Best Quit Smoking .com

In trying to solve a problem it seems logical to begin by trying to answer three basic questions. What exactly is the problem? How big is it? And how serious? 

The problem is smoking. How big? The World population is between five and six billion. It is estimated that 25% of adults smoke. That is 1,300,000,000 smokers. Makes you wonder how sunlight ever breaks through! It is also estimated that half of the World’s children are exposed to second hand smoke. How serious is the problem? DEADLY! If I were to list all the terrible health results of smoking and the horrific ways in which smoking kills, this would be a very long article indeed. Suffice it to say that these deadly consequences are well beyond proven. 

There is also a very interesting aspect to this problem, however. It is estimated that about 70% of these smokers actually WANT to quit, presumably permanently. Most will have tried to quit, meaning that they have succeeded in stopping, only to resume later. So here we are with 910,000,000,000 (almost a billion) smokers looking for a solution.

There is a plethora of so-called solutions, from pills to patches to prescriptions, special foods, drinks, diets, chewing gum or candy, acupuncture and hypnosis, creams, lotions, excercises, brainwashing at clinics and seminars, magic and meditation, prayer, low-poison or no-poison fake cigarettes, huge doses of willpower, prolonged tapering-off or a desperate buddy system. The truth about all of these is that for the vast majority of would-be quitters they represent undue effort, unecessary expense, false hope and finally major disappointment, leading to further reduction in self-confidence and self-esteem. Why? Because for the most part these quit-smoking solutions DO NOT WORK!

Let us then construct a model with all the characteristics that an ideal stop-smoking method should include.

First, having disposed of all those invasive and intrusive solutions that generally fail, our ideal method must logically be Non-invasive and Non-intrusive. No big mind-stretch to agree to that.

Second, it has to be Cost-effective. There is no reason to spend more than is absolutely necessary, especially in these currently challenging economic times.

In third place, I would suggest that it must be Repeatable. With all the gimmicks and gadgets we eliminated above, once they fail it is unlikely they will be tried again. Our ideal method should be such that a failed first attempt may be attributed to indecision (the most likely reason for failure) so that the practitioner may tighten up his/her resolve and go for a second try.

In fourth place I suggest the method should be followed in Private. The concept of applying the “buddy-system” to such a difficult process as quitting smoking is absurd. What can a buddy do for you when you are fighting internal demons? Hold your hand?

Fifth, and here’s a tough one, the method must be Painless. There just has to be a way to avoid the hellish cravings and other nasty symptoms that smokers trying to quit lay claim to.

Number six is demanding, but not impossible. It must be Easy. Easy in the sense that what is asked of the smoker must be true, straightforward, believable and achievable. Goes back to being painless, too. And finally, number seven in our “Seven Pillars of Wisdom” is that it must be rewarding. . . you might almost say Euphoric! Having succeeded, the would-be smoke-free user of this method will be elated, not least because she/he has done it alone, with help from nobody and no “things.” As a result, the feeling of increased self-confidence and self-esteem will be paramount.

John English, ex-smoker and quitter for 50 years, is author of the book KILL THE ADDICTION, Stop Smoking: Without Quitting, which left him smoke-free for the past 8 years. His revolutionary method meets all seven criteria discussed in this article and he invites your comments at his blog, http://killtheaddiction.blogspot.com/

John English was born in Grenoble, France in 1930 to an English teacher and his french wife. Raised in England he left for Canada at the age of 21, made it his home and eventually became Canadian CEO for three consecutive multinational companies in the Beauty products business, over a 25 year span. Now retired, he and his wife divide their time equally between Florida and Canada.

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Will President Obama Respond To My Offer to Cure Him of Smoking?

Why would he not respond to an offer that will save his life?

1. Because he is too busy?

Who is too busy to save their own lives? Maybe President Obama should ask his daughters if they would mind him asking for three or four hours off his time with them to stop smoking. Do you think they would say ‘no’”?

2. Because he doesn’t want to quit smoking?

What smoker doesn’t want to quit smoking? When I find them I ask whether you want your kid’s to smoke? If the answer is no – which I know it is – don’t you think this is a big contradiction?

3. Because he enjoys it?

Again do you want your daughters to smoke so they can enjoy it as well? If it is so enjoyable why wouldn’t you want your daughters to experience this wonderful feeling?

