Should Smokers Receive Free Healthcare?

 

Written by Jenny Catton

 

Estimates suggest that smokers could be costing the NHS over £5 billion each year so is it fair that smokers receive free healthcare for smoking-related illnesses?

 

No – Katie

People who choose to smoke are completely aware of the health risks. The dangers of smoking have been well publicised in marketing campaigns and even on packs of cigarettes so anyone who does smoke knows full well that it can cause serious illness. If despite the warnings, people still choose to smoke, they must be responsible for the consequences and this should include paying for their own healthcare if they become ill.

Smokers are a huge burden on the NHS – why should tax payers who live healthy lifestyles be penalised by having to pay higher taxes to fund treatment for smokers? The NHS doesn’t have enough money to treat everyone and it isn’t fair that people who have become ill through no fault of their own should go without treatment in order to pay for smokers. If the NHS didn’t have to spend so much money on smokers, they would be able to fund research and treatment in other areas.

Many smokers who do receive treatment for a smoking-related illness don’t even give up smoking! I’ve seen patients stood outside hospitals smoking – so any money spent on making them better is just a waste as inevitably they are going to carry on smoking and possibly get ill again. Perhaps if smokers knew they would have to pay for their own medical treatment it would provide an extra deterrent to smoking in the first place.

 

Yes – Liam

We are very lucky to have the NHS in the UK and one of the great things about the NHS is that everyone is entitled to free treatment regardless of their lifestyle choices. To ask smokers to pay for treatment would mean radically changing the founding principles of the NHS. This would not only put smokers at risk but could lead to changes for other groups of people too. For example, if we decide smokers should be charged for treatment, then the next natural step would be charge people who drink alcohol or eat unhealthily too. Where would this stop? No-one should be afraid of seeking medical treatment because they are worried about the potential costs.

People say that smokers are aware of the risks when they smoke and this is true but a skier knows that they risk breaking a leg when they go skiing – should they therefore be made to pay for treatment if they have an accident?

The cost of treating smokers is often cited as an argument against giving smokers free healthcare but it’s important to remember that the Government receives billions of pounds in tobacco taxation. If they allocated this money directly to treating smoking-related illnesses then I suspect that smokers would be covering the cost of their own healthcare anyway.

Rather than constantly attacking smokers, we should continue to provide treatment to everyone who needs it and then help them to give up smoking as part of their recovery.

 

The post Should Smokers Receive Free Healthcare? appeared first on .

Categories: free healthcare, medical treatment, receive free, related illnesses, smokers, smokers receive, Smoking, smoking related, treatment

Should Smokers Receive Free Healthcare?

 

Estimates suggest that smokers could be costing the NHS over £5 billion each year so is it fair that smokers receive free healthcare for smoking-related illnesses?

 

No – Katie

People who choose to smoke are completely aware of the health risks. The dangers of smoking have been well publicised in marketing campaigns and even on packs of cigarettes so anyone who does smoke knows full well that it can cause serious illness. If despite the warnings, people still choose to smoke, they must be responsible for the consequences and this should include paying for their own healthcare if they become ill.

Smokers are a huge burden on the NHS – why should tax payers who live healthy lifestyles be penalised by having to pay higher taxes to fund treatment for smokers? The NHS doesn’t have enough money to treat everyone and it isn’t fair that people who have become ill through no fault of their own should go without treatment in order to pay for smokers. If the NHS didn’t have to spend so much money on smokers, they would be able to fund research and treatment in other areas.

Many smokers who do receive treatment for a smoking-related illness don’t even give up smoking! I’ve seen patients stood outside hospitals smoking – so any money spent on making them better is just a waste as inevitably they are going to carry on smoking and possibly get ill again. Perhaps if smokers knew they would have to pay for their own medical treatment it would provide an extra deterrent to smoking in the first place.

 

Yes – Liam

We are very lucky to have the NHS in the UK and one of the great things about the NHS is that everyone is entitled to free treatment regardless of their lifestyle choices. To ask smokers to pay for treatment would mean radically changing the founding principles of the NHS. This would not only put smokers at risk but could lead to changes for other groups of people too. For example, if we decide smokers should be charged for treatment, then the next natural step would be charge people who drink alcohol or eat unhealthily too. Where would this stop? No-one should be afraid of seeking medical treatment because they are worried about the potential costs.

People say that smokers are aware of the risks when they smoke and this is true but a skier knows that they risk breaking a leg when they go skiing – should they therefore be made to pay for treatment if they have an accident?

The cost of treating smokers is often cited as an argument against giving smokers free healthcare but it’s important to remember that the Government receives billions of pounds in tobacco taxation. If they allocated this money directly to treating smoking-related illnesses then I suspect that smokers would be covering the cost of their own healthcare anyway.

Rather than constantly attacking smokers, we should continue to provide treatment to everyone who needs it and then help them to give up smoking as part of their recovery.

 

Categories: free healthcare, medical treatment, receive free, related illnesses, smokers, smokers receive, Smoking, smoking related, treatment

Should Smokers Receive Free Healthcare?

 

Estimates suggest that smokers could be costing the NHS over £5 billion each year so is it fair that smokers receive free healthcare for smoking-related illnesses?

 

No – Katie

People who choose to smoke are completely aware of the health risks. The dangers of smoking have been well publicised in marketing campaigns and even on packs of cigarettes so anyone who does smoke knows full well that it can cause serious illness. If despite the warnings, people still choose to smoke, they must be responsible for the consequences and this should include paying for their own healthcare if they become ill.

Smokers are a huge burden on the NHS – why should tax payers who live healthy lifestyles be penalised by having to pay higher taxes to fund treatment for smokers? The NHS doesn’t have enough money to treat everyone and it isn’t fair that people who have become ill through no fault of their own should go without treatment in order to pay for smokers. If the NHS didn’t have to spend so much money on smokers, they would be able to fund research and treatment in other areas.

Many smokers who do receive treatment for a smoking-related illness don’t even give up smoking! I’ve seen patients stood outside hospitals smoking – so any money spent on making them better is just a waste as inevitably they are going to carry on smoking and possibly get ill again. Perhaps if smokers knew they would have to pay for their own medical treatment it would provide an extra deterrent to smoking in the first place.

 

Yes – Liam

We are very lucky to have the NHS in the UK and one of the great things about the NHS is that everyone is entitled to free treatment regardless of their lifestyle choices. To ask smokers to pay for treatment would mean radically changing the founding principles of the NHS. This would not only put smokers at risk but could lead to changes for other groups of people too. For example, if we decide smokers should be charged for treatment, then the next natural step would be charge people who drink alcohol or eat unhealthily too. Where would this stop? No-one should be afraid of seeking medical treatment because they are worried about the potential costs.

