SMOKING.....Yes...No...Sometimes?

The Problem With Smoking.....

Smoking is the single most preventable cause of death and disease. Cigarettes cause more deaths than cocaine, auto accidents, AIDS, alcohol, heroin, fire, suicide and homicide combined.

The costs to our society include over 400,000 lives lost every year in the U.S.-- over 1200 each day -- and $50 billion annually in lost productivity and increased health care costs. Worldwide, the toll exacted by tobacco use is two to three million deaths each year. Of the world's 1.2 billion smokers, the world health Organization estimates that 500 million of them will die because of the habit. This means that 9% of people now alive will die from cigarettes.

In most cases, the decision to smoke is not made by adults. Sixty percent of smokers start by the age of 14, and 90% of smokers are firmly addicted before reaching age 19. Stated another way, only one in ten smokers become addicted after the age of 19. So, almost no one starts puffing after age 19.

Former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop alerted the nation that nicotine is as addictive as heroin or cocaine. Yet tobacco companies have been spending over $4 billion annually on advertising, or $15 annually for every man, woman, and child in the country.

Because of health problems associated with cigarettes, several nations have passed a ban on cigarette advertising. But in the US, the Congress legislated no significant change in this area in the past 30 years.

There are hundreds of Stop Smoking methods for you to explore.

How to Quit.   The physical addiction, detoxification, and stress factors must be addressed at the same time to achieve success.

If You Want To Clear Your Lungs Of Tar And Toxins From Years Of Cigarettes This Is The Program You Need.

When To Quit. There is never a easy time to quit. We have certain times in our daily routines that prompt us to light that cigarette. For example, our morning and afternoon breaks at work, coming home after a hard day at work, having that adult beverage, or just sitting in front of the television and allowing our habit to keep lighting up.

Acupuncture to Quit. First you must attack the physical addiction.  One highly effective approach is using the oriental art of acupuncture.  Nicotine addiction is often as strong as addiction to other drugs.

A neurosurgeon in Hong Kong, H.L.Wen, discovered that acupuncture could relieve symptoms and cravings associated with drug withdrawal. Because of its effectiveness in relieving symptoms as well as preventing relapses, his discovery gained popularity and was used in many hospitals and detox centers throughout the US.

During 1985 an official protocol was developed and the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) was formed. The protocol involved using five specific acupuncture points on the ear. NADA protocol has been shown to be helpful, not a cure all, but it is a big help in getting over the first stages of quitting cigarettes.

There is general agreement that acupuncture is safe when administered by well-trained practitioners.

Many people have a fear of needles and immediately eliminate acupuncture from their consideration.  No need. Acupuncture needles truly are virtually painless.

Acupuncture needles are very different from hollow-tipped hypodermic needles that are used to draw blood or give injections. Acupuncture needles are significantly smaller and not hollow, so they don’t cause tearing of the tissue that is the cause of pain. After acupuncture people experience what is described as a feeling of calmness and an enhanced sense of well being.

Why is quitting cigarettes so difficult?

When we puff a cigarette, the nicotine in the smoke reaches our brain and nervous system within seconds and we are rewarded with a seeming release of tension improving our mood. The reason "dopamine", the neurotransmitter of pleasure. Under normal circumstances, dopamine is released when we experience pleasure.

That is where addiction starts. The over production of dopamine causes a problem of defective dopamine receptors. In other words, even if dopamine is being produced, the neurons stop responding to it. They become numb. Sometimes our dopamine levels become depleted from over stimulation and we fail to achieve those good feelings from using cigareettes.

Taking away a substance that simulates good feelings, is often emotionally devastating due to the sudden drop in dopamine levels. When we quit smokes, it is common for depression, tension, irritability, insomnia, and poor concentration to occur. These symptoms often last anywhere from a few days to several months depending on how quickly the dopamine ‘system’ can recover.

Why do we gain weight when we quit smoking?

In trying to compensate for the sudden drop in dopamine from nicotine withdrawal, we turn to other avenues. One easy way to stimulate dopamine release is by overeating.  This must be addressed in compatable ways, such as excerise and nutritional diets.

Recovering from nicotine addiction is not something that happens overnight. Research has shown that if you can make it to the six-month mark, there is a high probability that you will not start again.

Suggested Reading
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Giving up smoking is one of the hardest things to do.

This handy-sized book contains all the information you need to find a method that works for you.
 

Stop Smoking