4. Because he cannot stop smoking?

Who the hell told him that? Smoking is simply a drug addiction. He and the millions of smokers are simply drug addicts. Curing drug addicts is simple. Stop using the drug.

5. Because he will go crazy with the withdrawal ‘pain’?

What pain there is no or very very little physical pain caused by withdrawal from nicotine?

6. Because he’ll go crazy during withdrawal?

You are getting closer to the biggest problem in dealing with stopping smoking.

7. Because he does not like the symptoms caused by the withdrawal from nicotine?

Ok again getting almost hot. When we experience withdrawal from any major drug we experience certain symptoms. These symptoms for smokers last only three days because nicotine leaves your body quickly. It is the fastest addictive drug in the world but it also leaves our bodies quickly allowing us the opportunity to stop quickly and easily. It will totally disappear and in the first three days you eliminate most if not all of these symptoms.

8. Because he has too much stress?

He certainly doesn’t seem to be under any particular stress right now despite two failed wars began by his predecessor, a health care plan that is being attacked and that he still smokes. And just a few other things on his mind. Once again is it not better to live than to die before his time?

9. Because he thinks it is too late?

Wrong again it is never too late. Our bodies have miraculous recuperative powers and once nicotine is stopped the body immediately begins to recuperate.

10. Because he cannot stand the withdrawal from nicotine?

Ok that’s enough. The reason for this particular problem and it is a problem is because of the misconception in your unconscious mind. I won’t fully explain it here. But how do you cure this? Through a systematic auto suggestion method and through minor self hypnosis but you need to know where to go to find it. Keep looking it is somewhere.

Discover The Only Way to Stop Smoking Easily. This is about Jim Creech- He is a bilateral BK amputee and suffers from congestive heart failure both caused by smoking. Neither of these problems made him stop smoking. Until he discovered the Secret to Quitting he just could not stop.
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Are you desperately searching for a method to quit smoking and ease withdrawal symptoms? Are you a smoker who is on the verge of quitting but fear the withdrawal symptoms might prove to be too much for you? As an ex smoker myself, I know exactly what you are going through but I overcame my nicotine addiction and you can too! Let me show you how a nicotine replacement aid can help. 

Today’s market is just oozing with proven, effective nicotine replacement aids that work to get you over the major withdrawal hurdles. The aids can tame the uncomfortable symptoms of withdrawal and almost double your chances of being successful in quitting. 

As you know, nicotine is the addictive agent in tobacco products. Your body and your brain get so used to having it that they begin to believe nicotine in your system is normal. When you quit, your body and brain no longer get their fix of nicotine and withdrawal symptoms begin. 

Both your body and your brain will tell you to light up. Just have one more. Your craving to smoke will become overwhelming. You start to become cranky and irritable. This is where the aids come in. They will supply your body with nicotine but without the toxic gases and carcinogens in cigarette smoke. Remember, withdrawal symptoms actually only last a short time and the aids will lessen your symptoms enough to get you through this short phase. 

Have your nicotine replacement aid ready to use as soon as you quit. Finding the one that fits your lifestyle is the key. They come in the form of gums, lozenges, patches, inhalers, prescription drugs and sprays. The spray worked best for me but again it is an individual choice. Research and find the aid that is right for you. An exciting new one on the market is Miracet! You might want to check it out! 

Fighting the battle to stop smoking is tough challenge but with the right help you can be victorious! When you break the chains of nicotine addiction, you will find a freedom you forgot you once had. Use this method to quit smoking and rediscover that freedom!

Learn more about the Method to Quit Smoking! Take advantage of this exciting free trial offer for a stop smoking aid that will help ease your withdrawal symptoms Miracet!

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Marijuana is the most commonly abused illicit drug in the United States. It is a dry, shredded green and brown mix of flowers, stems, seeds, and leaves derived from the hemp plant Cannabis Sativa. The main active chemical in marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol; THC for short.

Marijuana is usually smoked as a cigarette (joint) or in a pipe. It is also smoked in blunts, which are cigars that have been emptied of tobacco and refilled with marijuana. Since the blunt retains the tobacco leaf used to wrap the cigar, this mode of delivery combines marijuana’s active ingredients with nicotine and other harmful chemicals. Marijuana can also be mixed in food or brewed as a tea. As a more concentrated, resinous form it is called hashish, and as a sticky black liquid, hash oil. Marijuana smoke has a pungent and distinctive, usually sweet-and-sour odor.