People say that smokers are aware of the risks when they smoke and this is true but a skier knows that they risk breaking a leg when they go skiing – should they therefore be made to pay for treatment if they have an accident?

The cost of treating smokers is often cited as an argument against giving smokers free healthcare but it’s important to remember that the Government receives billions of pounds in tobacco taxation. If they allocated this money directly to treating smoking-related illnesses then I suspect that smokers would be covering the cost of their own healthcare anyway.

Rather than constantly attacking smokers, we should continue to provide treatment to everyone who needs it and then help them to give up smoking as part of their recovery.

 

Categories: free healthcare, medical treatment, receive free, related illnesses, smokers, smokers receive, Smoking, smoking related, treatment

The Smoking Sin: Why Diabetics Should Never Light Up

I think we can all agree that smoking isn’t good for anyone’s wellbeing, but if you also have diabetes, man, are you in trouble. Smoking when diabetic raises your blood sugar levels, and increases your risks for kidney damage, stroke, heart disease, nerve damage, and foot problems as much as 10 times. Here are eight reasons why, if you have diabetes, smoking is a major health concern:

 

1. Diabetic neuropathy or nerve damage. Smoking adversely affects your blood circulation, and this deprives your nerve endings of essential nutrients. Nerve damage makes you more susceptible to sores and infections which could even lead to amputation. Sure, smoking’s cool, but is it worth losing a foot?

 

2. Heart attacks and stokes. As smoking wreaks havoc on your sugar levels, your blood vessels will become damaged and cause strokes and heart attacks. You’re also at an increased risk of heart damage because smoking lowers your levels of good cholesterol, causes more blood clots to form, raises your blood pressure and reduces the amount of oxygen that is supplied to your vital organs.

 

3. Kidney damage. Again, smoking raises your blood sugar levels, having a negative impact on your kidneys’ microcirculation. This damages cells which are intrinsic to kidney health, causing albuminuria (high levels of blood protein in your urine) and and kidney or renal failure.

 

4. Eye damage. Smoking doubles your risk of diabetic retinopathy and blindness in the future.

 

5. Oral damage. Smoking when you have diabetes increases your risk of mouth sores.

 

6. Worsening of your diabetes. Not only does smoking cause your blood glucose levels to fluctuate dramatically, but it also increases your resistance to insulin. In other words, smoking makes your diabetes worse.

 

7. Joint damage. If you have diabetes, smoking can seriously limit your mobility, and even cause extreme pain in your joints. This can obviously have a negative impact on your quality of life.

 

No one is saying that it’s easy to quit smoking, or that it’s only a health concern for people with diabetes. However, if one or more of the above health risks could affect you, wouldn’t you want to do everything you can to prevent it from happening? Contact your doctor or look online for help quitting smoking.

Categories: Blood, Blood Sugar, Diabetes, diabetes smoking, health concern, Health Damage, heart attacks, nbsp, negative impact, Smoking, sugar levels

7 Smoking Cessation Methods You Might Not Have Considered

Nothing takes its toll on your mental health quite like trying to quit smoking. However many times you choose the traditional methods, you find yourself slipping back into your old ways and that failure can make you feel pretty badly about yourself. If this sounds all-too familiar, why not try a new method or tool for quitting smoking? Some newer approaches show promise, while other methods are as old as time. Make sure you research alternative methods in detail, as some are not as effective as others. Still, everyone is an individual, so if nicotine replacement therapy and quit smoking programmes alone aren’t working for you, consider these other alternative methods for quitting smoking:

 

1. Gradual Withdrawal:  Also known as nicotine fading, gradual withdrawal is a process in which you either change to a brand with less nicotine content or you cut back on the number of cigarettes you smoke. This helps you to cut back on the level of nicotine you consume, but it’s important to remember that this is a temporary measure; your body gets to adjust to a lower level of nicotine, which makes you more likely to quit altogether. If you’d like to try this approach, bear a few things in mind:

 

• Unfiltered cigarettes or filtered cigarettes that do not contain the words “light” or “ultra light” are often a high-nicotine brand.


• Filtered cigarettes that contain the word “light” or “mild” are a medium-nicotine brand.


• Filtered cigarettes that contain the words “ultra light” can be considered a low-nicotine brand.


• Smoking fewer cigarettes and smoking low nicotine cigarettes is still hazardous to your health.

 

2. Cold Turkey: Most people try going cold turkey at least once. This involves forgoing the use of medicinal aids and just giving up smoking abruptly. However, the problem with this method is that you don’t make the kinds of mindset and lifestyle changes that come with other methods such as quit smoking programmes. Rather, you don’t make any changes at all to your daily routine, which just highlights the fact that this one, big thing is missing. More active approaches, such as nicotine replacement therapy and behavioural counselling, have been shown to be more effective.

 

3. Hypnosis: If you take part in hypnosis, you are put into a deeply relaxed state so that your mind is more open to suggestions that strengthen your resolve to quit. Hypnosis also aims to increase your negative feelings toward cigarettes.

 

4. Acupuncture: This is one of the oldest medical practices in the book, and is believed to trigger the release of endorphins (feel-good hormones) in your body so that you are more relaxed. When it comes to quitting smoking, acupuncture is often used to help quitters manage the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.

 

5. Smoking Deterrents: You can get products over-the-counter that aim to change the taste of tobacco so that you don’t like it anymore. Smoking deterrents also include diets that claim to curb nicotine cravings, and combinations of vitamins. However, you should consult your doctor before embarking on any of these smoking cessation methods.

 

6. Supplements: Because supplements and herbal remedies are marketed as dietary supplements (as opposed to drugs), they do not require FDA approval. This means there is no evidence to prove that these pills are effective or safe to take. Again, consult your doctor before taking anti-smoking supplements, and be sure to look closely at the product label of any product.

 

7. Nicotine Vaccines: These are currently being developed and tested in clinical trials and aim to prevent and treat nicotine addiction. If approved, NicVAX triggers your immune system to block nicotine from reaching the brain, and should work for a year following each injection.

