Great Info Tips

I know, you’ve tried all kinds of stuff to quit, but you have to look at the broader picture here…you are not helping people you work with, drive with, or live with. They are getting second hand smoke and that’s just as bad as having them light up a cigarette themselves. So consider your family, friends, and coworkers and try to quit again. You might succeed this time around.

Did you know that smoking increases your risk for heart attack and stroke? It can cause carbon monoxide in your blood by robbing your body of oxygen. It can raise your blood pressure, too.
Smoking damages the insides of your arteries and blood vessels making fatty deposits inside you. You can also have pain, cramping, and aching in your legs when you are walking.

People who are diabetic are in even greater danger since smoking can cause more problems for them, even the ones who are breathing that second hand smoke. It makes the blood vessel damage worse, leading to leg and foot infections, even disability. Smoking can also make controlling blood sugars more difficult. Diabetics can die of heat disease more than any other cause and smoking is the main culprit here.

Cold turkey is cheap and you can do it yourself at home. Unfortunately there is only a 5% success rate for this method. You can go to counseling, but even that doesn’t give much of a chance to be a quitter unless you are very motivated to the group you are with. You can try nicotine replacement which will help you minimize the withdrawal symptoms (depressed mood, disrupted sleep, irritability, frustration, and anger). This has a 50% quitting rate.

Nicotine gum and lozenges are the newer way to go for over the counter help. However, they work best when you don’t drink coffee, juice, or acidic beverages. The gum won’t work if you have TMJ, dentures, braces or bridges since the TMJ will get worse and the gum will stick to the dental work.

The nicotine patch is also available over the counter and can provide a steady supply of nicotine to your body. There are some problems here, too, if you have sensitive skin and adhesive allergies. Some people reported to having vivid or frightening dreams if they used the patch at night.

A nicotine nasal spray can be prescribed by your doctor.This is not recommended for people who have nasal or sinus conditions, allergies or asthma. It can cause sneezing, coughing and watery eyes. A nicotine inhaler can also be prescribed by your doctor. However, you can get mouth and throat irritation and coughing. This product should not be used by people who have asthma or other lung conditions. There are some other products being researched at this time: a nicotine vaccine, an oral solution you can drink, and some stronger medications. An antidepressant can block nicotine’s effects, but this is used primarily for the hard cases.

As a last resort, there are live in programs to help you quit. The Mayo Clinic offers an intensive live-in program which may be partly covered by most insurance plans. It’s an 8 day program, but rather expensive (over $5000).

Unfortunately, you have got to really want to quit smoking. Determination to beat the habit and a lot of willpower are what you will need to have on your side.

There are some sources online to help:

American Heart Association www.americanheart.org/quitsmoking

Freedom From Smoking (through the American Lung Association) www.ffsonline.org

American Cancer Society www.cancer.org or call 800-ACS-2345

American Diabetes Association www.diabetes.org/type-1-diabetes/smoking.jsp

National Cancer Institute www.smokefree.gov or 800-QUITNOW

Good luck in trying to quit. I know your family and friends will love the new you, smoke and odor free.