature ageing or wrinkling of the skin.

One of the smoking effects among women is an increased risk for heart disease. If women combine smoking with contraceptive pills, this risk increases by 30 times as compared to a non-smoker. In addition they are prone to miscarriages and give birth to low birth weight babies.

Second hand smoking

All are aware about the active smoking effects, but not many people know the serious effects of second hand smoking. While you are an active smoker, people around you automatically become passive smokers, when they inhale the smoke produced from your cigarette. This second hand smoke can produce serious smoking effects, especially among women and children. The need for quit smoking now arises, especially after the World Health Organization’s declaration that smoking effects are the leading cause of preventable deaths and diseases among people throughout the world.

Quit smoking Now

If you can quit smoking now, some of the immediate benefits that you are likely to get are better food taste, easy breathing, and high energy levels. People who can quit smoking now can experience long term health benefits and reduced risk of serious smoking effects.

You can quit smoking now and get financial benefits as well. The money that is wasted in buying cigarettes can be used for accomplishing some other useful purpose in your life. After all, it’s your hard earned money.

Is it easy to quit smoking now? Well, it’s very easy to quit smoking now due to the easy availability of aids and drugs that can be helpful in kicking the habit. You can also get quit smoking help online. With any suitable quit smoking aid or drug, you can reduce the withdrawal symptoms of smoking as well as serious smoking effects.

Quit smoking now can also be possible with the help of Chantix which is an oral prescription pill that reduces cravings for nicotine as well as withdrawal symptoms.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Smoking Health Risks

Smoking Health Risks - Smoking effects in women, Diseases caused by smoking & quit smoking with Chantix

If you are a long time smoker, you are bound to experience serious health risks. These smoking effects can be visible in the form of serious diseases that often become the cause of death in the majority of cases. The World Health Organization or WHO says that smoking effects are the leading cause of preventable diseases and deaths among people worldwide.

Statistics reveal that tobacco consists of more than 400 toxic substances and 4,000 chemical compounds. And tar in cigarettes is probably the most hazardous substance because it is a carcinogen. Additionally, carbon monoxide decreases the oxygen levels in the blood. The most addictive substance in tobacco, nicotine gives rise to different health problems such as strokes, heart attack or miscarriage; it also increases cholesterol levels in the blood, increasing the risk of a heart attack. Smoking also causes chronic coughing, shortness of breath, premature aging, recurrent infections and reduced overall fitness.

Diseases caused by smoking

Cigarette smoking has several harmful health effects. People who are addicted to smoking may suffer from a number of serious and fatal diseases that are a direct cause of smoking. Smokers are more prone to suffer from respiratory infections and numerous other complaints such as coughs and colds. In addition, smokers are more predisposed to suffering from certain dreadful diseases like cancer, heart disease, cardiovascular diseases, lung disease, respiratory problems, strokes and several other problems related to kidneys, liver and the pancreas. Moreover, smoking is also responsible for bad breath and skin problems like premature aging and wrinkles

Smoking effects in women

Women smokers suffer all the consequences of smoking that men do such as increased of risk various cancers and respiratory diseases, in addition to other health risks. Smoking effects among women are more serious, especially if they are over 35 years and take birth control pills; they are at an increased risk of miscarriage or have an increased probability of giving birth to a low birth-weight babies. Other smoking effects among women are their increased susceptibility to the addictive properties of nicotine as they have a slower metabolic clearance rate.

Quit smoking with Chantix – A good quit smoking aid

There are many quit smoking aids and drugs like Chantix can help you to get rid of this habit easily. Depending upon your suitability, you can choose a quit smoking aid. You can consider using it after a medical consultation with a doctor.

Chantix is an oral quit smoking drug that is prescribed to smokers who want to quit. It helps them to reduce the withdrawal symptoms as well as strong cravings for nicotine. The main ingredient in Chantix is varenicline tartrate that works by reducing your desire to smoke. It’s available in strengths of 0.5mg and 1mg tablets. These doses should be taken as per the doctor’s recommendations. The treatment period with Chantix is 12 weeks, during which most of the smokers are able to quit smoking successfully.

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Stop Smoking Now

Stop smoking now to keep harmful effects of cigarettes at bay

If you are reading this you already know that cigarette smoking is injurious to health and you need to stop smoking but the question is how to quit smoking when you also know that it is just not easy to give up cigarettes. You won’t find yourself bombarded with all sorts of threats and harmful effects of smoking cigarettes, nor would you find yourself feeling guilty about how your passive smoking is slowly putting your loved ones at the risk of cancer; this page aims to tell you only one thing ‘how to quit smoking the easy way’!

How to quit smoking?