Categories: brand filtered, cessation methods, Cold Turkey, filtered cigarettes, nicotine brand, quit smoking, quitting smoking, Smoking, smoking deterrents, smoking programmes, Supplements

7 Smoking Cessation Methods You Might Not Have Considered

Nothing takes its toll on your mental health quite like trying to quit smoking. However many times you choose the traditional methods, you find yourself slipping back into your old ways and that failure can make you feel pretty badly about yourself. If this sounds all-too familiar, why not try a new method or tool for quitting smoking? Some newer approaches show promise, while other methods are as old as time. Make sure you research alternative methods in detail, as some are not as effective as others. Still, everyone is an individual, so if nicotine replacement therapy and quit smoking programmes alone aren’t working for you, consider these other alternative methods for quitting smoking:

 

1. Gradual Withdrawal:  Also known as nicotine fading, gradual withdrawal is a process in which you either change to a brand with less nicotine content or you cut back on the number of cigarettes you smoke. This helps you to cut back on the level of nicotine you consume, but it’s important to remember that this is a temporary measure; your body gets to adjust to a lower level of nicotine, which makes you more likely to quit altogether. If you’d like to try this approach, bear a few things in mind:

 

• Unfiltered cigarettes or filtered cigarettes that do not contain the words “light” or “ultra light” are often a high-nicotine brand.


• Filtered cigarettes that contain the word “light” or “mild” are a medium-nicotine brand.


• Filtered cigarettes that contain the words “ultra light” can be considered a low-nicotine brand.


• Smoking fewer cigarettes and smoking low nicotine cigarettes is still hazardous to your health.

 

2. Cold Turkey: Most people try going cold turkey at least once. This involves forgoing the use of medicinal aids and just giving up smoking abruptly. However, the problem with this method is that you don’t make the kinds of mindset and lifestyle changes that come with other methods such as quit smoking programmes. Rather, you don’t make any changes at all to your daily routine, which just highlights the fact that this one, big thing is missing. More active approaches, such as nicotine replacement therapy and behavioural counselling, have been shown to be more effective.

 

3. Hypnosis: If you take part in hypnosis, you are put into a deeply relaxed state so that your mind is more open to suggestions that strengthen your resolve to quit. Hypnosis also aims to increase your negative feelings toward cigarettes.

 

4. Acupuncture: This is one of the oldest medical practices in the book, and is believed to trigger the release of endorphins (feel-good hormones) in your body so that you are more relaxed. When it comes to quitting smoking, acupuncture is often used to help quitters manage the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.

 

5. Smoking Deterrents: You can get products over-the-counter that aim to change the taste of tobacco so that you don’t like it anymore. Smoking deterrents also include diets that claim to curb nicotine cravings, and combinations of vitamins. However, you should consult your doctor before embarking on any of these smoking cessation methods.

 

6. Supplements: Because supplements and herbal remedies are marketed as dietary supplements (as opposed to drugs), they do not require FDA approval. This means there is no evidence to prove that these pills are effective or safe to take. Again, consult your doctor before taking anti-smoking supplements, and be sure to look closely at the product label of any product.

 

7. Nicotine Vaccines: These are currently being developed and tested in clinical trials and aim to prevent and treat nicotine addiction. If approved, NicVAX triggers your immune system to block nicotine from reaching the brain, and should work for a year following each injection.

Categories: brand filtered, cessation methods, Cold Turkey, filtered cigarettes, nicotine brand, quit smoking, quitting smoking, Smoking, smoking deterrents, smoking programmes, Supplements

15 Reasons To Quit Cigarettes

Smoking’s a bad idea – it doesn’t take a genius to work that out. Unfortunately, despite the fact that so many people know that smoking is very bad for them, they still continue to do it. So, to give you a kick, here are the top 15 reasons to give up.

1. It’s going to keep getting more and more expensive – and that’s because taxes on cigarettes are only going to continue to rise as anti-smoking governments want to push people away from tobacco for good. So if you want to avoid seeing less and less money in your pocket every year, it is time for you to give up.


2. Cigarettes are covered in germs – that’s according to new research. And every cigarette that you find yourself smoking, it means that you are only going to be inhaling more germs into your lungs; not the best place for them to be. Give up and get rid of the germs.


3. If you don’t want to have increasing troubles in the bedroom, it’s a good idea to give up smoking. That’s because it has been shown in a number of studies that smoking can effect circulation and mean you’ll have less blood flowing around your genitals. That can make it harder for both men and women to get sexually aroused.


4. Giving up will make you sleep better. How does that work? Well, according to one study smokers are four times as likely to not feel rested after a night’s sleep. This is thought to be due to the effects of nicotine withdrawal on the body during the night.


5. You’ll have less wrinkles.


6. You might be able to get something out of your work for it. A number of companies now offer various incentives for giving up smoking. Talk to your HR manager about the different bonuses available for giving up smoking.


7. You will generally save lots of money.


8. You’ll enjoy your food a lot more. Smokers kill off their taste buds, while quitting allows them to grow back, which is a really top idea if you like to be able to taste the food that you eat.


9. Non-smokers have stronger bones than smokers. This is especially important as we all get older as our bones naturally weaken with age anyway. Smoking only makes this problem worse as it means that your weak bones are made even weaker by the cigarettes that you smoke.


10. Quitting is a good excuse for you to play more video games. According to one study, video games provide an excellent distraction from your cravings and can help fight off your addiction – so you’ve got an excuse when people question your new addiction to Grand Theft Auto.


11. You will reduce the number of colds you get. For a number of different reasons including the aforementioned fact that you are more likely to be inhaling germs, and also because you’ll likely have to stand outside quite often, smokers are more likely to get colds that non-smokers.


12. You’ll brighten your teeth up a lot. Cigarettes are well known for their ability to stain your teeth.


13. Your circulation will improve. If you suffer from cold hands or feet it could be to do with a weak circulation because of smoking. So give up to warm up your fingers and toes.


14. You reduce your risk of cancer and other dangerous diseases an awful lot.


15. You’ll be less likely to burn down your own house. The burning embers of cigarette butts are a common cause of serious house fires.

Categories: cancer, cigarettes, germs, number, smokers, Smoking, Video Games

What Are The Best Natural Ways to Boost Your Libido?

Do you feel that your sexual health isn’t as good as it used to be? Do you worry that, with advancing years, your sexual wellness and wellbeing is declining? If so, you’re not alone. Many people feel, at some point in their lives, that they are having a problem with their libido. This can be due to a medical issue or it may be emotional or psychological. IN many cases, the situation can be improved without having to resort to drugs. There are many different natural ways to boost your libido – it’s just a case of finding the right one to put the spark back into your love life.

 

Alcohol is often used to help reduce anxiety, especially in first-date type scenarios. When you reduce anxiety and stress, you can feel more ‘free’ and sexy, and this can help with your libido. The key is to drink in moderation, however, so beware of drinking too much booze. Alcohol is a depressant so you could end up having a different problem.

