The Truth Behind Smoking and Quitting Smoking

Why should someone quit smoking?

Quitting smoking makes a difference right away in the way you feel. You can taste and smell food better. Your breath smells better. Your cough goes away. These benefits happen for men and women of all ages, even those who are older. They happen for healthy people as well as those who already have a disease or condition caused by smoking.

Even more importantly, in the long run, quitting smoking cuts the risk of lung cancer, many other cancers, heart disease, stroke, and other lung or breathing (respiratory) diseases (for example, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, and emphysema). Moreover, ex-smokers have better health than current smokers. For example, ex-smokers have fewer days of illness, fewer health complaints, and less frequent bouts with chronic bronchitis and pneumonia than current smokers.

Finally, quitting smoking saves money. The average cost of a pack of cigarettes is approximately $4.50 to $5.00 a pack (depending on where you live). A smoker with a pack a day habit spends approximately $31.50 per week ($1,638 per year).


What are the steps in quitting?

First, one can do certain things to get ready to quit. Then, there are other things to do on the day of quitting. Finally, one can do things to help oneself to remain abstinent. (This is the hardest part.)

Getting ready to quit smoking

* Set a date for quitting. If possible, plan to have a friend quit smoking with you.

* Notice when and why you smoke. Try to find the things in your daily life that you often do while smoking (such as drinking your morning cup of coffee or driving a car).

* Change your smoking routines: Keep your cigarettes in a different place. Smoke with your other hand. Don't do anything else when you are smoking. Think about how you feel when you smoke.

* Smoke only in certain places, such as outdoors.

* When you want a cigarette, wait a few minutes. Try to think of something to do instead of smoking. For example, you might chew gum or drink a glass of water.

* Buy one pack of cigarettes at a time. Switch to a brand of cigarettes that you don't like.

The Truth Behind Smoking and Quitting Smoking

Is smoking considered an addictive disease?

The term addictive disease or addiction describes a persistent habit that is harmful to the person. Thus, addiction is a chronic (long duration) disease with reliance on the substance causing the addiction. The addictive substance also causes the accompanying deterioration of a person's physical and psychological health. 
 
Psychologically, an individual's behavior pattern establishes how the addictive substance is used. One type of behavior is compulsive behavior, which is an overwhelming and irresistible interest in use of the substance. For example, the compulsive addict makes sure that the substance is always available. Another type of behavior is habitual behavior, which is using the substance regularly or occasionally for the desirable effects. Physically, continuous use of the substance leads to dependence on the drug by the body. This dependence means that when the drug is discontinued, symptoms of withdrawal or distress occur.


Nicotine is the component of cigarettes that addicts. Almost immediately upon inhalation, the body responds to the nicotine. An individual feels relaxed, calmer, and happier than before the inhalation. These pleasant feelings reflect the physical side of addiction; but then, not smoking cigarettes causes a craving for more cigarettes, irritability, impatience, anxiety, and other unpleasant symptoms. Indeed, these symptoms are the symptoms of withdrawal from cigarettes. Moreover, with time, more and more nicotine is desired to produce the favorable effects and to avoid the symptoms of withdrawal.

Is smoking considered an addictive disease?

Top 8 signs of cigarette addiction?

How do we know when we are truly addicted to nicotine. What are the signs?

The signs of addiction to cigarettes include:



* smoking more than seven cigarettes per day;

* inhaling deeply and frequently;

* smoking cigarettes containing nicotine levels more than 0.9mg;

* smoking within 30 minutes of awakening in the morning;

* finding it difficult to eliminate the first cigarette in the morning;

* smoking frequently during the morning;

* finding it difficult to avoid smoking in smoking-restricted areas; and

* needing to smoke even if sick and in bed.

Top 8 signs of cigarette addiction?

What problems are caused by smoking?

By smoking, you can cause health problems not only for yourself but also for those around you.

