The Stop Smoking Resource » smoking cessation

What to Expect When You Stop Smoking

admin — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 04:13:58 +0000

Tobacco contains nicotine, which is easily as addictive as heroin or crack cocaine. Most tobacco products also contain other chemical additives which have been shown to cause health problems as well. When you decide to stop smoking and cease loading nicotine into your system, your body will experience some very real withdrawal symptoms. If you have smoked for quite some time, both your body and mind are conditioned to expect the input of nicotine and the pleasurable routines with which it is associated.

Physical and Emotional Side Effects of Smoking Cessation

For those addicted to nicotine, the drug works by signaling the brain to increase the level of adrenaline in the bloodstream. The adrenaline then tells the body to go into a survival mode known as ‘fight or flight’. This dumps fatty sugars into the bloodstream and fools the brain into thinking you are not hungry.

Once nicotine is no longer coming into your system, you may also feel a lock of concentration. Plus you may feel irritable, shaky, angry, and you could possibly have trouble sleeping. Additionally, you may notice that your breath is nasty and you may experience nausea or constipation. All of these symptoms, both physical and emotional, are normal and you can deal with them. Stop smoking herbs relieve the mental and physical side effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Mental Challenges Associated With Quitting Nicotine

At some point in the process of giving up smoking, you may question why you ever decided to stop smoking at all! Don’t be alarmed, though. This is completely normal. Just don’t give in to the urge to smoke. Eat a carrot or some celery instead. Above all, try not to take your irritability, nervousness, depression or anger out on those you love. If you must explode, do so in a safe place – hit a pillow, not your spouse.

There Is Light At The End Of This Tunnel – And It Isn’t a Lit Cigarette!

As you walk the road to kicking the nicotine habit for good, remember to take good care of your body while you are going through the withdrawal process. You will find that, one day, you’ll wake up and not reach for a cigarette at all. Before you know it weeks and months will have passed and, at some point, you won’t even be able to remember the exact date you quit. When you’ve reached this stage, consider yourself an absolute victor. You’ve won!

Stop Smoking Shot – Does it Really Work?

Chantix – Miracle Stop Smoking Drug?

admin — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 18:31:01 +0000

There’s certainly no shortage of stop smoking products on the market. What there is a shortage of is products that actually work. Unfortunately, Chantix isn’t one of those. Sure, Chantix is the most popular smoking cessation product on the market, but that certainly doesn’t mean it’s the best. In fact, it’s far from it.

Chantix Side Effects

The biggest problem with Chantix is its lack of safety. The product has been mired in controversy since its release. Common Chantix side effects include nausea, vomiting, sleep disturbance, constipation, intestinal disorders, and other serious but rare conditions. Most importantly, several patients have complained about serious Chantix withdrawals when they tried to wean off the medication. For some patients, getting off of Chantix successfully is worse than trying to stop smoking.

Chantix Drug Interactions

As with all medications, you should always consult with an expert if you’re on any other medications. In most tests, Chantix didn’t cause adverse reactions with other drugs, but each case is unique, and you should always be cautious when mixing medications.

Chantix Lawsuit

Given the number of side effects and the terrible withdrawals, it’s not surprising their have been class action lawsuits against the makers of Chantix. Patients have made claims of abnormal behavior, onset of diabetes, seizures, blackouts, and physical injuries while on Chantix. Even worse, some families claim their loved ones committed suicide while on this stop smoking drug.

Chantix Recall

The link between Chantix and suicide, depression, and other harmful conditions has led to a strong urge for a recall. While there has yet to be an official recall, numerous medical professionals are steering clear of this seemingly dangerous stop smoking product. They believe the risks far outweigh any potential reward of taking Chantix.

The truth is Chantix just isn’t worth the risk. Where there’s smoke there’s fire. Too many links between suicide/depression and Chantix send up serious red flags.

Instead, you’re better off taking an all-natural herbal stop smoking product like Nicodyne. This product requires no prescriptions, and it’s completely safe since it’s all-natural. Learn more about Nicodyne.

