Archive for August, 2009

How To Quit Smoking – Tips and Tricks

August 28th, 2009

Smoking cigarettes is an addiction that is very similar to narcotic addiction. It is one of the single hardest things to accomplish; however with a strong self realisation to quit smoking, it is never a hard target to achieve. One has to understand that he or she is physically addicted to a slew of chemicals, of which, nicotine is one and the other important thing is that one is addicted to the feeling.

One has trained the body to release certain chemicals in response to the smoking which is very much addicted to one’s own body’s reaction to smoking. Replacing or substituting smoking is mental reaction to a physical thing. Since during the quit smoking process one has to enable the body to go through a change, it is ideal to have a control over the mind. 

Along with the desire and implementation of quitting smoking, the body undergoes a lot of physical Changes: When one stops smoking, the body does not know to stop compensating, so one will feel light headed and dizzy.  The body will be able to absorb vitamins and minerals more readily, so there will be an overall boost in overall energy levels. This will also cause insomnia for a short period because the body will require less sleep. This will pass quickly. 

Nicotine is a powerful addiction. People who are trying to quit smoking goes through both physical and psychological withdrawal. This is a common symptom and it is not a difficult or an exceptional task to overcome these feelings when one decides to quit smoking .To quit smoking there are various tips and tricks that can be adhered to .Here are some tips; 

  • Drink a lot of liquids, especially water. Try herbal teas or fruit juices. Limit coffee, soft drinks, and alcohol since these can increase the urge to smoke. 
  • Avoid sugar and fatty food. Try low-calorie foods for snacking – carrots and other vegetables, sugarless gum, air-popped popcorn, or low-fat cottage cheese. Never skip meals. 
  • Exercise regularly and moderately. Regular exercise helps. Joining an exercise group provides a healthy activity and a new routine. 
  • Get more sleep. Try to go to sleep earlier and get more rest. 
  • Take deep breaths and distract the mind with other creative and useful hobbies. When cravings hit, do something else immediately, such as talking to someone, getting busy with a task, or taking deep breaths. 
  • Use a different route to work, eat breakfast in a different place, or get up from the table right away after eating. These are simple change of routines that keeps the mind distracted. 
  • Take a hot shower, read a book, or exercise to reduce the stress levels. Stress is a major cause for people to resort to smoking. 

A human mind falls for tricks, so here are some tricks to distract the mind from smoking: 

•One has to keep saying to oneself that he or she is a ‘Non-Smoker’

•Try and avoid places that can connect the mind with smoking.

•Contemplate on an elaborate plan for relieving stress.

•Become a music lover and listen to relaxing music.

•Watch a funny movie.

•Take the mind off any problem and think of it later.

•Rely on friends, family, and support group for help.

•Avoid alcohol. It lowers your chances for success. 

Thus with all these tips and tricks one can definitely quit smoking in a successful way and it is all the more important that one stops smoking and never gets back to the habit at any point of time. So a blend of mind and body control is pivotal.

How can I quit smoking while pregnant?

August 11th, 2009

Pregnancy is a very important phase in any woman’s life. It is a complete transformation that a female gender will undergo from being a woman of substance to a mother. This is an enjoyable tenure that brings in a lot of hopes and aspirations in a woman’s mind. However, there are few things that have to be given up by an expecting mother in terms of food and habits. There are many women in this world who smoke as a habit, rather as an addiction. This is a definite NO-NO when it comes to pregnancy.

There can be devastating effects that could be caused to the baby in the womb because of smoking mothers. Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, including truly nasty things like cyanide, lead, and at least 60 cancer-causing compounds. When a woman smokes during pregnancy, that toxic brew gets into the bloodstream which is the baby’s only source of oxygen and nutrients.

Further more, two compounds are especially harmful: nicotine and carbon monoxide. These two toxins account for almost every smoking-related complication in pregnancy, of which the most serious complication would be stillbirth, premature delivery, and low birth weight. Nicotine cuts off the oxygen supply by narrowing blood vessels throughout the body, including the ones in the umbilical cord. Long term risks include asthma, allergies, not meeting developmental milestones, and learning disorders. In addition, the rate of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) is much higher among families that smoke and mothers who smoked during pregnancy.

If a woman continues to smoke even after realising she is pregnant, there should be immediate steps taken toward quitting. To stop smoking during pregnancy is not a very Herculean task. About forty percent of pregnant smokers do stop during their pregnancy-a rate that’s much higher than any other group.

There are ways that help in making a woman stop smoking during pregnancy;

  • Talking to the care provider is a safe and easy option that a woman can resort to. They may be able to recommend a safe patch or a nicotine replacement option. They may also be able to recommend a counsellor or a stop smoking program.
  • There could also be alternatives sought for smoking like chewing gum, grab a quick and healthy snack. Some take deep breaths, meditation or positive affirmations like “I will not smoke for my baby” or “I do not need to smoke.”
  • Ask other smokers also not to smoke. Not only will the baby receive the effects of the second-hand smoke, but the strong urge to smoke will slowly die down.
  • Talk to friends and family members who have quit. Ask them what worked for them, and tips on how they quit. Check out web boards and chat groups for moms who quit smoking while pregnant; they have great advice to offer.
  • Initially during the first phase of stopping to smoke, if the craving is too high, then by having one smoke, one has to simply move on. This should not deter the individual from quitting to smoke for good.