Marijuana and Addiction

Long-term marijuana abuse can lead to addiction; that is, compulsive drug seeking and abuse despite its known harmful effects upon social functioning in the context of family, school, work, and recreational activities. Long-term marijuana abusers trying to quit report marijuana addiction is the #1 drug problem in the US, its effects are very powerful. Also known as pot and weed it can be very addictiveirritability, sleeplessness, decreased appetite, anxiety, and drug craving, all of which make it difficult to quit. These withdrawal symptoms begin within about 1 day following abstinence, peak at 2-3 days, and subside within 1 or 2 weeks following drug cessation.

Is Marijuana Addictive or isn’t It?

Based on all the information available, the answer is yes and no.

For people with dependency tendencies, the answer is YES. There are too many people in the world who smoke marijuana almost every day to say otherwise. Other people argue that they can take or leave it and have quit for long periods of time. And for those people the answer would probably be NO.

The thing about marijuana is it so subtle. There are places in California where it is legal to possess small quantities for private use. So what’s the problem?

The problem with marijuana is, like any other drug, can become the focal point of a person’s life. All of a sudden you want to get high before or during anything and everything. Your life begins to revolve around smoking marijuana. Like alcohol, it can be used responsibly and occasionally, or it can get out of control and cause serious problems.

Some people are “addicted” to marijuana and try to rationalize or justify using it. Like any other drug, marijuana can become the focal point of your life.

Marijuana Use in the U.S.

* In 2007, there were 2.1 million persons who had used marijuana for the first time within the past 12 months; this averages to approximately 6,000 initiates per day. This estimate of past year initiates in 2007 was about the same as the number in 2006 (2.1 million), 2005 (2.1 million), 2004 (2.1 million), 2003 (2.0 million), and 2002 (2.2 million).

More Statisitics About Marijuana Use

Past month marijuana use among male youths aged 12 to 17 declined from 9.1 percent in 2002 to 6.8 percent in 2006. In 2007, the rate was 7.5 percent, which was not significantly different from the rate in 2006, but was lower than the rate in 2002. Among female youths, little change occurred from 2002 to 2004, but the rate in 2007 (5.8 percent) was lower than the rate in 2002 (7.2 percent).

The Effects of Marijuana Use

THC acts upon specific sites in the brain, called cannabis receptors, kicking off a series of cellular reactions that ultimately lead to the “high” that users experience when they smoke marijuana. Some brain areas have many cannabinoid receptors; others have few or none. The highest density of cannabis receptors are found in parts of the brain that influence pleasure, memory, thoughts, concentration, sensory and time perception, and coordinated movement.

Not surprisingly, marijuana intoxication can cause distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, difficulty in thinking and problem solving, and problems with learning and memory. Research has shown that marijuana’s adverse impact on learning and memory can last for days or weeks after the acute effects of the drug wear off. As a result, someone who smokes marijuana every day may be functioning at a suboptimal intellectual level all of the time.

Research into Marijuana Use

Research on the long-term effects of marijuana abuse indicates some changes in the brain similar to those seen after long-term abuse of other major drugs. For example, cannabinoid withdrawal in chronically exposed animals leads to an increase in the activation of the stress-response system3 and changes in the activity of nerve cells containing dopamine. Dopamine neurons are involved in the regulation of motivation and reward, and are directly or indirectly affected by all drugs of abuse.

Marijuana Use and Mental Health

A number of studies have shown an association between chronic marijuana use and increased rates of anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and schizophrenia. Some of these studies have shown age at first use to be a factor, where early use is a marker of vulnerability to later problems. However, at this time, it not clear whether marijuana use causes mental problems, exacerbates them, or is used in attempt to self-medicate symptoms already in existence. Chronic marijuana use, especially in a very young person, may also be a marker of risk for mental illnesses, including addiction, stemming from genetic or environmental vulnerabilities, such as early exposure to stress or violence. At the present time, the strongest evidence links marijuana use and schizophrenia and/or related disorders. High doses of marijuana can produce an acute psychotic reaction, and research suggests that in vulnerable individuals, marijuana use may be a factor that increases risk for the disease.

