Eighteen Months Into the Stop Smoking Journey

Posted on May 17, 2009
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Now that its been over a year and a half since I quit smoking, it seemed like a good time to provide an update to this journey. Last time I wrote on the subject, I’d been quit 6 months, and chalking up another year pushes my “quit” time to 18 months.

Not bad if I do say so. Most people ask me if I “cheated” any during that time – well of course I did! But not a lot. Specifically, there we’re 3 occasions that I indulged myself. The first time I had 1 drag off someone elses cigarette. Wow, what a high – that blast of nicotine was quite a kick.

The next time was about a month of so after the first, and I smoked about half a cigarette and passed it off to someone else (a smoker) who finished it off. And yes that first hit packed the same potent punch.

The last time was maybe another couple months after the second, and I had 2 drags. The first was the usual high, and the second was, well just the second. Actually didn’t taste all that good – left a more noticeable aftertaste than other times. Maybe that’s why I haven’t had another drag since those.

Some people say they will never allow themselves even one puff because they know they’ll get hooked again. And that’s okay if that works for them. In fact I can’t say that’s wrong to do because on past attempts at quitting, it’s been that one drag that got me back on the weed – not that the one drag can get you hooked – you’re already hooked – it just makes it easy to slide back into the habit.

But for me, those 3 times I just described, I did it just to prove I could, and that I would stay quit – that’s just how I’m wired. I won’t say it’s not risky – it’s very risky, but I chose to anyway. My decision to quit went beyond a surface desire, and after each of the times I “cheated” I re-iterated my intention to stay quit.

There is something I should add however. Over this past year there have also been about 4 times when an extremely stressful situation at work or home has made me consider having a smoke – and I purposely did not. My reasoning, was that I didn’t want to create the subconscious idea that it was okay to smoke when under stress – I’ve re-started again in the past for those reasons too. 

Other than what I’ve just described, the urges to smoke, while not completely gone, are certainly diminished. The oddest thing is that I can still get winded going up a couple flights of stairs – not all the time, but often enough to be annoying. And it’s only with stairs – I can work out strenuously for a couple hours and not lose my wind, but those stairs sneak up on me – something to do with gravity I guess.

It caused me to worry for a while because I expected it to get better over time, but for many months it never seemed to vary. Only recently can I say I’ve noticed a slight improvement with stairs, so hopefully it will continue to gradually improve.

To be honest, I probably expected too much after smoking for 38 years. Reality is that even though you see amazing improvements in a short while, the body has some serious work to do in repairing all the lung damage. But improving it is, and I’ve no doubt my wind will return completely – even for stairs.

Effectiveness Of Hypnosis For Smoking Cessation

Posted on December 9, 2008
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Hypnotherapy to quit smoking is not new. In fact, most people have heard of the success people have using hypnosis to lose weight, conquer fears such agoraphobia and of course smoking cessation.

For those of you that feel you’ve tried everything and failed. Don’t give up yet. The way to get this licked is to never ever give up. If you are short of will power and need just a little bit more to kick you into successfully quitting smoking, I’d suggest you examine hypnosis with an open mind.

The truth of the matter is that hypnosis is really not new. It has been well documented that you are hypnotized every day. The hypnosis that you are under may cause car crashes. The truck drivers that drive long distances, are now required by law to stop after driving a certain amount of hours or in some cases distances. This is done to protect everyone on the roads.

Hypnosis stop smoking programs are serious help for those with a serious desire to quit smoking cigarettes. Smoking cessation is undeniably difficult. One of the most common problems faced by those who seek out hypnotherapy seems to be the expectation that stop smoking help will be easy with hypnotherapy. The truth is that most who undergo hypnosis still report an occasional craving for a cigarette. There’s no doubt that stopping smoking isn’t easy, and there seems to be no stop smoking methods that work without the will power of the smoker. If you want to know how to stop smoking without ever facing any cravings for another cigarette, you’re looking for a magic cure – unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to exist.

That’s not to say that hypnosis doesn’t work – quite the contrary. And there are those people who report that they never again have the desire to pick up another cigarette. Just don’t enter into a hypnosis program expecting perfect results. This, like all quit smoking products and programs, should be counted as one part of the overall plan.

Quit smoking support is another important factor, and you may very well get the needed support as part of the hypnosis program. There could be a group that meets periodically, or the hypnotist may be available for additional consultations at no cost over a specific period of time.