 

Trying different aphrodisiacs can be quite fun, too. Some of these are foods that look sexually suggestive, such as asparagus (but beware the strange smell it gives to your wee the next day which may alarm you!). Other foods, such as oysters, contain certain antioxidants and elements that are necessary for the healthy functioning of the reproductive system, such as zinc.

 

If you are a smoker, stopping smoking could be the key to regaining your libido. Smoking can reduce the blood flow to your sexual organs quite significantly as it causes narrowing of the blood vessels. It also reduces your sexual stamina. There is also the fact that many people do not enjoy kissing a smoker, reducing the sexual intimacy and pleasure. Giving up smoking can give your love life a great boost.

Categories: Boost, libido, Natural, natural ways, nbsp, reduce, reduce anxiety, sexual, Smoking

The Alternative Way To Quit Smoking

Giving up smoking is one of the hardest things for many people to attempt to do in their lives. It might seem like such a big deal, but try to imagine going without something that you literally crave every couple of hours or so – then imagine trying to do that for several weeks in order to break the addiction altogether. This might give an insight into why so many people find it very difficult to cope with the struggles of giving up and lapse into their old ways of smoking. And yet there are so many benefits that come with giving up smoking that it’s not hard to see why such a large number of smokers feel like giving up is a good idea.

After all, smoking is not only a bad thing for your health, it is also harmful for those around you – for many smokers this is the most poignant aspect of attempting to give up because you’re not just doing it for your benefit, you’re doing it for your loved ones too. Remember also that smoking is linked to virtually every health concern imaginable from lung cancer to heart disease, some of the biggest killers of people in the UK. There can be no doubt that smoking makes you more likely to develop these illnesses which can give you serious problems.

So with such good reasons to give up, why haven’t we all thrown down the cigarettes and declared “no more!” Well, the trouble is that as it was explained at the beginning, smoking is a vice that draws you in and makes you want it more. Help is at hand with a number of methods, and speaking to your doctor is your best bet for ideas of how to give up smoking altogether. But if you’re looking for alternative ways to give up the cancer sticks, there are some different ways you can attempt to give up.

Many people are turning to alternative therapies as a way to help them get off the cigarettes for good. There is a huge range of different ways that are all championed as the perfect way to rid yourself of the addiction. For some people the way forward is acupuncture treatment. Others find that hypnosis or meditation can be a great way to help them focus on getting through the difficult stages and ridding themselves of the constant need to light up.

Of course let’s remember that it’s always best to go for the standard methods such as therapy, nicotine gum, using the patch or electronic cigarettes. But if you combine these with alternative treatments it can really give you the help that you’re looking for. But why are these treatments effective? Well, for a lot of people it’s about the psychological boost that they receive when they do it. Hypnosis, for example, works on the same basis that when you hear someone in authority say something, it makes you feel reassured. The hypnosis helps you to calm down and focus on quitting.

It’s the same story for meditation, which is all about concentrating the mind and blocking out the desires of the body, which includes the want to light up a cigarette and start smoking. With acupuncture, this is a traditional Chinese medical practice that uses needles to supposedly be able to clear up certain conditions. These types of treatments may be able to help you but remember that you cannot rely on them entirely and that you should always look to include normal medical treatments when you are trying to give up smoking.

Categories: Alternative, alternative therapy, cigarettes, people, Smoking, Treatments, ways

Can Alternative Therapies Help You to Quit Smoking?

If you’ve quit smoking successfully, the chances are you’ve used complementary wellness methods to help you do it. Many a successful quitter has gotten through the pangs of cigarette withdrawal using techniques such as hypnosis, acupuncture, or meditation, as these therapies address all the areas in which smoking affects your wellbeing and develop a healthy balance between your physical and mental wellness. There are many doctors who recommend alternative approaches, but they do also encourage patients to try them in conjunction with other quitting methods such as the patch or nicotine gum.

 

Amit Sood, MD, director of research for the Mayo Clinics complementary and integrative medicine programme, asserts, ‘People shouldn’t think that alternative modalities will help alone; they should be combined with other treatment. Smoking is a serious problem and should be treated like a real chronic disease.’ While it’s difficult to measure the success of alternative approaches to quitting smoking in a clinical setting, you cannot doubt the popularity of alternative medicine overall, with regards to smoking cessation or not. In the US, a 2002 government survey estimated that 36% of Americans had used some form of complementary or alternative therapy within the previous 12 months – clearly, something was working for them! Let’s take a look at some of the alternative therapies that may help you to quit smoking, once and for all:

 

1. Hypnosis: This therapy can relax your mind so that you identify the things that subconsciously trigger you to smoke. Alan B. Densky, a certified hypnotherapist who specializes in smoking cessation, explains, ‘Hypnosis is nothing more than the alpha state—a state of mind that we pass through as we fall asleep at night, go deep into a memory, or as we watch television.’ A hypnotherapist will take your case history of past attempts at quitting, and then induce you into a state of relaxation—often through the methods of guided meditation or visualization. Your hypnotherapist will then ask begin a conversation to explore what might motivate the patient to quit. According to the preliminary results from a small 2007 study of smokers hospitalized with cardiopulmonary diseases, hypnotherapy increases your chances of quitting in six months than if you choose nicotine-replacement therapy (NRT) alone.

 

2. Acupuncture: A technique derived from traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture uses tiny needles to stimulate certain points on your body. When it comes to smoking, acupuncturists generally insert the needles on and around your ears, feet and top of the head in order to reduce your cravings and ease the withdrawal symptoms throughout the body. However, it’s important note that the needle placement varies depending on who you are, and the acupuncturist will evaluate you to determine your physical weaknesses. Through a reading of your pulse and the colour of your tongue, your acupuncturist can work out which needle points to address. While acupuncture is the most extensively studied among the alternative therapies used to quit smoking, you need to bear in mind that the research is mixed here too and the best results come from a combination of acupuncture and education.

 

3. Meditation:  Not only does meditation soothe your wellbeing and refocus your thoughts, but a 2002 study showed that it releases dopamine in your brain, which is a similar process to how nicotine triggers that relaxing feeling. ‘There is an element of neurobiology behind it,’ says Dr. Sood, adding that meditation can also be a way to replace the stress-relieving qualities of cigarettes. Try breathing in and out slowly through your nose while sitting in a comfortable seat. Do this for five minutes, simply refocusing your thoughts back to your breathing whenever your mind wanders. Gradually work up to 20 minutes of mindful breathing a day.