Should Marijuana Be Legalized

Much has been written and several states have considerd changing their laws to decrimiize marijuana. California has the most progressive laws. Some counties allow people to possess small amounts.

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Tobacco use by minors often results in grave consequences, even though underage alcohol abuse constitutes the highest number of headlines. If the current pattern of smoking continues, almost 6 million of today’s teenagers can be expected to die a premature death from smoking-related diseases itself. Tobacco use by the under-aged is costing many families and communities dearly. The blame has been directed at retailers accused of their laid-back age-enforcement and sales policies. Nowadays, a group of retailers are ensuring that every customer purchasing tobacco, regardless of appearance, does meet the age requirements. They’re doing this with the help of a new biometric fingerprint ID technology that assures to change the way tobacco is sold. And these biometric systems can automatically identify a person based on the different physical characteristics such as fingerprints.

Biometric systems find use in a range of applications including the prevention of benefit fraud, protection of financial transactions, access control and network security enhancement. A fingerprint ID system for retailers who need fast and accurate age and identity verification to protect the humanity from underage alcohol and tobacco use has been developed. In a one-minute process, customers register, and volunteer their driving license number and a finger for digital scanning. The relevant information is read off the magnetic strip of the license card. While the machine does a scan of the person’s fingerprint, it never stores or uses the actual print. It creates 27 points of reference from the print image with which the information related to the details taken from a valid ID is matched. For increased privacy, print images are deleted at the end of every transaction.
After that, registered customers need to press a finger on a scanning device to verify they are above the age of 18 and are legally eligible to purchase tobacco. Any person not in the unique system is ‘carded’ at each purchase.

Customers as well as the community find that the new system is worth it, and it has been drawing a lot of support. Just by pressing a finger against a pad, customers can prove whether they are above the legal age in less than a second. This process has increased the efficiency by two-fold during the normal hours and up to six-fold during peak hours.
Various organizations have expressed their appreciation for the biometric system since it limits employee-discretion, error, and dishonesty related to tobacco purchase. Every customer needs to offer his or her finger or a valid ID to prove that he is of the legal age to buy it. The system verifies the age of the person automatically, thus freeing the salesman from making errors. Apart from this, in order to ensure honesty, the system asks employees to identify themselves by touching the soft pad and entering their respective codes, just before checking with the customers. Latest technology when combined with biometrics has proved that it can better protect both the society and retailers from the different dangers of under-age tobacco use.

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The European Union has framed rules for what it believes are reasonable quantities of tobacco that can be carried, to distinguish from commercial quantities. A traveller with amounts over the stipulated quantity could be allowed through only if he can prove it is for personal consumption, for example at a private birthday bash. Volumes below the guidelines could lead to legal action if, for instance, the same guy was coming through several times a month in an attempt to increase commercial levels of tobacco stock.

It has been reported that 80% of smuggled cigarettes come sealed in containers. The detection rate for the stuff brought in by foot or by car is only about 3% of the remaining percentage of smuggled cigarettes. Smuggling of tobacco and cigarettes costs the United Kingdom billions of pounds every year in taxes. The stipulated guidelines are just that, and there are no hard and fast rules with respect to the amount. However, there exists a mechanism to prevent people from importing excessive amounts of tobacco and tobacco products in order to gain a monetary advantage.

The main problem lies upon the current method of distinguishing cigarettes for personal use from cigarettes for commercial purposes. It has to be made clear whether importing low quantities of cigarettes and tobacco for commercial gain should be made a criminal offence. In the UK, rate charged as duty on tobacco is considerably higher than that in most of the countries in Europe. This, eventually, leads to many smokers in the United Kingdom going to the European mainland and making purchase of cigarettes there. This practice has also impelled smuggling for commercial purposes, as the rewards are high.

The UK government immediately issued rules stating that only 800 cigarettes and 1 kilo of tobacco should be imported into the United Kingdom. There were protests from different sources. Then, the United Kingdom reviewed its policy following many cases, and now, the guidelines state that 3200 cigarettes and 3 kilos of tobacco will be allowed. The officials were still given the authority to nab individuals if they were convinced that the cigarettes and tobacco were bought for commercial uses. However, the problem persists in distinguishing cigarettes for personal use from cigarettes for commercial gain.