Most smokers need an aid to stop smoking. This is because smoking cessation leads to annoying problems such as headache, insomnia, chest congestion, sore throat, fatigue, constipation, irritation and strong cravings for cigarettes. These problems are known as withdrawal symptoms and are often the reason because of which most people cannot stop smoking. In order to quit smoking, it is important to address withdrawal symptoms, which has become possible with the help of Chantix. This medication is nicotine-free and works by targeting the nicotinic centers in the brain and stimulates these centers just as it nicotine in cigarettes stimulates them. This fools the brain into thinking that it has got its daily fix of nicotine and does not demand or crave for cigarettes. Chantix makes it very easy for you to stop smoking.

Stop smoking with Chantix

Chantix is a prescription quit smoking medication that needs to be taken for a period of 12 weeks for successful smoking cessation. This medication is manufactured by Pfizer and has a success rate of 44%, which is by far unmatched and unparalleled. If you were wondering how to quit smoking and put up with all those exasperating withdrawals and cravings, you need not worry any more. Chantix acts like nicotine and affects the ‘feel-good’ chemicals in the brain, which takes care of cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Chantix is also available online, which makes it all the more easy for you to get Chantix and stop smoking for good!

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Effects of smoking on you and your loved ones

Smoking is the greatest cause of death and disability. Statistics from the World Health Organisation say that smoking is responsible for approximately five million deaths worldwide per year. Smoking effects on human health are serious and in many cases, deadly. Cigarettes contain 4000 chemicals approximately, most of which are toxic.

When quit smoking help is sought, it dramatically improves your chances of avoiding myriad biological and physiological smoking effects. In fact, smoking effects can be seen on all parts of your body, which include the urinary tract, digestion, bones as well as the reproductive system. Additionally, smoking effects can also be seen on blood capillaries and oxygen flow. Bronchitis and pneumonia are the secondhand smoking effects in infants up to 18 months of age. Secondhand smoking effects can also manifest as middle ear problems, coughing, wheezing, severe asthma attacks and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Let’s face it; most smokers really enjoy their ciggie. In spite of wanting to, many are unable to quit smoking because of the severe cravings. So, how to quit smoking when you actually love to smoke? How to quit smoking if in your heart you really don’t want to? The first step to quit smoking is to wish deep down your heart that you want to quit. Once you get around this part, there is quit smoking help around for you to make it easier for you.

Quit smoking help is available in the form of written material like books and magazines; Chantix; cigarette substitutes like nicotine lozenges, patches and gum; exercise and fitness and hypnosis. Online guidance can also prove to be a good place to start with. When a person tries to quit smoking, the body starts to take some quick actions in response to the shortage of nicotine in the system. Over a period of time you are likely to suffer severe withdrawal symptoms like nervousness, tension and anxiety; increased anger, frustration and irritability; restlessness; fatigue; insomnia; concentration problems; headaches, weight gain and increased appetite as the harmful toxins are removed from the body.

Although the health risks of smoking are cumulative, quit smoking with Chantix, or other nicotine substitutes and get health benefits regardless of age or the length of time you have been smoking.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Are you planning to quit smoking cigarettes? - Tips to Quit smoking

Cigarette smoking is the most common habit among people throughout the world. Most men, women and teenagers smoke cigarettes for a variety of reasons. Some may smoke to relieve the stress in their lives, some may smoke for fun, and teenagers mostly smoke under peer pressure or simply to imitate their favorite actors who can be seen smoking in movies or TV programs.

Despite a ban on smoking in public places by many countries of the world, smoking is still the leading cause of preventable deaths and diseases among people throughout the world. It has been confirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO).

If you are a smoker and are planning to quit, you can easily get support or help from sources out there that provide tips to quit smoking. You can join any quit smoking program in your area and get support or help for your quit smoking efforts.

Tips to quit smoking

• Get support from a counselor who can provide you with some excellent tips to quit smoking
• You can also get support or help from your family members or friends in your efforts to quit smoking
• Make some lifestyle changes and seek company of those people who support your quit smoking efforts
• Join any quit smoking program and follow the tips to quit smoking provided to you, be it telephone counseling or face-to-face talk
• Get support in the form of prescription drugs like Zyban or Chantix for your quit smoking help in consultation with a medical doctor

Zyban and Chantix are both prescription drugs that help in quitting smoking successfully. Unlike nicotine replacement therapies, these drugs are free from nicotine. Zyban is an anti-depressant and contains bupropion as its main ingredient whilst Chantix contains varenicline as its active ingredient.

At present, Chantix is considered the most popular drug for quit smoking. It doesn’t contain nicotine but does reduce the nicotine cravings by mimicking its effect in the brain. It stimulates the nicotine receptors without actually providing any nicotine. This is very unlike nicotine replacement therapies that treat nicotine cravings by injecting small but consistent doses of nicotine. With Chantix treatment, many smokers have successfully kicked this habit. You can also take this quit smoking medication, provided it’s prescribed to you by a doctor after a thorough check up.