Categories: acupuncture, Alternative, alternative therapies, hypnosis, meditation, quit, quit smoking, quitting smoking, Smoking, smoking cessation

Whose Life Is a Smoking Ban Saving?

In 2004, a report was released which claimed that a smoking ban in Montana had resulted in an almost immediate 40 percent reduction of admissions to hospital for acute heart attacks. The report led to a surge in research on the impact of smoking bans in a selection of countries and communities. It’s thought that this effect on hospital admissions and deaths, from heart attacks, range from 47 percent to 6 percent, with larger studies showing a smaller effect. Smoking bans could be reducing heart attacks and heart disease in two major ways – either by inducing current smokers to give up entirely or by reducing the exposure of non-smokers to passive smoking. Over 40 years of research on heart disease has shown that giving up has an incredibly strong effect, but there is very little effect on the latter in terms of how it affects people. With this in mind it is strange that so many advertisers play up the fact that eliminating exposure to environmental smoking in public places could save lives.

 

Heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the US for more than 70 years, with researchers constantly trying to find new ways to combat the various risk factors for the disease. What all of these studies show is that the most common risk factors for heart disease include smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, level of physical activity, alcohol intake and psychological factors. Those who currently smoke have roughly a two-fold risk of developing heart disease, compared to those who never smoke. This shows that giving up smoking could significantly affect how low your risk is with regards to this disease, not to mention the effect it has on other areas of your health as well.

 

In contrast to research which previously looked at the causes of heart disease, studies of smoking bans usually compare hospital admissions for heart attacks before and after a smoking ban. But these studies don’t take into account the defined populations nor do they look at information on individuals. Most of these studies are limited to short-term periods preceding and following the ban. Because of this, they are unable to highlight whether a reduction of hospital admissions can be connected to measurable reductions in the exposure to tobacco smoke, or other factors. For this reason, there is a lack of connection between the best research on predicting heart disease and the much weaker body of evidence which looks at the effect of smoking bans on our health. The latter of these is suggested by health authorities that there is a substantial effect of a ban on the health of the public, but this simply isn’t founded in research. Of course, this isn’t to say there is no benefit to a smoking ban – it does, at the very least, limit the amount of smoke each smoker inhales. But it would be difficult to gauge the magnitude of the effect and the mechanism responsible for the reduction of heart disease rates.

 

Anything which discourages smoking is great news, but health authorities should be careful in how they word their so-called evidence – furthermore, people should be better educated on the effects of bans on their health, so as not to be bought into by clever wording and unsubstantiated evidence. Smoking is a dangerous activity and takes it’s toll on your health in a variety of ways, from cancers to stroke, so giving up is always the better option. But to what extent it helps those around you is yet to be discovered, and will be difficult to decipher.

Categories: ban, environment, health, health authorities, heart, heart attacks, heart disease, hospital admissions, risk factors, Smoking, smoking ban, smoking bans

New Years Resolution: Six Tips on Quitting Smoking

Although there are many debilitating behaviors that an individual can engage in, smoking is probably one of the worst. This is the case for several reasons, including the fact that smoking can be expensive and can also impair one’s health. If you have made quitting smoking your New Years Resolution, you should know that doing so is entirely possible. Here are six tips that can help you overcome your smoking habit once and for all:

 

1. Consciously Acknowledge The Problem.

One of the reasons that people often find themselves unable to stop smoking is that they are not consciously thinking about the fact that it is an issue. Rather than mindlessly smoking cigarettes, think critically about the fact that each cigarette is making you more susceptible to cancer and endangering the health of others with second-hand smoke. When you begin thinking in this way, smoking will no longer seem as appealing to you.

 

2. Find A Support Group.

Sometimes quitting smoking can be difficult if you’re attempting to do it on your own. Since this is the case, you should consider joining a support group. Support groups are great because they give you an opportunity to talk and share with people who are experiencing the same challenges as you. Attaining this form of support can play a primary role in helping you quit smoking for good.

 

3. Keep A Journal.

When you attempt to quit smoking for good, remember that keeping your experiences in a journal can really help you. This is the case for several reasons, including the fact that recording your thoughts and feelings can help you understand what steps you need to take to make smoking a part of your past.

 

4. Participate In Smoking Studies.

One great way to overcome your smoking habit is to participate in a smoking study. Smoking studies are advantageous because they put you in an environment where you can learn about the adverse effects that the habit will have on your mind and body. To participate in a smoking study, go online and look up various studies which will take place in your local area. For example, if you live in Utah, locate a smoking study Utah residents can participate in. Once you begin researching, you will find that there are paid medical studies Utah citizens can take part in to not only help them quit smoking, but earn some spending money on the side.

 

5. Develop A Hobby.

Developing a hobby is a great way to quit smoking. This is the case because smoking is a time-consuming endeavor. By developing a hobby which helps redirect your mental and physical energy towards something else, you will no longer be as preoccupied with your dangerous habit.

 

6. Exercise.

Exercise is a wonderful way to help you quit smoking. In addition to taking up time and energy that you might have spent smoking, exercising increases your physical health and can make you less willing to engage in activities that detract from wellness.

 

If you have decided to stop smoking and want to keep this New Years Resolution, you should know that doing so is entirely possible. By implementing some or all of the strategies outlined above, you will likely find yourself able to completely overcome your smoking habit. Good luck!

Categories: nbsp, quit, quit smoking, quitting smoking, Resolution, Smoking, smoking habit, smoking studies, smoking study, support group, years resolution

Six Steps For Younger, Healthier Skin

Getting that youthful, healthy glow doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Below are 6 simple ways to maintain gorgeous skin, protect it from damage, and possibly even reverse damage already done.

 

Stay Out of the Sun

The sun speeds up the aging process in the skin, damaging the elastin our skin needs to remain flexible. After all those hours in the sun, we end up with sagging skin, age spots, and wrinkles. Avoid the sun during it’s highest intensity (10am-4pm), wear a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF 15 or higher, and wear protective clothing.

 

 

Don’t Smoke

Besides wreaking havoc on your lungs, smoking causes the skin to lose collagen. Collagen is the protein responsible for keeping the skin firm and supple. It also constricts blood vessels in the skin which depletes the skin of oxygen and nutrients it needs to stay elastic. Repetitive actions of smoking, such as pursing the lips, also leads to fine wrinkles around the mouth.