A woman should always remember the true motive of quitting to smoke,’ the baby’. Put up pictures of healthy babies in the cubicle or on the fridge. Hang the ultrasound pictures where an expecting mother can see them everyday. These are positive motivations that drive a woman’s will power to stop smoking and lead a healthy life.

Why Pregnant Women Should not Smoke?

August 11th, 2009

Motherhood is a phase of any woman’s life that is cherished and enjoyed. Bearing a baby in the womb, protecting and nurturing its growth and well being is pivotal for any pregnant woman. Smoking cigarettes during pregnancy is absolutely non acceptable. Smoking during pregnancy is harmful for both the expecting mother and the baby and it could result in many unpleasant symptoms with the most severe one being fatal.

Among the many reasons women shouldn’t smoke when they’re pregnant is that it could cause the baby to experience sudden infant death syndrome. Women who smoke during pregnancy expose their babies to the harmful substance content of the cigarette which is too strong to be handled by the fragile and delicate infant. Stillbirth is also another factor that occurs when a pregnant woman smokes.

To look at the other damages caused due to smoking during pregnancy, the nicotine, tar and tobacco of a single cigarette can cause low birth weight of the foetus. Low birth weight can lead to a great many complications including prenatal death. During pregnancy, the carcinogen content of the cigarette could also affect the placenta that protects the foetus causing placenta abrasion.

Apart from the many physical symptoms that can occur due to smoking while bearing the child, the baby would suffer from terrible respiratory problems and infections. Not only would they find it hard to breathe, the chances of them developing asthma also increases. A baby born of a mother who used to smoke during pregnancy is more likely to have colic (stomach pain and indigestion).

When a pregnant woman smokes, the nicotine and other compounds found in tobacco pose both an immediate and an extended threat to the health of her developing child. Sometimes, smoking even reduces a woman’s fertility.

There is other constituents of cigarette smoke, carbon monoxide (CO), which can also change or interrupt basic physiological processes. CO is an odourless, colourless gas produced by burning carbon containing compounds. CO displaces oxygen from the molecule that normally carries it through the bloodstream to the organs and tissues. High levels of CO can be deadly. When a pregnant woman smokes, the trace amounts of CO that she inhales mean less oxygen will be delivered to her tissues and to her foetus.

Therefore, it is very important that every woman realises her responsibility in delivering a healthy child to the world. Smoking during pregnancy is a very harmful habit and can completely alter the health condition of the baby for the worse.

Is Ciggarest A Scam?

August 10th, 2009

Smoking has become a part of the so called stress reliever to people for all the bad reasons, in the current trend. It is a myth that people do not want to part with for the reason that they have gotten themselves thoroughly addicted to it in more sense than one. Smoking causes debilitating and life threatening illnesses, these illnesses can be avoided by not smoking.

Once a person has decided to quit smoking for good, then it is very important that he or she has a positive mindset and choose the right smoking aids that will work for them even before they decide to quit smoking. It’s important that one shares the desire to quit smoking with all his or her friends, family members and co-workers. The withdrawal symptoms that occur along with quitting smoking needs a lot of support from the people who are closely associated.

The Ciggarest stop smoking cigarette now program gives you all the tools you need to make this addiction a distant memory. Ciggarest has been around since 1986 and have already helped over 1,000,000 customers to quit smoking. Each part of the Ciggarest program has been developed over the past 20 years to make sure you have everything you need to overcome your addiction from the physical to the emotional aspect.

Studies show that programs like Ciggarest that combine products to not only combat the physical side, but also fight the emotional side of quitting smoking (like Ciggarest Tablets, Ciggarest Gum, and the Ciggarest audio CD) do result in a higher chance of success over the long term. Ciggarest is one of the top stop smoking programs that help you to stop smoking forever. Ciggarest stop smoking program contains free 30 days trial of stop smoking kit.

The Ciggarest stop smoking cigarette now program includes: Ciggarest Chewable Tablets that help you fight the urge to smoke whenever and wherever the urge strikes you, Ciggarest Gum to control cravings and replace the oral fixation of smoking, Ciggarest Smokers Vitamins designed to help fight the cell damage caused by smoking and to strengthen your immune system, the Ciggarest Program Audio CD to teach you to avoid smoking in any situation and learn how to stay smoke free, and the Ciggarest program guide and exercise booklet to help you understand the program and learn how to successfully overcome your smoking habit. Ciggarest provides a one stop smoking package that helps you to stop smoking as quickly as possible. Ciggarest helps you to stop smoking once and for all.