One of the best ways to find out how to change a habit is to learn how much of a habit we have. In other words what type of a smoker are you. Most of you already know, but keeping track of it and actually seeing it in black and white will give you a better idea of what you are really dealing with and how to effectively stop smoking. I think you will be surprised of your findings.
First off there are several types of cigarettes we smoke each day. See how many of these fit your smoking style. There are :
# 1. Cigarettes we must have. These are the cigarettes that our body physically aches . We would do anything to have one. Get up in the middle of the night and go to the liquor store, smoke old butts, and smoke one after another if need be. You might even feel panicky if you don’t have a cigarette. These are the hardest to quit and many times why we go through withdrawal symptoms. But once resolved to quit we get through the withdrawals and this is one reason why I know I will never pick up not even one cigarette again, I simply do not want to go through the withdrawals again.
#2. Smoke out of habit. These are cigarettes we light up out of habit and do not even think about it. Sometimes we may have two cigarettes going at once. These cigarettes will be easy to give up, because we really don’t even have a need for them, it is purely out of habit. To create a new habit you only have to change your will (mind) and repeat for 30 days. Just think 30 days to a whole new lifestyle!
# 3 The Stress Cigarette. Every time I was under stress, the first thing I would reach for was a cigarette. The fact is taking deep breaths or going for a walk would of relaxed me more. Many times reaching for the stress cigarette was just another excuse for having another cigarette. Now, when I am under stress I often take a deep breath and every once in a while if I do get a cigarette urge I push it aside and the thought goes away in 5 minutes or less. (there is light at the end of the tunnel).
#4 The Pairing Cigarette. You’ve heard of pairing wines with food? Well many (most, including myself) smokers “pair” smoking with a pleasurable experience such as drinking coffee, after dinner cigarette, after sex cigarette, going out for drinks etc. Because most smokers do associate smoking with pleasurable events it makes it harder to quit those types of cigarettes, but not impossible . Think about it that would be like saying non-smokers cannot enjoy dinner, sex coffee or drinks. We simply have to acknowledge those times when we smoke and train our mind to find the same or more pleasure without the cigarette. Again, one day at a time, with the 30 day rule you will be able to conquer this one too!
#5 Looking Good Cigarette : Some people, mostly younger people like the way cigarettes make them look and feel. They like to lean over and have their friend light their cigarette, it feels romantic. They also like the feel of the cigarette, matches, lighter etc. This type of smoker can easily over come these habits with replacement romantic gestures or things to hold in their hands.
Now that we have identified the types of cigarettes we smoke each day, the next step is to keep track of the time of day you smoke , the type of cigarette it is (#1 – 5) and how important it is to you scoring it One – Three. One being least important, Three being most important. Do this for one week. By the end of a week you will have a pretty good idea of what type of smoker you are and where you can start cutting back.
Showing posts with label no smoking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label no smoking. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
HOSPITAL POLICY SNUFFS SMOKERS
Students smokers who plan to enter the medical field should kick their nicotine habit as soon as possible.
Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga are beginning to do a nicotine screen in addition to other drug tests on all new hires.
Although current employees will not be affected, new applicants who smoke cigarettes or use other nicotine products will not be hired, even if they are using gum or a patch to quit smoking. It is suggested that students who plant to enter the medical field should kick the nicotine habit as soon as possible in order to ensure a position in the medical field.
This initiative is in a effort to maintain and promote healthy living in all aspects of the hospital stated hospital representatives.
Older smokers did not have the information that younger smokers have with regard to the health problems smoking causes since several decades ago smoking was widely acceptable and there was not as many studies done. Several decades ago, smoking was commonplace, and smoking was virtually permitted in almost any public place. Although times have changed and both groups have been made aware of the health risks, the addiction can still be very hard to eliminate.