 

 

Eat Healthy

Blackberries, strawberries, and blueberries are high in the antioxidants needed to prevent or delay damage to skin cells. Turkey, tuna, and brazil nuts contain the mineral selenium which is vital to healthy skin cells. Salmon, walnuts, and flax seed give the skin essential fatty acids. Essential fatty acids are important for healthy cell membranes that act as a passageway for nutrients to get in and waste to get out. Products such as Xango Ageless (found at xalo.xango.com), containing Lychee Prophenol from the lychee fruit, also aid in healthy skin appearance.

 

 

Don’t Skimp on the Beauty Sleep

Not getting enough rest makes you look worn out and old, not to mention the hideous dark bags under your eyes. Keep a regular sleep routine, avoid caffeine and heavy meals before bedtime, and keep your bedroom quiet, dark, and cool.

 

 

Exercise

Regular exercise promotes healthy circulation that keeps your skin healthy and glowing. When you move around, you increase blood flow. Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to cells all over the body, including the skin.

 

 

Cleanse and Moisturize

Gently wash your face morning and night to remove dirt and bacteria. Moisturize to protect the skin from the drying effects of weather and pollution and to help maintain the skin’s natural moisture levels.

 

Follow those 6 easy steps and say goodbye to dry, dull, lifeless skin and hello to a radiant, youthful appearance. You’ll look better, feel better, and I guarantee everyone will notice.

Categories: anti-ageing, diet and health, essential fatty, fatty acids, Healthy, healthy skin, nbsp, nbsp don, nbsp nbsp, Recommended Levels of Sleep, skin, skin cells, skincare, Smoking

Gender Differences Extend to How We Smoke and Quit

We’ve long been aware that the male and female bodies are affected by things in different ways, but did you know that the way in which we smoke is yet another to add to the list? In 2001, a study at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine found that women and men are affected by smoking, and likewise quitting, differently. After lighting up, women collectively rates their cigarettes as less satisfying than men did. In another study, women who sampled both standard and low-nicotine cigarettes noted less of a difference in their enjoyment and their perceived nicotine intake than male participants did. These are just some of the findings from this research, which suggests that there is a gap between male and female smokers. The research found suggests that men smoke mainly for the nicotine, whereas women tend to care more about the smell and taste, the hand-to-mouth sensation, the boost to their mood and the weight control. Studies show that both sexes have around the same rate of success with smoking cessation drugs, but nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), such as the patch of nicotine gum, reveal surprising differences. NRT seems to help both men and women get through the first few months of difficulty on an equal level, but after six months women tend to slide back into the habit at a higher rate than men do.

These differences between gender in smoking addictions may also account for an interesting exception to the NRT gender gap – the inhaler, which is a small, plastic cigarette-shaped device that provides a dose of vaporised nicotine when you take a drag from it. A study carried out in 2001 found that inhalers were more effective for women than men, in the short term, whereas men had more success with gum, patches and sprays. When women stop smoking, they lose both the nicotine and the sensory cues which can make things difficult for them. Replacing these cues with an inhaler rather than with a patch which doesn’t resolve the issue can help them to cope more easily with giving up.

More than half of female smokers state in such studies that their weight concerns are a major issue when quitting. This isn’t surprising but research suggests that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) could be well suited to women as it helps them to take the leap over the psychological hurdle, accepting that they may well gain a little weight when they quit.  Women may well benefit from combining CBT with a glance at their menstrual cycles as well. Studies suggest that menstruation has a unique effect on tobacco withdrawal symptoms. Women shouldn’t exacerbate hormonal mood swings with their withdrawal symptoms by trying to quit during the middle of PMS. It’s advised to wait until after the first day after a period starts to quit, so as not to make either problem worse.

If you’re struggling to quit smoking, there are a number of resources available to help you. From helplines to smoking cessation devices, you should be able to find plenty of information on how to quit in a way that suits you. Quitting is always the healthier option – smoking causes a number of health concerns, from increasing your risk of lung cancer and heart disease, to accelerating ageing and causing gum problems. Speak to your GP about ways to quit smoking and cut cigarettes out of your life as soon as possible.

Categories: female smokers, Gender, new study, nicotine, quit, quit smoking, Smoking, smoking cessation, withdrawal symptoms, Women, women tend

How Even Casual Smoking will Affect your Workout

People go to the gym for different reasons. Some want to tone up, others want to get seriously bulky and there are those who want to improve their stamina. Whatever reason you may have to hit the gym you might also want to consider giving up on the smokes. Pharmacist and online doctor Chemist Direct asked a broad selection of health experts if the combination of cigarettes and the gymnasium is a good one. Interested in their answers? Here they are:

 

We kick off with homeopath and pharmacist Margo Marrone. We asked her how smoking affects your body’s physical performance. She notes that during physical performance oxygen is vital. The harder you work out the harder the heart pumps in order to transport oxygen to muscles. Smoking is counterproductive to your workout.

 

Marrone: “Smoking competes with oxygen for haemoglobin in red blood cells and wins, which means there is less oxygen flowing in the blood and less oxygen available to the muscles. This in turn makes the heart work even harder putting more stress on the heart. Smoking also constricts blood vessels making it harder for blood to flow through them and therefore an increase in the risk of heart attack. It also constricts the airways in the lung through inflammation and a build up of mucous which causes more lack of oxygen.”

 

Second and third up are Mark and Kathy Brown from Fitness Sitacise. They are personal trainers and have trained with Olympic athletes. They have seen first hand how smoking retards the growth and development of muscles. Just like Marrone, Mark and Kathy Brown note that smoking cuts down the amount of oxygen in the blood. They also mention that smokers that go to the gym have to work extra hard to achieve the same results non-smokers do.

 

Kathy Brown: “Smoking causes blood flow to slow down and decreases the amount of nutrients, protein and minerals transported to the muscles during and after the workout. Smoking also slows down your development because you cannot train as hard or as intensely as you could if you didn’t smoke so you now must work out longer to try to achieve the same results. You also get tired more quickly and your recovery time is longer and is not as complete as it is if you didn’t smoke. Your endurance, recovery and your total physical performance is reduced by about 10%.”

 

Non-smokers perform better than smokers in the gym. Gym goers that want better stamina will do themselves a significant favour if they put down their cigarettes. Studies have shown that a smoker’s lung capacity is hugely reduced. This cuts down on smokers’ ability to achieve maximum efforts and the most noticeable results. When you are a smoker and you’re looking to buff up you’re also shooting yourself in the knee.