Zero Nicotine Herbal Patches To Stop Smoking

Posted on November 27, 2008
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Zero Nicotine is an herbal supplement designed to eliminate your nicotine cravings and reduce the withdrawal symptoms as you quit smoking. The Zero Nicotine patch, as the name denotes, does not contain any nicotine at all. What it does contain are herbs that imitate the effects of nicotine within the body, but that are not addictive themselves. Other ingredients are designed to help eliminate any remaining nicotine from your system. The manufacturer claims that this has been shown to help a smoker overcome their addiction to nicotine faster than using a nicotine patch or simply going cold turkey.

The proprietary herbal formulation in Zero Nicotine Patch contains ingredients that act as natural substitutes for nicotine; thereby fulfilling the body’s craving for this substance, without all the negative side effects of patches containing the actual drug, nicotine. The all-natural ingredients will make you crave less cigarettes each day. This gradual process allows you to quit with no withdrawal symptoms and needs less willpower and effort on your part.

Zero Nicotine is safe and easy to use. Each patch contains a dose of the most efficient herbal ingredients, formulated to alleviate the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal while cleansing the system of all smoking-related toxins. To break free from smoking, you require to break free from nicotine. Unlike other quit smoking patches, Zero Nicotine’s all-natural formula eliminates , rather than replenishes, the level of nicotine in your body, helping you break the habit. Used in conjunction with our proven cessation program, Zero Nicotine can help you be free of tobacco in thirty days or less.

After analyzing many applicable studies and products currently sold on the market, the revolutionary formula, Zero Nicotine Patch, guarantees smoking cessation in a very short period. Withdrawal symptoms will be milder due to the all-natural nicotine substitute, which helps you shake the nicotine habit gradually , with less physical and emotional stress. When a smoker stops putting nicotine into their system, both the brain and body react to this absence by creating withdrawal symptoms, which are also known as cravings. These cravings are often so strong that it is estimated that only one person in 20 can quit smoking on their own.

The patch application method allows the active ingredients to penetrate the skin and reach the bloodstream faster and more conveniently than any other method. Other methods, such as pills or lozenges, must be taken several times per day, since they lose many of their active ingredients as they are processed by stomach acid, minimizing their effectiveness. The revolutionary patch system eliminates the need to remember to take pills. Simply apply a new Zero Nicotine Patch every three days. It is very easy .

Does The Stop Smoking Injection Really Work?

Posted on November 24, 2008
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Many medical problems come upon us, resulting in some degree of limitations in our lifestyles, and then some ailments occur which aren’t as severe but are disruptive nonetheless. Then there are self-induced troubles, such as a smoking addiction.

You may have seen ads for a “Stop Smoking Shot,” but is it a miracle or just another scam designed to part you from your money? Maybe you’ve tried acupuncture, the patch, nicotine gum, fake cigarettes, hypnotism and every other trick in the book, but are you ready for this?

To find out if the smoking cessation shot is for you, read on.

The smoking shot isn’t an injection of nicotine to help you get over your addiction. Unlike the patch or nicotine gum, it attempts to relive withdrawal symptoms by injecting you with, essentially, antidepressants that give your brain the same “high” as nicotine.

For some people, this placebo effect works and for others the physical symptoms of nicotine withdrawal are too strong to quit. For the smoking injection to work, a quitter needs to be committed and willing to combine the treatment with other smoking cessation strategies like limiting habit triggers and reducing stress.

Unfortunately, the stop smoking shot hasn’t been around long enough to be subject to any long-term studies. And while most providers of the shot claim it has an 80% effective rate, those figures aren’t based on long-term research. It’s unclear how effective the shot is over a long period of time like 1 to 10 years.

Once your injections are complete, you need to continue wearing a patch behind your ear and taking complimentary drugs for two additional weeks. At that point, you and your doctor will decide if additional treatment is needed.

The drugs used in most smoking injections are not intended as smoking cessation aids, nor are they approved for it. However, doctors are allowed to administer them as part of a stop smoking program.

For a smoking cessation injection and two-week treatment course, you should expect to pay between $300 and $600, depending on the clinic. Many health insurance companies will cover these costs as part of their stop-smoking strategies.

Common side effects of the stop smoking shot include dizziness, dry mouth, confusion, blurred vision and trouble urinating. However, these side effects are typically temporary and tend to disappear. If you’re pregnant or suffer from a heart condition, this treatment isn’t for you.