Older adults are at a disadvantage, not only have they had a longer history of nicotine addition , their mindset is different. The era they grew up in was likely unaware of the health implications related to smoking and they have been ignorant to it. That ignorance puts them at a disadvantage in today’s job market where smokers are being denied a job, at least at Memorial Hospital.
It is a fact that insurance costs are higher for individuals who smoke. The increased cost of insurance may be one of the factors that’s driving this policy change at Memorial Hospital. Even if employees paid the extra cost, eliminating smokers altogether would decrease paperwork and overall insurance costs for the hospital. .
The hospital could take into consideration the “human side” of this situation and instead of banning the smokers all together, could hire them under the condition that they would quit smoking on a time line. This way everyone would have an equal chance of employment and a chance to recover from their addiction.
Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga are beginning to do a nicotine screen in addition to other drug tests on all new hires.
Although current employees will not be affected, new applicants who smoke cigarettes or use other nicotine products will not be hired, even if they are using gum or a patch to quit smoking. It is suggested that students who plant to enter the medical field should kick the nicotine habit as soon as possible in order to ensure a position in the medical field.
This initiative is in a effort to maintain and promote healthy living in all aspects of the hospital stated hospital representatives.
Older smokers did not have the information that younger smokers have with regard to the health problems smoking causes since several decades ago smoking was widely acceptable and there was not as many studies done. Several decades ago, smoking was commonplace, and smoking was virtually permitted in almost any public place. Although times have changed and both groups have been made aware of the health risks, the addiction can still be very hard to eliminate.
Older adults are at a disadvantage, not only have they had a longer history of nicotine addition , their mindset is different. The era they grew up in was likely unaware of the health implications related to smoking and they have been ignorant to it. That ignorance puts them at a disadvantage in today’s job market where smokers are being denied a job, at least at Memorial Hospital.
It is a fact that insurance costs are higher for individuals who smoke. The increased cost of insurance may be one of the factors that’s driving this policy change at Memorial Hospital. Even if employees paid the extra cost, eliminating smokers altogether would decrease paperwork and overall insurance costs for the hospital. .
The hospital could take into consideration the “human side” of this situation and instead of banning the smokers all together, could hire them under the condition that they would quit smoking on a time line. This way everyone would have an equal chance of employment and a chance to recover from their addiction.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
5 Reasons to Quit Smoking
5 Of all the many reasons to quit smoking I always did have a fear of cancer or worse yet getting a disease that the doctor would just tell me “it could have been prevented only if you would of……. “ and you can fill in the blanks. Well as it turned out after not having taken birth control pills for 30+ years I decided to take birth control at a ripe old age. I knew at my age and the health risk associated with smoking and the birth control that would leave me at very high risk. It turned out to be a major decision in my life. Whatever your reasons are, and however long it takes, you should be aware that smokers are more at risk for the following should you not decide to quit smoking :
• COPD or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
COPD makes breathing extremely difficult. . Emphysema and chronic obstructive bronchitis are included under COPD. Smoking is attributed to 80% of the patients who have COPD. People who have never smoked, hardly ever have this disease. Treatments include medications, oxygen therapy, surgery and pulmonary rehabilitation. I remember that in my younger years I had a sales representative who was about 15 years my senior. Long after our business association we remained friends. I had a occasion to visit out of state where he lived and was shocked to see him on oxygen. He, his wife and I were always so full of life and very active in business and business gatherings. I remember how saddened I was to see how difficult it was for him to breath. Since I was still smoking I also thought to myself “that could be me in a few years. It took me another year to finally quit smoking
• Heart Disease
Smoking is the leading cause of coronary heart disease along with atherosclerosis which is a buildup of fatty substances in the arteries. Over the years, Smoking consistently lowers your blood pressure, lowers stamina for exercise and increases the tendency for blood clots. If the arteries that supply blood to the heart become severely narrowed, decreasing the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the heart, especially during times of increased activity additional strain on the heart may result in chest pain. If 1 or more of the coronary arteries are completely blocked a patient may also suffer a heart attack.