 

Mark Brown: “Non smokers’ heart beats are 25-30% slower than smokers’. They can generate more power and explosiveness for a longer duration. Non-smokers also have better focus, concentration and coordination to perform complex combination exercises. The potential increase in performance that quitting smoking has will be noticeable in the areas that require the greatest effort. Bench presses, squats, deadlifts and endurance power movements will improve from 10 to 20%. All super setting movements and other routines that require moving from one exercise to another will improve because of increased lung capacity and endurance.”

 

Now that we have established that smoking is bad for your gym performance it is time to come up with a solution. Personal trainer Luke DePron knows exactly what to do to increase a smoker’s performing ability.

 

DePron: “Similar to most bad habits, people fool themselves in thinking healthy eating cancels out the negatives of smoking. While healthy eating does better equip to the body to deal with environmental stresses, smoking cessation would offer the greatest benefits. Trying to cancel out the negative affects of smoking with healthy nutrition is akin to fanning out smoke while a fire still burns. Putting out the fire or in this case the cigarette would have the greatest impact.”

 

It looks like there is only one solution for all the smokers out here. If you are serious about your gym regime, make sure you quit soon rather than later as it will positively affect your performance in the gym in a huge way.

Categories: casual, Healthy Eating, kathy brown, lung capacity, nbsp, Oxygen, performance, physical performance, smokers, Smoking, Workout

Sustain The Passion In The Bedroom With These Tips

When a relationship is young, passion is something that comes easy. Because you don’t yet know all the details about your partner and there is still a lot of mystery between you, it is easy to be passionate and spontaneous. But as we get older and the relationship goes on for longer it is not uncommon for that lusty spark to fizzle and passion dissolves into the humdrum of routine. This is a shame because it doesn’t need to be that way and quite often people are still completely passionate about their partner – they have just forgotten how to show it.

 

So given that many people are still able to get passionate but need a little help in order to keep the spark in the bedroom, we’ve prepared a few tips for the worst things that you can do in the bedroom. The following list will show you the best ways to kill off the passion in your relationship and should definitely be avoided.

 

One – Avoid watching the TV in bed

Watching TV in bed is a way that will kill off passion very quickly. While it might seem like a good idea to get all cosy with your partner and watch the TV, it seems that actually this is a very bad thing for your sex life and keeping passion in the relationship. Research by an Italian sexologist even found that couples who have a TV in their bedroom have sex around half as much as couples who don’t. Also, certain programmes are known to be passion killers, especially violent shows and films. So definitely make the effort to avoid these and ideally avoid watching TV in your bedroom – it won’t do your passion levels any good at all.

 

Two – Don’t let the kids sleep in your bed

Some parents find that it is natural to sleep in the same bed as the baby early on in their life. While this may be a bonding session that means the baby is always close to you it can also grow into a habit and your child will want to sleep in the same bed as you as they get older. This means you can go for a long time where there is no real chance to have sex, because there is always a child in the bed with you. Make sure you get into the right habit early and get the child sleeping on their own as early as possible in their life – it will do your sex life wonders.

 

Three – Do not have bad breath in bed

Bad breath is one of the ultimate ways to kill passion stone dead. Even if your partner loves you very much, they won’t be turned on by you having bad breath. It is one thing that you definitely need to avoid if you want to keep the spark alive in your relationship. Regularly brush your teeth to keep your breath smelling fresh, but if you find that you still have an ongoing problem it might be worth going to the doctor about it as there may be ways they can help you.

 

Four – Avoid smoking before bed

Smoking is bad for you for a number of reasons and it is definitely something that is never sexy. As it was noted before bad breath is an unpleasant problem for keeping passion in the bedroom, and smoking will definitely worsen this. But that’s not the worst of it, you’ll also smell from the cigarette smoke and that is never a turn on in the bedroom.

Categories: avoid, avoid watching, bedroom, keeping passion, nbsp, passion, relationship, sex life, Smoking, watching tv

Sexy Smokers? Cigarettes Cause Impotence, Here’s How to Quit

When you think of the damage that smoking does to your wellness, you probably think about your lungs, heart disease, and even aesthetic stuff like yellow teeth and nails. However, though you may not realise it, smoking can have a huge impact on your sexual health – especially for men. Nothing affects a man’s sexual wellbeing quite like impotence, and your 20-a-day may be bringing it on.

 

Any wellness expert – or back of a fag packet – will tell you that smoking has a negative impact on your cardiovascular system, as it causes plaque to build up in your arteries. Men obviously need good blood flow in order to get an erection, but this becomes more difficult when you have arteries that are packed with plaque. Even if you don’t smoke personally, second hand smoking can also lead to erectile dysfunction, so hanging out with or even dating someone who smokes may, in the long run, really dampen your sex life.

 

However, lighting up prevents you from getting it up in more ways than one; in order to have a healthy sex life your nervous system needs to coordinate with your hormones, as well as mental stimulation, and smoking also gets in the way of this. Aside from the fact that arterial build up can lead to stroke, heart attacks or diabetes, long-term smoking means you’re almost certain to have moderate to severe erectile dysfunction (ED). Studies have shown that men who smoke consistently throughout the day have the softest erections at night. But will the ED go away if you quit smoking?

 

According to a study carried out by researchers at the University of Hong Kong Schools of public health and nursing, 53.8% of men who quit smoking experienced a noticeable improvement in their sexual function. These quitters were 91.5% more likely to reduce their ED than men who did not quit – you can’t really argue with those odds! As a result of this study, the researchers turned to the government and asked them to change the “smoking may cause erectile dysfunction” labels on cigarette packets to “smoking causes erectile dysfunction”. This is because they believe men who suffer with impotence can experience quick and effective results from quitting.

 

If you’re a heavy smoker, trying to kick the habit can be extremely difficult. Although there are many resources out there to help you, you’re only going to quit altogether if you are determined enough to pull it off. Still, once you have the right mind set, you can make the process a whole lot more simple by bearing a few important factors in mind:

 

1. Start strong. Make a firm decision about quitting and pick a particular day to quit.

 

2. Deal with withdrawal. Once the nicotine starts to leave your system, it can be hard to stay firm in your convictions. A lot of research points towards the use of nicotine replacement therapy or NRT as the most effective way to help smokers to quit.

 

3. Get help. Even with NRT, you may still experience those strong cigarette urges, so it may be beneficial to join a nicotine anonymous meeting or stop smoking class, and get tips from books, pamphlets and websites.

 

4. Consult a doctor. It may be embarrassing to talk to your GP about erectile dysfunction, but surely it’s more embarrassing in the long run to let the problem get out of hand, when you have the ability to deal with it. If you have pain with urination, pain in the lower belly or your erection lasts for less than a few minutes, you need to seriously consult a doctor.