Quit Smoking Now

Posted on November 9, 2008
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Around the world health experts agree that the best thing a smoker can do is to stop smoking cigarettes. People ask me all the time if I ever smoked. When I was around thirteen, I began smoking. It was at under my house with my best friend. Later at my friend’s house we smoked with his older sister. We both asked her for a smoke. I guess she though it was cute – her little brother and his friend trying to act so grown-up and cool – and over the course of the evening, she let us both have several cigarettes.

We didn’t really like smoking but one of the reason we had so many cigarettes is that we liked the idea of smoking. When I’d get a cigarette, I’d take a big drag or two, cough like crazy for several minutes and then I’d pass it to my friend. He’d do the same thing – inhale once or twice and practically hack up a lung as he waited to be able to breathe again. By the time we had two or three big drags each, the cigarette was gone. But by the end of the evening we were puffing away just like regular smokers do. We thought we were the coolest. At the time I didn’t think about how hard it could be to stop smoking cigarettes when I got older.

I smoked cigarettes all through high school and while I was in the Navy, along with other things. It was the 60’s and 70’s after all. It just seemed to make every event better, make me mellower and feel cooler. I used to love to go down to the pool hall, put some quarters in the jukebox, and shoot with a cigarette hanging from the side of my mouth. After all everyone smoked. No one even thought about it. In the Navy it was another reason to take a break. It was something to fiddle with in your hands when you were feeling socially awkward and an excuse to go outside and take a smoke break with your buddies or just stretch your legs. And it made it so much easier to make new friends and acquaintances.

That last detail is something non-smokers don’t understand. When I finally quit smoking cigarettes I don’t think it wasn’t the nicotine cravings that made it hard. I don’t believe I was ever really physically addicted to cigarettes. It was not having the social contact that I had enjoyed before. When you’re outside a building or at a party with other smokers, there’s a natural social bond the forms with other smokers. You can ask for or offer up a cigarette or you can get a light. It makes a good way to start a conversation or to meet new people even though it may seem strange to say.

And besides that, just the fact that you are all smokers not only gives you something in common, but provides you a feeling of camaraderie that’s based on the fact that everyone is viewed kind of like social lepers by the society around them. Among smokers, there’s a certain spirit of “we are all in this together” that can make you nearly feel like your abandoning your family when you stop smoking cigarettes.

If I hadn’t had a cold that was driving me nuts, as well as a girlfriend who nagged me incessantly, I probably never would have stopped smoking. I haven’t smoked now for over thirty years, but when I was with some friends a while back I kind of missed the camaraderie and the relaxation that cigarettes furnished.

Zyban Quit Smoking Pills – Will It Help You?

Posted on November 8, 2008
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Americans are a pill popping people. If you have a headache – take a pill. If you have a back ache take another pill. When it comes to Zyban quit smoking you can probably guess that it comes in a pill form also. Taking pills are easier than many other routes of administering drugs. There are some people that have conditions whereby they cannot swallow. Sure they swallow a nice juicy piece of steak any day of the week. But when it comes to pills, they cannot swallow them.

For several years now the FDA has approved Zyban for use as a stop smoking pill. This really has taken the industry by storm and laid the foundation for other more advanced stop smoking aids. Both the American Medical Association and the Osteopathic Medical Association doctors have used Zyban successfully for years.

Just because you take this pill does not mean you’ll simply stop smoking. Quitting smoking takes tons of effort and various interventions are essential if you want to be successful with it.

The chemical name for Zyban is Bupropion. It is used and marketed under a few names in the United States. Wellbutrin which is an antidepressant. And Zyban – the stop smoking pill.

Now quitting smoking should take on added emphasis in your overall health plan. I believe that anyone regardless of how much they have smoked through the years, can quit smoking for good. But its a lot easier if you know how. Do you know how to quit smoking? Learning how is not intense or difficult but you have to be open to learning how to quit before you actually quit. When people try to quit without the right tools and fail, it is so easy to just give up. But I am here to tell you not to give up on your dream of being smoke free.

If you smoke and want to quit and your doctor prescribes Zyban this does not mean that you have other mental problems that he or she is trying to address. Depression, Attention Deficit Disorder, sexual dysfunction, insomnia are all proper uses for this class of drug.

Stop Smoking Lozenges

Posted on September 29, 2008
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Many find that when they quit smoking they get a few withdrawal symptoms. These include headaches, cravings, anxiety, or nervousness and sometimes depression. Try stop smoking lozenges which will help you to deal with these problems.

