“Just stop”, we’re told. Stop smoking, that is, by just deciding to stop. Wouldn’t it be great if it were that easy? But the fact is that both physiological changes and psychological issues play a role in any stop-smoking program. Even the most determined can rarely just flip a switch and never smoke cigarettes again.
Still, [...]
08.01Why Quit Smoking?
Smoking is pleasurable, up to a point. That, after all, is why so many do it. If there were no gain, the practice would quickly die out. But a lot of meaning is stuffed into that innocent phrase ‘up to a point’. While the short term benefits of smoking cigarettes is real, the harm is [...]
Nicotine is one of the most well known components of inhaled cigarette smoke. But is it addictive? Yes and no. The details that make clear that paradoxical statement are interesting.
Nicotine itself is not addictive. But then, neither is heroin. It’s what the body does with that compound that produces the result. Think that’s quibbling over [...]
08.01Stress and Smoking
Many smokers start or continue their habit in order to deal with stress. But quitting smoking increases stress itself. That double-whammy makes it doubly hard to stop. Understanding what creates stress and finding healthier ways to deal with it well help in that struggle.
At low dosages, nicotine is a stimulant. It increases heart rate and [...]
There are thousands of chemical compounds in cigarette smoke, many of them toxic. But simply displaying a long list of intimidating names, and even pointing out which are harmful, isn′t particularly helpful. In medicine, dosage is key.
Many of the compounds in cigarette smoke are found in only trace amounts, in the range of nanograms for [...]
Psychotherapy can help you stop smoking permanently. But it need not involve expensive counseling sessions with a professional. Any mixture of self-help and outside assistance can up your odds of a permanent change in behavior, one conducive to long-term health.
Don’t limit your choice to any one school of psychotherapy - there are a dozen or [...]
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 [...]
08.01Smoking and Cancer
Heavy, long-term cigarette smoking is often said to cause cancer, most prominently lung cancer and cancer of the larynx. And, the evidence is very strong, amounting to near certainty. But, interestingly enough, exactly how it does so is not fully known. It remains an active area of research.
Normal cells may be damaged, but they have [...]
There are several different types of products on the market today to help smokers quit. Only about 6% of those who try to stop permanently succeed their first time. Using one or more of the products discussed below can help you be in that group.
One of the most popular products is the nicotine patch. It [...]
The role that long-term, heavy smoking plays in developing lung cancer and heart disease are widely known. But it also plays a significant role in damaging dozens of other body systems and overall health.
For example, even apart from specific damage to the lungs or larynx or arteries, smoking reduces the desire to exercise in most [...]