Categories: Dysfunction, Erectile, erectile dysfunction, Impotence, nbsp, quit, quit nbsp, quit smoking, quitting, sex life, Smoking

Smoking and Your Sex Life: Could Lighting Up Cause ED?

When you think of smoking and sexual wellbeing, you probably imagine that post-coital cigarette that occurs in almost every movie. However, according to a wealth of research, your 20-a-day may be damaging to your sexual health, as there’s a strong link between smoking and impotence.

 

Any wellness expert will tell you that smoking has a negative impact on your cardiovascular system, as it causes plaque to build up in your arteries. As you’re probably aware, you need good blood flow in order to get an erection, but this becomes more difficult when you’re arteries are packed with plaque. Even if you don’t smoke personally, second hand smoking can also lead to erectile dysfunction, so hanging out with or even dating someone who smokes may, in the long run, really dampen your sex life.

 

However, this is more than a simple matter of blood flow; in order to have a healthy sex life your nervous system needs to coordinate with your hormones, as well as mental stimulation, and smoking also gets in the way of this. Aside from the fact that arterial build up can lead to stroke, heart attacks or diabetes, long-term smoking means you’re almost certain to have moderate to severe erectile dysfunction (ED). Studies have shown that men who smoke consistently throughout the day have the softest erections at night. The question is; will the ED go away if you quit smoking?

 

According to a study carried out by researchers at the University of Hong-Kong Schools of public health and nursing, 53.8% of men who quit smoking experienced a noticeable improvement in their sexual function. These quitters were 91.5% more likely to reduce their ED than men who did not quit – you can’t really argue with those odds! As a result of this study, the researchers turned to the government and asked them to change the “smoking may cause erectile dysfunction” labels on cigarette packets to “smoking causes erectile dysfunction”. This is because they believe men who suffer with impotence can experience quick and effective results from quitting. So, if lighting up is preventing you from getting it up, consult your doctor and look online for resources to help you quit.

Categories: blood flow, ED, erectile dysfunction, Impotence, quit smoking, quitting, Sex, sex life, Smoking

How to Work Out Which Contraceptive Method is Right For You

If you were asked to name all the different methods of contraception, I reckon you’d at least come up with condoms and the Pill. However, there are 15 different methods of contraception, so why do so many of us limit out sexual wellness to just two types? Sure, a condom is the only way to prevent an STI, but that leaves you with 14 other choices for pregnancy prevention. In sexual health and wellbeing, we are all individuals and there are many different factors that can help determine which kind of contraception will work best for you.

 

1. How effective are the different methods?

For a contraceptive that’s more than 99% effective, your options are the contraceptive injection, the contraceptive implant, an intrauterine system (IUS), or the intrauterine device (IUD), also known as the coil. If used correctly, the contraceptive patch, vaginal ring, combined pill and progestogen-only pill are more than 99% effective, while natural family planning is 99% effective if used according to teaching instructions. The male condom is 98% effective if used correctly, the female condom is 95% effective if used correctly, and the diaphragm with spermicide and the cap with spermicide are 92-96% effective if used correctly.

 

2. What will work best in your routine?

If you’re an organised person, you may prefer a method you need to take every day, such as the pill. Otherwise, you may want to use a method that you only need to use when you have sex, such as the male or female condom. However, if you’re likely to forget to keep a regular routine or get caught up in the moment, you should consider methods such as the patch, injection or implant, which you don’t need to use every day or each time you have sex.

 

3. How comfortable are you with inserting contraceptives into your vagina?

Female condoms, a diaphragm or cap and a vaginal ring are great options for women who are comfortable inserting contraceptives into their own vaginas. If you don’t like that idea, but would be ok with a health professional inserting the contraceptive, an IUD or IUS can give you a long-term solution. Otherwise, you can pick non-insert contraceptives, like the implant, injection, patch or pill.

 

4. Do you mind if you’re not regular?

As certain contraceptives can affect your periods, this can be cause for concern among some women. Some contraceptives can make your periods heavy or more irregular, which is worth asking your doctor about before you start any new methods. However, the pill, patch, injection, IUS and vaginal ring can make your periods lighter or more infrequent. Ask a health professional for more details.

 

5. Do you smoke?

Most types of contraception are fine for smokers to use, but smokers over the age of 35 should only consider the IUS, IUD, implant, injection and the progestogen-only pill. Other methods, such as the combined pill or the vaginal ring, can be harmful to smokers so ask your doctor for more information before trying a new method.

 

6. Are you overweight?

Again, regardless of your weight, most types of contraception are ok to use and won’t cause weight gain. Still, if you use the injection for two years or more, this can cause a small amount of weight gain so take that into consideration.

 

7. Are you taking medicines for other conditions?

Certain contraceptives are affected by other medications, but your doctor should be able to tell you if yours will clash. Generally, you’re safe with the IUD, injection, diaphragm or cap and male and female condoms, regardless of anything else you’re taking.

Categories: combined pill, contraception, female condom, health professional, inserting contraceptives, Irregular Periods, Smoking, vaginal ring

What Does Your Body Go Through When You Quit Smoking?

It is one of the most unhealthy things that you can possibly do to your body, and yet tens of thousands of people are still smoking on a regular basis. If they could understand a little more about what they are doing to their wellness and wellbeing, however, perhaps they would not be so quick to light up the next cigarette. Cigarettes have been proven to increase your chances of getting certain cancers, such as those of the throat, mouth and lung, and smoking can also increase your chances of having heart problems or breathing difficulties.

 

Unfortunately, nicotine in cigarettes is highly addictive, and so many people who do want to quit find themselves unable to do so. Those who do quit, find that they suffer from such unpleasant physical symptoms that they start smoking again, merely to make the unpleasant effects go away.

 

1. Digestive problems are common when people stop smoking. You may experience indigestion, nausea, heartburn and even diarrhea. These symptoms peak and then start to improve.


2. Respiratory problems can also occur, including coughing, excess phlegm, sinus congestion and a hoarseness in the voice.


3. Circulation problems are also common. You may find that you feel dizzy or faint and may experience tingling in your fingers or toes.


4. Sleep problems are also common when stopping smoking, and many people report insomnia or other sleep problems.

 

As the body starts to repair itself, these symptoms will pass in around three to four weeks, and after that time you will start to feel a lot better and to experience the health benefits of no longer smoking. After this, your blood pressure will improve along with your carbon monoxide levels and risk of having a heart attack.

Categories: cigarettes, common, nbsp, people, problems, quit, sleep problems, Smoking