Hurting Yourself
Smoking is an addiction. Tobacco contains nicotine, a drug that is addictive. The nicotine, therefore, makes it very difficult (although not impossible) to quit. In fact, since the U.S. Surgeon General's 1964 report on the dangers of smoking, millions of Americans have quit. Still, approximately 440,000 deaths occur in the U.S. each year from smoking-related illnesses; this represents almost 1 out of every 5 deaths. The reason for these deaths is that smoking greatly increases the risk of getting lung cancer, heart attack, chronic lung disease, stroke, and many other cancers. Moreover, smoking is perhaps the most preventable cause of breathing (respiratory) diseases within the USA.

Hurting Others
Smoking harms not just the smoker, but also family members, coworkers, and others who breathe the smoker's cigarette smoke, called secondhand smoke or passive smoke. Among infants up to 18 months of age, secondhand smoke is associated with as many as 300,000 cases of chronic bronchitis and pneumonia each year. In addition, secondhand smoke from a parent's cigarette increases a child's chances for middle ear problems, causes coughing and wheezing, worsens asthma, and increases an infant's risk of dying from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Smoking is also harmful to the unborn fetus. If a pregnant woman smokes, her fetus is at an increased risk of miscarriage, early delivery (prematurity), stillbirth, infant death, and low birth weight. In fact, it has been estimated that if all women quit smoking during pregnancy, about 4,000 new babies would not die each year.

Exposure to passive smoke can also cause cancer. Research has shown that non-smokers who reside with a smoker have a 24% increase in risk for developing lung cancer when compared with other non-smokers. An estimated 3,000 lung cancer deaths occur each year in the U.S. that are attributable to passive smoking. Secondhand smoke also increases the risk of stroke and heart disease. If both parents smoke, a teenager is more than twice as likely to smoke as a teenager whose parents are both nonsmokers. Even in households where only one parent smokes, young people are more likely to start smoking.

What problems are caused by smoking?

When is the right time to quit smoking

Is there ever a perfect time to quit smoking? 
Some people may think that its only time when physical symptoms start to surface or that they are really convinced something bad might happen. If you believe in God, then you might even think that it is a message sent from Him. But all that divine calling and signs are often ignored, and people usually choose  to believe in only what they want to.

Take Dave for instance. He has been smoking for many years. He had all the symptoms of a smoker, the stained teeth, yellow fingers and frequent cough, but he never really did try to quit. Well the thought of quitting did come across his mind more than once, but never really tried to quit. It was always, "OK, I'll do it next month", but that next month never came. 

One day, Dave was watching TV with his girlfriend at home, with a lit cigarette in hand as always. Halfway through his cigarette, he placed his cigarette on the ashtray to open a bag of chips. 

But just when he reached for his cigarette again, he noticed that the light on that cigarette strangely extinguished. Thinking that it was really nothing to bother about, he lit up the cigarette again. 

Strange enough, it happened the second time. This time as Dave was about to take a puff from his cigarette, he noticed the light was dead again! Dave realized that this could not be a simple coincidence. It was a sign - a sign that could mean his next puff could be his last breath. Dave looked at his girlfriend and said " Honey, that's it. Its time for me to quit."

Although this story is hard to swallow, but it really did happen. But most smokers are not half as lucky. The only sign they get are of smoking related diseases: such as breathlessness, chest pain, harsh voice, cough etc......

But the sad part is smokers who experience physical symptoms refuse to associate them with cigarettes. They choose not to see that cigarettes are destroying their health even with all the signs showing.

Jeannet suffered from chronic bronchitis. Her doctor had told her that she was allergic to cigarettes, and that smoking aggravated her condition and that she had to quit smoking right away. Jeannet agreed that she had an allergy problem but simply refused to believe that it was to cigarettes. 

Jeannet thought she did all she could to prevent the allergy - everything but quit smoking that is. She got rid of every tinkle of dust from her home, avoided cold drinks completely, stopped using perfumes, but just as predictable as it was, her bronchitis remained as bad. 

It was when her condition got too bad that she finally decided to try to quit smoking. Immediately Jeannet condition improved and the attacks became less and less frequent. Now, the attacks have completely stopped. It is only when she quit smoking that Jeannet believed that smoking was the cause of her problem.