These lozenges come in the form of candy and can provide aid for those attempting to stop smoking. The lozenges help smokers keep their mouths busy, thus helping them to quit smoking. Stop smoking lozenges have been recommended especially for those individuals that need a cigarette first thing in the morning. In general, stop smoking lozenges help smokers deal with withdrawal symptoms by lessening these symptoms.

Stop smoking lozenges have been known to reduce cigarette cravings, and thus reduce nicotine addiction. By using stop smoking lozenges, smokers can diminish the stress they feel as a result of nicotine withdrawal.

Individuals can purchase the most popular lozenge – the commit stop smoking lozenge in any drug store, as well as online.

However, be aware that side effects of these lozenges include mouth problems, sore throats, indigestion, irregular heartbeats, nausea, and dizziness. The company suggests that you use Commit lozenges for 12 weeks for optimal effect. This allows your body to adjust to less and less nicotine, which will help you to quit all cigarettes.

These lozenges will only help you if you are determined to give up smoking. If you are not really committed to quitting smoking you won’t find benefit in these lozenges as they will not be enough to help you overcome this powerful addiction.

Another worthwhile benefit of the stop smoking lozenges is they help to decrease the appetite, so you won’t find yourself eating more just because you are stopping smoking. So any weight gain will be minimal.

Stopping the smoking habit can be tough, coping with withdrawal symptoms. You will find that the stop smoking lozenges are another weapon in your armory to help you quit the smoking habit.

 

How Smoking Increases Your Chances Of Heart Disease

Posted on September 4, 2008
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One of the more serious possible conditions from long-term cigarette smoking is heart disease. That’s a statement we hear often in discussions of smoking. But what does it really mean? What is heart disease, and how does smoking cause it?

In this context, the phrase ‘heart disease’ usually refers to coronary artery disease. That’s a condition in which a major blood vessel that leaves the heart carrying oxygen-rich blood becomes constricted. That increases the odds of a clot or closure that causes a heart attack. That’s why it’s sometimes called ‘having a coronary’.

Long term, heavy smoking greatly increases the odds of that happening for several reasons.

Carbon monoxide is present in cigarette smoke. It binds with hemoglobin, the molecule in red blood cells that helps transport oxygen throughout the body, including the heart. Reducing the oxygen to the heart ups the odds of heart disease.

Nicotine also reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood, while contributing to other conditions that are potentially harmful. It increases blood clotting, which can have a direct effect on the risk of heart attack, as we saw above.

But even more subtle, yet still dangerous, effects are produced by nicotine. One of the most serious, long term, is that it encourages the growth of fatty deposits on the arteries, constricting blood flow and hardening the blood vessel.

One of the ways smoking carries out that damage is by decreasing the amount of HDL (high density lipoprotein), the ‘good’ type of cholesterol. That encourages the growth of those fatty deposits. That condition is called atherosclerosis and it’s a major factor in heart attack risk.

Reducing the diameter of the artery increases blood pressure. That makes it more likely that any weakness present in the artery wall, something termed an aneurysm, will lead to a rupture. That leads to oxygen starvation to the brain, resulting in a stroke. That’s why one so often sees ‘raises the risk of heart disease and stroke’ discussed in the same sentence.

Hardening an artery makes it less able to withstand the normal stresses and strains of its function, as well. Remember, a blood vessel is both similar to a hose and different in important ways.

Like a hose, it carries fluid and can only do so when there are no holes. At the same time, unlike most hoses, it’s ‘on’ all the time. Any stoppage of blood flow, however temporary, causes immediate health problems. Tissues need a continual supply of blood or they die very quickly.

There’s also an overall effect from cigarette smoking that contributes to the risk of heart disease. Smoking causes several physical effects that reduce health. Reduced oxygen, shortness of breath and other effects make exercise more difficult and unpleasant. That, and lifestyle choices often associated with smoking, reduce overall fitness.

That lack of exercise, and the increased weight gain and body fat percentage that tends to accompany it, increases further the chances of heart disease and heart attack. The body is unable to withstand strains that might otherwise be minor. It is less able to withstand the serious biological shock that occurs when a heart attack finally happens. That ups the odds that the attack will be fatal.

Long-term, one-pack-a-day smokers have 2-4 times the chance of developing coronary heart disease than do non-smokers. Quitting today improves your odds immediately. Within 3 months circulation improves. After a year, the odds are half that of a smoker. After 5-15 years, the odds are that of someone who has never smoked. Don’t think it’s too late. Start today on a program to quit smoking.