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Quit Smoking Benefits

admin — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 04:23:55 +0000

The quit smoking benefits happen almost immediately. The food that you eat will begin to taste better, your sense of smell will return to normal and you will gradually be able to exercise or do normal chores such as taking out the trash without loss of breath and wheezing.

Besides the physical, psychological, and health benefits of quitting smoking, you will also reap the financial benefits. Just multiply the amount you spend on smoking per day by 365. Add to that the higher costs of health and life insurance because you were a smoker.

To better help you to stop smoking cigarettes there are a number of free quit smoking programs to get you healthy and smoke-free. These programs educate you on smoking cessation medications and also products such as stop smoking herbs.

Health Benefits of Quit Smoking

The health benefits of quitting smoking continue for the rest of your life. Here is an example of what you can expect when you quit smoking cigarettes:

20 minutes after quitting: Your heart rate and blood pressure drops.
12 hours after quitting: The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
Two weeks to three months after quitting: Your circulation improves and your lung function increases.
One to nine months after quitting: Coughing and shortness of breath decrease; cilia (tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection.
One year after quitting: The excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker’s
Five years after quitting: Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker 5 to 15 years after quitting.
10 years after quitting: The lung cancer death rate is about half that of a continuing smoker’s. The risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix, and pancreas decreases.
15 years after quitting: The risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker’s.

Benefits of Quit Smoking

Another quit smoking benefit is that you will become more socially accepted by not having to smoke outside of the place where you work, or out on the porch of a friend’s home. You will also prevent your second hand smoke from harming those around you. Check out our recommended product to start you on the road to freedom from nicotine today.

How to Quit Smoking Without Gaining Weight

admin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:04:04 +0000

Be honest, when you think about quitting smoking cigarettes you are also probably worried about gaining weight. How to quit smoking without gaining weight is not as hard as you think; you just need a little determination and moxie. Don’t use gaining weight as an excuse.

When you quit smoking you will experience physiological and psychological nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Many people use food to battle those symptoms but that is not the answer.

Why you gain weight when quitting smoking

Nicotine speeds up your metabolism and when you quit smoking and take that nicotine out of your system, you tend to gain weight because your metabolism is no longer artificially boosted. Even if you don’t over eat once you quit smoking, you can still gain weight.

Another reason people gain weight is the obvious reason – they fill the time and energy they used to spend smoking with eating. In order to avoid this, you can do two things: One, start an exercise regimen, and two, eat healthier foods during snacks and meals.

How to quit smoking and not gain weight

Here are some simple lifestyle changes for how to stop smoking and not gain weight.

Exercise

Exercise not only helps with controlling your weight but it also gives you something to do and gets your mind off of cigarettes and food. Exercise also helps with reducing stress, improves your mood, gives you confidence and, obviously, enhances your physical and mental condition – just think you don’t have to huff and puff while climbing the stairs! Once you start you may be surprised at your poor physical condition. This should add to your motivation.

Change your diet

Changing your diet can also help. Drink as much water as you can handle. Avoid all fast-food restaurants and sugar-filled foods. Start adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet. Try bringing dried fruits and nuts to work and have them for a snack instead of what’s available in the vending machines.

Quit Smoking Without Gaining Weight

Once you get into a flow and get used to your new lifestyle you will feel healthier and better about yourself. Just think you can be smoke free and in top physical condition within a few months. Yes it is hard work but with dedication and determination you can change the way you look and feel.

Top Five Tips to Quit Smoking

admin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:59:50 +0000

While you are contemplating ways to quit smoking, remember that you are not alone and then realize why it’s so hard for you to quit smoking – there is a physiological basis and a psychological basis to your addiction.