• Stroke
My Aunt was a smoker all her life, and worse than a heart attack I believe is a stroke. Her quality of life was never the same and she could never walk or talk again. I must say, I still continued to smoke after that for about another ten years ! Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of strokes and heart attacks. Smokers are 3 times more likely to suffer a stroke than non-smokers. The good news is if you quit smoking early, your risk of a stroke is drastically reduced.
• Lung Cancer
Cigarette Smoking is directly linked to the increase numbers of patients who suffer from lung cancer. Furthermore smoking is responsible for 90% of all cancer deaths. Being responsible for more cancer deaths than colorectal cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer combined in both men and women.
• Oral Cancer
Common symptoms of oral cancer include white or red patch of skin in the mouth or under the tongue, a lump in the mouth, throat or tongue, a sore throat that doesn’t go away within a normal period of time and difficulty in swallowing or chewing. All forms of tobacco addiction increases your risk of oral cancer.
I am concerned about my health risks and want to quit smoking now
• COPD or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
COPD makes breathing extremely difficult. . Emphysema and chronic obstructive bronchitis are included under COPD. Smoking is attributed to 80% of the patients who have COPD. People who have never smoked, hardly ever have this disease. Treatments include medications, oxygen therapy, surgery and pulmonary rehabilitation. I remember that in my younger years I had a sales representative who was about 15 years my senior. Long after our business association we remained friends. I had a occasion to visit out of state where he lived and was shocked to see him on oxygen. He, his wife and I were always so full of life and very active in business and business gatherings. I remember how saddened I was to see how difficult it was for him to breath. Since I was still smoking I also thought to myself “that could be me in a few years. It took me another year to finally quit smoking
• Heart Disease
Smoking is the leading cause of coronary heart disease along with atherosclerosis which is a buildup of fatty substances in the arteries. Over the years, Smoking consistently lowers your blood pressure, lowers stamina for exercise and increases the tendency for blood clots. If the arteries that supply blood to the heart become severely narrowed, decreasing the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the heart, especially during times of increased activity additional strain on the heart may result in chest pain. If 1 or more of the coronary arteries are completely blocked a patient may also suffer a heart attack.
• Stroke
My Aunt was a smoker all her life, and worse than a heart attack I believe is a stroke. Her quality of life was never the same and she could never walk or talk again. I must say, I still continued to smoke after that for about another ten years ! Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of strokes and heart attacks. Smokers are 3 times more likely to suffer a stroke than non-smokers. The good news is if you quit smoking early, your risk of a stroke is drastically reduced.
• Lung Cancer
Cigarette Smoking is directly linked to the increase numbers of patients who suffer from lung cancer. Furthermore smoking is responsible for 90% of all cancer deaths. Being responsible for more cancer deaths than colorectal cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer combined in both men and women.
• Oral Cancer
Common symptoms of oral cancer include white or red patch of skin in the mouth or under the tongue, a lump in the mouth, throat or tongue, a sore throat that doesn’t go away within a normal period of time and difficulty in swallowing or chewing. All forms of tobacco addiction increases your risk of oral cancer.
I am concerned about my health risks and want to quit smoking now
Thursday, February 25, 2010
7 Smart Tips if you want to Quit Smoking for Good
When I made the decision to quit smoking and the key word here is “I” , I intellectually knew the top 3 benefits would be : 1. lower risk of lung cancer, 2. breathing better 3. lowering my health insurance premiums (my family’s health was also a big bonus ). It was still one of the most difficult things I did in my life. Here are some things I took into consideration :
1. I Quit for myself : Over the years it didn’t matter how many times other people told me I needed to quit, the fact of the matter was, if I didn’t want to – I wouldn’t succeed and I knew it. If you have a loved one that does not want to quit right now – be patient and understanding. There will come a day when they are ready, and don’t give up hope – My mom was 75 before she quit!