Using Chantix To Stop Smoking

Posted on August 8, 2008
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Chantix is a prescription medicine to help adults 18 and over stop smoking. It’s likely that you might slip up and smoke while taking it, but if you do, stay with the program.

Follow the directions as given. Choose a quit date when you will stop smoking. Begin taking Chantix 1 week before your quit date. You can keep smoking through this time. Make sure that you try and stop smoking on your stop date. If you slip, try again. Some people need a few weeks for Chantix to work. Take Chantix after eating and with a full glass of water. Most people will remain taking Chantix for up to 12 weeks. If you have completely quit smoking by 12 weeks, ask your doctor if another 12 weeks of Chantix may assist you stay cigarette-free. Chantix comes as a white tablet (0.5 mg) and a blue tablet (1mg). You begin with the white tablet and then usually go to the blue tablet.

Do not use Chantix for a state for which it was not prescribed. Do not give your Chantix to other people, even if they have the identical symptoms you have; it may hurt them. The most common side effects with Chantix are nausea, sleep disturbance (trouble sleeping, changes in dreaming), constipation, gas, and vomiting. If overdose of Chantix is suspected, call your local poison control center or emergency room immediately.

Some patients have reported changes in activities, agitation, depressed mood, suicidal thoughts or actions when attempting to quit smoking while taking Chantix, or shortly after stopping it. If you develop symptoms uncharacteristic for you, stop taking Chantix. Call your doctor right away, also tell your doctor about any history of despair or other mental health problems before taking Chantix. If you have other side effects that trouble you or don’t go away, be sure to inform your doctor. Chantix should be taken after eating and with a full glass (8 ounces) of water. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you memorize. If you have kidney troubles or get dialysis, be sure to tell your doctor before taking Chantix.

Some people need a few weeks for it to work best. Even people who slip up through their eighth week of Chantix have been able to quit successfully. Chantix can help reduce the urge to smoke, so keep taking it as prescribed. And try to keep away from situations that may tempt you to smoke during your first weeks of quitting. The push for to smoke and withdrawal symptoms may be strongest in the first weeks after you quit smoking. But they do lessen with time. When you quit smoking, your body needs time to adjust to the absence of nicotine. You may feel side effects from this. Chantix should not be taken with other stop smoking medicines.

Is There a Link Between Smoking And Infertility?

Posted on June 23, 2008
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Conception is such a delicate process that making sure “all your ducks are in a row” is vital when trying for a baby. What this means is cutting out risk factors which may hamper the process.

The issue of smoking and infertility doesn’t seem to be as well promoted as perhaps infertility and alcohol but studies have shown that smoking can affect conception in several ways.

The thing to remember always when your dealing with infertility issues is that it may not be a collection of causes which may be the issue but something more individual.

That’s why when infertility is first suspected people are often told to keep a positive mind because more often than not, the cause can be pinpointed in time and conception can become a reality.

So smoking and infertility could be one of those single causes which could be “upsetting the entire applecart.” If you and your partner smoke then definitely consider putting cigarettes “on the backburner” at least.

How Smoking Can Affect Fertility

So how can smoking affect the reproductive system? It’s not a mystery that tobacco contains several substances which can be considered toxic. Studies conducted have found several vital factors including:

- Smoking could affect how the egg matures, ovulation rates and the fertilization rates
- There could also be issues surrounding chromosomal abnormalities in the eggs exposed to nicotine.

- Egg quality could also be an issue and studies have shown in many instances, overall quality and number of eggs are reduced in the women who are smokers.

- When it comes to smoking and infertility, there are numbers of follicles reduced for vitro fertilization and there are fewer eggs retrieved in this process.

- And there is also the issue of a low rate of egg fertilization in treatments with the chance of an increased possibility of miscarriage.

Can Smoking Affect Male Fertility?

It’s also been established that smoking can contribute to male infertility issues. Studies are still a little unclear how smoking affects sperm count but studies have shown that sperm count is usually lower in smokers and there is an increased chance of abnormality.

There isn’t enough evidence supporting second hand smoke and tests are still being done in this area. There also isn’t enough evidence to prove any theories on what happens to an embryo when it ingests second hand smoke. However, if you can have complications from first hand smoke, it seems reasonable to assume that second hand smoke will not be much better.

In the end, it all depends how serious you and your partner are about conception. While smoking may not be the only issue which can affect fertility it can certainly hamper conception.

When it comes to infertility, having all your bases covered means eliminating all the risk factors and if you and your partner indulge in cigarettes then consider giving them up.

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