| Smoking, as the ads say, is dangerous to | | | | ordeal quitters are trying to overcome, the |
| one's health. And it is. Continued smoking | | | | nicotine fits. |
| may cause health complications left and | | | | |
| right, not only to yourself, but also to the | | | | How can I quit smoking? |
| people around you. | | | | |
| | | | The best way to stop smoking is to stay away |
| According to statistics, smoking is | | | | from cigarettes. It's easier said than done. |
| responsible for approximately one in five | | | | Here are a few steps to cut down on cigarette |
| deaths in the United States. This vice kills | | | | smoking to make quitting easier. |
| approximately 259,494 men and 178,404 women | | | | |
| yearly. Smoking long-term may cause lung | | | | Switch to a brand that has lower nicotine |
| cancer, emphysema, cardiovascular diseases, | | | | content. The key is gradually lessening the |
| pregnancy abnormalities, childhood asthma, | | | | nicotine intake to avoid having withdrawal |
| and sudden infant death syndrome. Isn't it | | | | symptoms. |
| high time people thought of quitting? | | | | |
| | | | Lessen the number of cigarette sticks you |
| History of smoking | | | | smoke each day. |
| | | | |
| The earliest recorded history of smoking | | | | Smoke only half the cigarette stick. |
| dates back to 5000BC from the Peruvian and | | | | |
| Ecuadorian Andes. Smoking has also been | | | | Postpone your usual first "stick of the day" |
| present in many cultures around the world. | | | | by one hour. |
| Early smoking has been related to religious | | | | |
| ceremonies - as offering to people's | | | | Decide how many sticks you'll be smoking |
| respective deities, as cleansing rituals of | | | | during the day and stick with it. Pay a |
| shamans or priests for divination and | | | | penalty for every excess still you smoke. |
| spiritual enlightenment. After the European | | | | |
| exploration and conquests, tobacco smoking | | | | If the above mentioned tips don't help you |
| was introduced to the rest of the civilized | | | | lessen your nicotine intake in a day, there |
| world. Since then it has evolved from | | | | are a lot of products created to help smokers |
| religious ritual protocol to a social | | | | quit their habits. Among the more famous |
| activity. | | | | "stop-smoking" products are: |
| | | | |
| Why is it difficult to quit smoking? | | | | Nicotine patches. This is a small, |
| | | | self-adhesive patch designed to slowly |
| With the sudden rise of awareness campaigns | | | | release nicotine into the bloodstream through |
| about the ill effects of smoking to one's | | | | the outer layer of skin. These are often worn |
| health, a lot of people have tried quitting | | | | on the upper arm. |
| smoking. Herein lies the obstacle - How does | | | | |
| one stop smoking. According to a recent study | | | | Nicotine gum. The nicotine is released into |
| done in 2004 and 2005, fifty-five percent of | | | | the body from the gum. Not only does it |
| smokers said that it would be difficult to go | | | | satisfy nicotine fits without the use of |
| through an entire day without smoking. Why is | | | | cigarettes. |
| it difficult to stop smoking? | | | | |
| | | | Smoking, however cool it makes a person look |
| Loose tobacco stuffed inside cigarettes | | | | like, is still going to take its toll on the |
| contains nicotine which is highly addictive. | | | | body after a while. The next time you light a |
| Just like with any other addictive drugs, the | | | | cigarette, think of all its adverse effects |
| body and mind may quickly become used to the | | | | and ask yourself, "is it worth the |
| nicotine in cigarettes that a person may keep | | | | complications it'll bring you in the future? |
| looking for it. This has been the biggest | | | | |