So are you like Jeannet? How many times have you received warning signals telling you that its time to stop smoking but you just closed both eyes to them?

People like Dave and Jeannet are ex-smokers with a happy ending. Most smokers end up with an incurable disease like heart disease or stroke before they actually decide to quit smoking. 

Smoking is a ruthless silent killer and you won't be spared. If you have not received any warning signals yet, then let this be YOUR signal to quit smoking. Remember, if you're not as lucky as Dave, your next puff could be your breath.

When is the right time to quit smoking

Champix - The "Quit Smoking" Prescription Drug

What is Champix?
Champix, generic name varenicline, is a prescription pill designed to help smokers stop smoking.

What alternatives are there to Champix?
There are lots of alternatives. Many people every year give up smoking through a variety of methods. The most important of these is willpower. Without your own will and desire to quit, none of the aids mentioned here will work, including prescription drugs. Having said that, there are now a number of products on the market than can help you, including nicotine replacement therapy, such nicotine patches, inhalators, nasal sprays or gum which, alongside willpower, can help you to quit. Some people also find success with hypnosis and / or self hypnosis tecniques, or other remedies such as acupuncture.


Which quit smoking treatment is right for me?
This is something that can be decided between you and your doctor, in person or via an online consultation. The doctor will take into account factors including your age, your lifestyle and the number of cigarettes that you smoke.

How does Champix work?
Champix works primarily in two ways. Firstly, it reduces the smoker's craving for nicotine by binding to nicotine receptors in the brain and reduces the symptoms of withdrawal. Secondly, it reduces the satisfaction a smoker receives when smoking a cigarette.

How successful was it in clinical trials?
In trials, 44% of the group treated with Champix had stopped smoking after being treated for 12 weeks, as opposed to 11% of smokers taking the placebo. Over the same duration, it was also shown to be twice as effective as Zyban (bupropion), the other main anti-smoking drug treatment.

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Has Champix been approved by the European Commission and the FDA for use as an aid to quitting smoking?
The European Commission approved Champix on September 29th, 2006 as a "stop smoking" aid for adults, based on the results from clinical trials. It should be noted that continued abstinence from cigarettes is higher (70% compared with 50%) when patients take the drug for 24 weeks as opposed to 12, so it may be appropriate for patients who have succeeded in quitting smoking at the 12 week point to take the drug for a further 12 weeks.

The FDA approved the drug in May 2006. See FDA approves novel drug for smoking cessation for further details.

Is Champix available on the NHS?
On May 31st, 2007 Nice (the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) published draft guidance recommending that this drug should be available on NHS prescription. Further details on the Final Appraisal Determination period can be found on the NICE website.

It was approved for prescription on the NHS in Scotland on 14th January, 2007.


How is the drug taken and what is the recommended dose?
It is taken orally. For the first three days, the dosage is 0.5 mg once daily (the 0.5 mg tablet is white). For days four to seven, the dosage is 0.5 mg twice a day. From day eight until the end of the treatment, the dose is 1 mg twice a day (the 0.5 mg tablet is blue).

You should set a date to quit smoking, and start taking the drug one week before this date.

Champix - The "Quit Smoking" Prescription Drug

Celebrity Smokers Struggle to Quit

Celebrity Smokers

Cigarettes used to be a fixture in any movie or TV show. Now they've largely disappeared from our screens, but that doesn't mean that the actors that we love to watch aren't going for a smoke when the shoot ends and the set is closed.
Here's a list of celebrity smokers who've managed to kick the habit, despite all the temptation that they face. We can take inspiration from their struggles, and learn from the way they managed to quit.
We've also put together a list of the worst celebrity smokers, those who are rarely seen without a cigarette in their mouth!

Catherine Zeta Jones

Soon after she became a mom, the star of Zorro and Traffic knew she had to mend her ways. She said, "I have to stop smoking as my kids are at the age when they are going to start asking questions."

