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THE RISKS OF
SMOKING
According to health care experts, if
you smoke, you will be twelve times more likely to die from lung
cancer. Now let’s just think for one short moment: wouldn’t it be
very important for you to increase your chances of living from two to
twelve times longer, gain many extra years of happy, healthy existence,
and save thousands of dollars in increased medical costs?
•10 times more likely to die from Cancers of the mouth, throat, and
esophagus risks.
•12 times more likely to die from lung cancer or some
form of lung diseases.
•10 times more likely to die from cancer of the
larynx.
•6 times more likely to die of heart disease.
•And you will be
twice as likely to die of a stroke.
Enough is enough!
Another overlooked benefit is the amount of money saved by not buying
cigarettes in the first place. For example; If you smoke one
pack of cigarettes a day at $2.00 per pack, you spend $730 per year. If
your habit has continued for a period of 15 years you will have spent an
incredible $10,950! If you smoke two packs for that same period of time,
you will spend $21,900!
HOW YOU CAN QUIT
SMOKING
Quitting is hard. If you have tried to quit smoking, you know how hard
it can be. It is hard because nicotine is a very addictive drug some times
it can be as addictive as heroin or cocaine.
Many people have found
that including physical activity in their program to quit smoking has
added a tremendous benefit to assist in quitting. There are many reasons
for this:
When people are more active, they gain confidence and
like themselves more. They feel more energy, and are more capable of
dealing with tension in their lives. With increased activity, the
smell of tobacco actually becomes offensive. Whenever you feel the need to
smoke after you have decided to quit, get up and move around instead. A
brief physical activity can provide you with the lift that you may have
received from nicotine.
HOW TO HANDLE THE
URGE
There are several weapons that you can use in your fight to quit.
EACH OF THESE WEAPONS WORK- THEY HAVE BEEN PROVEN
You may use one,
all, or a combination of several to achieve your goal. The urge to smoke
is immediate, and usually lasts for five minutes. If you can resist for
that period of time, you reduce the urge.
1. Take a deep breath, hold
it for a few seconds, and exhale as if you had just taken your first puff
on a cigarette. Part of the feeling you get from smoking is a direct
result of taking a deep breath. A deep breath allows you to take in a
maximum amount of oxygen, and exhaling lets out large quantities of carbon
dioxide. This results in a feeling of relaxation. Try it, you’ll
see.
2. Take a sip of water several times during this five minute
period. It can help to diminish the need to smoke, and gives you something
to do with your hands. The extra water will also help to flush the
nicotine out of your body.
3. Put something in your mouth that has no
calories, such as a stirrer, toothpick, or another substitute for a
cigarette.
4. Get busy with something, anything, to keep you busy for
the next five minutes.
5. As long as it does not lead to a craving,
chew a piece of gum or a piece of hard candy. Life Savers work well.
6.
Get up and move around for five minutes. It will help the urge to smoke to
pass.
7. Use a nicotine patch as replacement
therapy.
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