But, it is a fact that the aggressive system employed by the Customs and Excise are saving the government millions of pounds in tax. The question remains at large as to whether this is being done in a legal manner. The Court has ruled that that those who bring in large quantities of tobacco must be ready to provide a satisfactory explanation, the absence of which may cause the officials to conclude that the stuff is not for personal use, but for some commercial purpose.

The policy of defining this cause of action as civil has been viewed as contemptuous. People view it as a perverted and vicious action.  The Customs and Excise officials, who people would normally relate with the Ambulance service and the Police force, now are viewed with open contempt. More than that, many people now feel intimidated to travel freely through the country. The only way to regain the image would be to reclassify this specific action as criminal, and in the process including all of the required safeguards afforded to society, in the new system.

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Just the mere fact that you are searching for a method to quit smoking and break free of your nicotine habit is proof you are ready to succeed and kick your habit!  As an ex smoker myself, I can tell you truthfully the trials involved in quitting are not easy but it can be done and the rewards are awesome! Let me help you get started toward your goal with a few simple steps. 

Step 1 

The absolute most important part of acquiring your goal to be smoke free is your motivation and drive to quit. You have to be ready to meet your obstacles head on and stay focused on your quest. You are the only one who can say you are ready. No one else can say it for you or force it on you. If you have tried and failed in the past take heart, you may be the best candidate! Studies have shown that people who have tried to quit and failed are the ones who eventually succeed! 

Step 2 

Recognize and be ready for the fact that you are going to go through some pretty uncomfortable nicotine withdrawals. You are going to have overwhelming cravings to smoke. You may experience insomnia, tiredness, sore throat, coughing and a variety of other symptoms. Remember, withdrawal is short term. There are proven nicotine replacement aids that can ease your symptoms and help you get though this temporary phase. The aids come in the form of prescription drugs, gum, lozenges, patches or sprays. I preferred the sprays when I quit but each smoker is different. Research and find the one that suits your lifestyle the best.

Step 3

 Name and recognize your triggers. Triggers are the things or moments you associate with smoking. They are the things and moments that will make you want to reach for a cigarette out of habit. For instance, perhaps you always enjoyed a cigarette with your morning paper or right after each meal. Acknowledge what your triggers are and try to rearrange your routine. Perhaps you could take a stroll after each meal. You will not be able to avoid all your triggers so when you do encounter one just recognize it for what it is and realize it will pass. 

Step 4 

Ask for help. To quit smoking successfully you need the support of those around you. Let your loved ones and fellow workers know that you are trying to quit. Ask them to bear with you if you experience any crankiness during your withdrawal phase. If any of them are smokers, request they try to refrain from smoking while you are around them. Seek out a support group. There is nothing better than having someone who has gone through the same thing to guide you along. If you are not particularly a people person, try one of the online groups. You’re not in this alone and perhaps you can help someone else along the way!  Establishing a support system is one of the more important steps. 

So admit you are ready, find a nicotine replacement aid, recognize your triggers and ask for help. 

The road to beat your nicotine addiction may be a little hilly but keep driving forward. Stick to your method to quit smoking and you be rewarded with an awesome smoke free life.

Learn more about the Method to Quit Smoking! Take advantage of this exciting free trial offer for a Stop Smoking Aid

and be prepared to win your battle over nicotine!Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/quit-smoking-articles/method-to-quit-smoking-in-4-steps-1415775.html

It will most likely infect 30-40% of the U.S.
population, or about 100 million people, according to
flu expert Ira Longini, from the University of
Washington’s School of Public Health.

Initial supplies of the swine flu vaccine, which will
be available sometime between mid-September to late
October 2009, are expected to be very limited — barely
enough to inoculate the 160 million people who are at
high risk of becoming infected.  An even bigger concern
is whether the fast-tracked vaccine is safe and
effective — since it’s being rushed to market without
the appropriate testing and safety evaluations.

There is a growing suspicion in the general population
and among certain members of the medical community,
including Dr. Joseph Mercola, the publisher of a
popular self-titled natural health newsletter, that
being exposed to this new swine flu vaccine might prove
to be more dangerous than the swine flu itself.