Vince Vaughn

Maybe not the best example, Vince Vaughn quit smoking just before his role in 'The Break Up' with Jennifer Aniston. Although quitting smoking and succumbing to his cravings allowed him to put on the 25lbs he needed to add or the role, Vince was right back at it after the movie was finished.
According to this funnyman and movie star, "I plan to quit smoking but I’m not quitting this second."

Julie Christie

For an actress like Julie Christie, whose career was in the golden age of smoking in the movies, there was little choice but to smoke. She kicked nicotine out of her life by using therapy.

Anthony Hopkins

Although he's been seen smoking onscreen, in movies like Hannibal, Anthony Hopkins has actually given up the habit in real life.
He used therapy to help him overcome the hurdle that many smokers face, the perception that they need tobacco to get through life.

Christy Turlington

This former supermodel looks amazing for her age, but was recently diagnosed with emphysema. "When I started modeling I wanted to appear more grown up, and smoking easily did that for me. By 16 I was smoking a pack a day."

Susan Sarandon

Famous for her beautiful skin, this 60 year old actress had some good advice for potential smokers in 2004.
"I dabbled a bit when I was younger, but for most of my life I haven't smoked. And I do see the difference between people of my age who have smoked all their lives and those who haven't."

Who's Still Smoking?

So you've seen the list of health conscious celebrities, who've decided to kick the habit for benefit of both themselves and their fans. But what about those celebs who haven't done so yet? Here's our Hall Of Shame with those whose example you definitely should NOT follow.

Pete Doherty

This British rocker is rarely, if ever, seen without a cigarette hanging from his mouth or hand. His on-again off-again relationship with another famous chain-smoker, Kate Moss, does little to help his habit.
Pete's pasty complexion may come from his nocturnal lifestyle, but his nicotine habit will not improve his skin, plus his battered image takes a hit every time he's seen lighting up again in public.

Colin Farrell

This Irish movie star is probably more famous for his rock and roll lifestyle than he is for his movie roles. As a heavy drinker and smoker, this hard living is probably going to catch up with him one day.

Britney Spears

After her recent fall from grace, Britney is in desperate need of an image makeover. One of the first things to be cut out will be her public smoking, which has long been doing a disservice to her young fans.

Nicole Kidman

Although she's tried to quit for years now, Nicole still hasn't got over that final hurdle. One problem that she faces will sound familiar to many smokers - without a cigarette she struggles to know what to do with her hands. However, she keeps trying and one day it will happen.

Celebrity Smokers Struggle to Quit

Michelle Obama - Barack Obama has quit smoking

Michelle Obama confirmed Tuesday that her husband has kicked his decades-long smoking habit.

At a reporter's luncheon in the Old Family dining room, Michelle Obama said that it has been "almost a year," since her husband has picked up a cigarette.
"It's been a while and I'm very proud of him," she said during an hour-long conversation with reporters and her senior staff to discuss her anti-childhood obesity initiative. "I haven't poked and prodded. When somebody is doing the right thing, you don't mess with them."
Obama said that she didn't know exactly when the president stopped because "he never smoked a lot."
"I don't have a discussion with him because its always been...it's a personal challenge for him," she said. "Its not something that I can be like 'Have you smoked today, have you smoked today?"



"He has always wanted to stop, our kids are getting to the age where he wants to look them in the face because they want to know, 'You don't smoke do you dad?'" She said. "He wants to be able to say no."
Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said later that there is a sort of kick-the-habit support group at the White House--Obama's golfing buddy and trip director Marvin Nicholson also stopped smoking.
The first lady is marking the first anniversary of her Let's Move initiative with a media blitz. Wednesday she'll appear on the "Today Show" and on "Live with Regis and Kelly." She will also travel to Atlanta. She said that the hamburger and kielbasa menu for Sunday's Super Bowl party was appropriate and didn't step on her healthy-eating platform.
"The problem is when that fun stuff becomes the habit," she said. "Fast food has become the every day meal. "

By Nia-Malika Henderson 

Michelle Obama - Barack Obama has quit smoking