While there is no wonder cure to stop smoking cigarettes, here are the top five tips to quit smoking:

Prepare Yourself to Quit

Be sure that you make a stop smoking plan customized to your personal needs. If you usually smoke while sitting in front of the TV, for example, then plan other activities to occupy yourself when you would usually be watching TV. Set a date and tell your family and friends that you plan to quit. Understand the challenges that you will face on that date and beyond, get rid of all tobacco related items from you home, car, and work place prior to your quit date.

Research Methods for Quitting

Investigate methods such as nicotine replacement therapy (nicotine patches, lozenges, inhalers, nasal spray and gum) and non-nicotine medications that come in pill form to see which smoking cessation methods may be right for you. Look into alternate treatments for nicotine addiction such as natural treatments that utilize stop smoking herbs.

Learn to Manage your Cravings

Some methods to keep your mind off of cigarettes include getting active by exercising, distracting yourself with crossword puzzles or other things that make you focus on something else, chewing gum, nibbling on carrots, learning to relax find a calm space where your are comfortable, and avoiding situations that trigger the cigarette craving (such as a bar).

Get Support for Quitting Smoking

Find a local support group. You can find a Nicotine Anonymous group near you, call a telephone help line like 1-800-QUIT-NOW, take a smoke-free workshop or call the American Cancer Society near you for a list of resources.

Prepare to Relapse

If you do relapse, understand that it is normal in the process of trying to kick your nicotine addiction. You should examine what happened right before you started smoking again, identify the triggers or trouble spots that confronted you, and make a new stop-smoking plan that removes them.

These top five tips to quit smoking are not the only solutions. You may find other alternatives that will help you to stop smoking for good. Keep trying. Check out our Editor’s Choice stop smoking product.

Tips for Quitting Smoking

admin — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:46:18 +0000

There are many products and tips to assist you in your endeavor to stop smoking cigarettes. Nicotine replacement treatments, herbal products, programs like Nicotine Anonymous, and exercise and diet are all known methods for quitting smoking. You should try to find the treatment or treatments that work for you. And don’t forget – You Can Quit Smoking.

Here are some tips for quitting smoking:

Using the Patch, Gum or Nicotine Nasal Spray

Nicotine replacement treatments are one on of the most recognizable of the quit smoking programs. The treatments include: nicotine gum, the transdermal patch, nicotine nasal spray and an inhaler. While each has been shown to improve a smoker’s chance of quitting smoking, they have failed many smokers too.

To increase your chances of quitting with NRTs, wean yourself off of nicotine as much as you can on your own and then use the lowest dosage NRT possible. While using the NRT, replace your bad habits with good ones; you can take up walking in the evening and drinking herbal tea before bedtime. For help with this, come up with a plan (see below) so that you can combat the urge for nicotine when you’re finished with the NRTs.

Using Herbs to Quit Smoking

Herbal smoking cessation products offer an all natural alternative to the quit smoking programs. The herbs create a similar effect on the brain as nicotine but they are non-addictive and safe for your body. They also ease nicotine withdrawal symptoms from nicotine addiction.

Natural smoking cessation products use a variety of herbs to help combat your addiction to nicotine. Lobelia herb, also known as Indian tobacco, is one such herb. It produces effects similar to nicotine on the central nervous system and acts as an overall relaxant.

Begin an Exercise Regimen

As you withdraw from the nicotine exercise can help ease the tension you will begin to feel. Walking also sets free the “feel good” hormone, endorphins, which help capture that cigarette high that you experienced when smoking. Walking is of course the easiest way to start exercising. To move on from there, challenge yourself by joining a gym, taking up swimming, biking or yoga.

Believe it or not quitting smoking cigarettes is tiring business. You should plan to get more rest so you will have the strength to combat your addiction. You will recover your energy and start to feel much better in as little as a week’s time. Also, try drinking more water. Many people already carry a water bottle with them when they exercise or keep one nearby their desk at work. Do that and keep one in the car in case you begin to experience cravings.

Try these tips for quitting smoking and remember everyone is different. What worked for one person may not work for you, so keep trying. Check out our top recommended stop smoking product.