2, Considered Quitting Cold Turkey, but I couldn’t . After 33 years and several packs a day, although my mind wanted to, my body resisted. I initially used the help of a smoking cessation product, for a short time until my body adjusted to minimal amounts of nicotine, once done, I never looked back. I knew that it would only ever take one puff and I would be a full fledged smoker again. If you are the type that can quit cold turkey, you should only have a short time of intense withdrawal symptoms then your body will rid itself of all nicotine. After a month or two those intense cravings should go away.
3. Don’t have “just one puff” or put yourself in a situation where you will be tempted to have a cigarette As previously stated, having one puff is like undermining all the good work you have done thusfar – at least for me it would have been. When you smoke you will reintroduce the nicotine back into your system and it will make it that much harder to give it up again. Also, in the beginning I tried not to put myself in situations where I would normally have a cigarette. I passed on that morning cup of coffee, going out for a drink with the girls and changed my habits after dinner.
4. Try electronic cigarettes If you feel the need to have something in your hand or mouth, you can avoid all those carcinogens by using electronic cigarettes. They don’t have tar, or any other carcinogens found in regular cigarettes and tobacco. They will satisfy your cravings, and are healthier than any of the more common forms of nicotine.
5. Deal with stress naturally Before I quit smoking iIt was always natural for me to grab a cigarette and light up when I felt stressed. Now I had to pick another way to deal with my stress. I picked simply “deep breathing” I noticed this would calm me down because I had to really concentrate on taking deep breaths and as I was doing so I was doing “self talk” and creating a more calming atmosphere for myself.
6. Eat regularly By eating regularly, you keep your blood sugar level up and this will help you to avoid low blood sugar or feeling too hungry. e. If you’ve quit smoking, it’s very important to eat regularly in order to avoid feeling too hungry or encountering low blood sugar situations.
Many smokers smoke in order to deal with stress. However, think back to a time when you weren’t a smoker, maybe when you were fourteen or fifteen. You faced difficult and stressful situations, and dealt with them without resorting to nicotine. You could do it then, so surely you can deal with stress now that you’re older and more mature, without needing cigarettes as your crutch. It may seem difficult at first, but over time you’ll find that you’re actually able to deal with stress better without cigarettes.
7. Let Your Family and Friends Know You are Quitiing Smoking This helps in a variety of ways. . Your family and friends can give you support and encouragement when you need it. It will also help them understand your mood swings that you might experience, now that your “old friend is being taken away from you”. In addition many times when people “tell” others who are close to them of their decision to quit, they do not want to let their friends and family down, it helps them be more determined to quit.
Many say smoking is as addictive as heroin use, it certainly was one of the most difficult things I ever had to quit doing. At the same time, it was very rewarding to Kick the Habit and now tell everyone, when asked
I Don’t Smoke!
1. I Quit for myself : Over the years it didn’t matter how many times other people told me I needed to quit, the fact of the matter was, if I didn’t want to – I wouldn’t succeed and I knew it. If you have a loved one that does not want to quit right now – be patient and understanding. There will come a day when they are ready, and don’t give up hope – My mom was 75 before she quit!
2, Considered Quitting Cold Turkey, but I couldn’t . After 33 years and several packs a day, although my mind wanted to, my body resisted. I initially used the help of a smoking cessation product, for a short time until my body adjusted to minimal amounts of nicotine, once done, I never looked back. I knew that it would only ever take one puff and I would be a full fledged smoker again. If you are the type that can quit cold turkey, you should only have a short time of intense withdrawal symptoms then your body will rid itself of all nicotine. After a month or two those intense cravings should go away.
3. Don’t have “just one puff” or put yourself in a situation where you will be tempted to have a cigarette As previously stated, having one puff is like undermining all the good work you have done thusfar – at least for me it would have been. When you smoke you will reintroduce the nicotine back into your system and it will make it that much harder to give it up again. Also, in the beginning I tried not to put myself in situations where I would normally have a cigarette. I passed on that morning cup of coffee, going out for a drink with the girls and changed my habits after dinner.
4. Try electronic cigarettes If you feel the need to have something in your hand or mouth, you can avoid all those carcinogens by using electronic cigarettes. They don’t have tar, or any other carcinogens found in regular cigarettes and tobacco. They will satisfy your cravings, and are healthier than any of the more common forms of nicotine.
5. Deal with stress naturally Before I quit smoking iIt was always natural for me to grab a cigarette and light up when I felt stressed. Now I had to pick another way to deal with my stress. I picked simply “deep breathing” I noticed this would calm me down because I had to really concentrate on taking deep breaths and as I was doing so I was doing “self talk” and creating a more calming atmosphere for myself.
6. Eat regularly By eating regularly, you keep your blood sugar level up and this will help you to avoid low blood sugar or feeling too hungry. e. If you’ve quit smoking, it’s very important to eat regularly in order to avoid feeling too hungry or encountering low blood sugar situations.
Many smokers smoke in order to deal with stress. However, think back to a time when you weren’t a smoker, maybe when you were fourteen or fifteen. You faced difficult and stressful situations, and dealt with them without resorting to nicotine. You could do it then, so surely you can deal with stress now that you’re older and more mature, without needing cigarettes as your crutch. It may seem difficult at first, but over time you’ll find that you’re actually able to deal with stress better without cigarettes.
7. Let Your Family and Friends Know You are Quitiing Smoking This helps in a variety of ways. . Your family and friends can give you support and encouragement when you need it. It will also help them understand your mood swings that you might experience, now that your “old friend is being taken away from you”. In addition many times when people “tell” others who are close to them of their decision to quit, they do not want to let their friends and family down, it helps them be more determined to quit.
Many say smoking is as addictive as heroin use, it certainly was one of the most difficult things I ever had to quit doing. At the same time, it was very rewarding to Kick the Habit and now tell everyone, when asked
I Don’t Smoke!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Be Supportive to a Friend who Has Decided to Quit Smoking
Helping a friend quit smoking is basically Not bugging them, but finding out what is motivating them and then supporting their decision to quit smoking. I know that when I wanted to quit the last thing I wanted to hear was people nagging me about quitting, or ex-smokers telling me all about how important it was to quit.
Most people have success quitting smoking when they have decided on their own to stop smoking. Some quit smoking cold turkey, while others use hypnosis or decrease their exposure to nicotine through nicotine cessation products which decrease their cigarette consumption. That being said here are some ways to encourage a friend or family member who is deciding on their own to stop smoking:
1. Whenever successes are talked about be positive and uplifting. Go ahead and talk about your own successes.
2. Recognize that mistakes or setback will be made, again share your experiences, so your friend doesn’t feel alone. Let them know this is normal, but don’t dwell on them and assure them they can still be successful.
3. If their quitting strategy differs from yours – support their choices ! What worked for one person doesn’t always work for everyone.
4. Let them know what helped you stay away from smoking situations which could defeat your success in quitting smoking .
5.Listen, Listen, Listen first and foremost be their friend!
I Want To Quit Smoking Now
Most people have success quitting smoking when they have decided on their own to stop smoking. Some quit smoking cold turkey, while others use hypnosis or decrease their exposure to nicotine through nicotine cessation products which decrease their cigarette consumption. That being said here are some ways to encourage a friend or family member who is deciding on their own to stop smoking:
1. Whenever successes are talked about be positive and uplifting. Go ahead and talk about your own successes.
2. Recognize that mistakes or setback will be made, again share your experiences, so your friend doesn’t feel alone. Let them know this is normal, but don’t dwell on them and assure them they can still be successful.
3. If their quitting strategy differs from yours – support their choices ! What worked for one person doesn’t always work for everyone.
4. Let them know what helped you stay away from smoking situations which could defeat your success in quitting smoking .
5.Listen, Listen, Listen first and foremost be their friend!
I Want To Quit Smoking Now
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