A new book, “The One-Minute Cure: The Secret to
Healing Virtually All Diseases,” offers compelling
evidence that the swine flu virus can be rendered
powerless in the body when one self-administers a
natural oxygenating substance. Madison Cavanaugh, the
book’s author, states that public fear is incorrectly
placed on the swine influenza virus itself. “Microbes,
germs, harmful bacteria and viruses, such as the swine
influenza virus, do not cause disease in and of
themselves,” Cavanaugh states.

“They do seek their natural habitat — such as an
oxygen-deficient body — rather than being the CAUSE of
the disease. It’s no different from the way mosquitoes
seek out stagnant water, but do not cause the pool to
become stagnant.”

Cavanaugh’s assertion is consistent with the findings
of Dr. Rudolf Virchow (1821 – 1902), also called the
“Father of Pathology.”

It is also supported by Louis Pasteur, the notable
19th century French chemist and microbiologist best
known for his remarkable breakthroughs in the causes
and prevention of disease, who recanted his germ theory
of disease at his deathbed, stating, “The microbe is
nothing. The terrain is everything.”

The terrain of which Pasteur spoke refers to an
oxygenated environment in the human body, which makes
for a strong immune system. A weakened or suppressed
state of the immune system only occurs when the human
body lacks oxygen, thereby allowing viruses, such as
the swine influenza virus, to breed.

It therefore stands to reason that the swine flu
virus does not CAUSE disease, but rather seeks out an
environment where it can thrive best — and that is in
oxygen-deprived bodies.

“A sufficiently oxygenated body is uninhabitable by
disease,” Cavanaugh states, and viruses can neither
survive nor thrive in it. Therefore, the best defense
against microbes, germs, harmful bacteria and viruses,
such as the swine flu virus, is to keep the body
oxygenated.”

Cavanaugh’s book, “The One-Minute Cure,” discusses
the therapeutic use of the only natural substance which
stimulates the movement of oxygen atoms from the
bloodstream to the cells to a dramatically greater
degree than is usually reached by other means.

The natural remedy can be self-administered at home
in less than a minute, and costs only 1-1/2 cents a day
to use.

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© 2003-2009 World Marketing Media, Inc.

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One of the insidious things about smoking cigarettes is that it takes a long time for the serious health effects to be noticed by the smoker even though damage occurs with each cigarette smoked. By the time the smoker notices health issues, serious health damage has occurred; damage that could have been avoided if they had stopped smoking years earlier.

Fortunately, there are obvious external effects of smoking cigarettes that warn the smoker years in advance of the damage that is happening to them internally. The problem is the smoker doesn’t realize that cigarettes are causing these external changes. This article will alert the smoker to an external effect of smoking: accelerated aging. This is something the smoker can see every time they look in the mirror. The change the smoker sees on the outside is a reflection of what is going on inside their body!

The False Sense of Security with Smoking

When you look at young smokers, you see people that don’t believe smoking cigarettes is a serious health threat to themselves. These young smokers think that because they go to the gym, play sports and go about their daily routine without any obvious negative effects, they are somehow spared the health consequences of smoking. Sadly this isn’t so.

It usually takes about 30 plus years of smoking to develop the really serious diseases that are associated with smoking cigarettes. For a 25 year old that has been smoking for 10 years, twenty years in the future is a long time.

Yet, that 10 years of smoking has already taken its toll. If the young smoker stopped ignoring the changes that cigarettes produce in their body, they would see that they are affected. If they realized what they were looking at, they would see the effects of cigarette smoking every time they looked in the mirror!

Do You Look Older than Your Years?

It’s ironic that one of the reasons a 12-15 year old starts smoking is to look older. When they start smoking at this early age, they don’t realize that smoking cigarettes will actually make them look older and BE older because of accelerated aging!

As a student of history and a photographer, I have always been fascinated by images from the past. I am grateful to all the photographers before me that took the time to preserve memories of day to day places and people that no longer exist; the everyday life that most of us take for granted. This preservation allows us to visually experience another time.

One of the things I have noticed when studying images from the 1920′s through the 1970′s is that the people look really old. When you look at a picture of a man and guess 55 years of age, it’s shocking to find that person is only 23 years old!

What accounts for this great difference in appearance versus age? Cigarette smoking! Research shows it accelerates aging. The images from the era when 44% of the population smoked cigarettes clearly shows this phenomena.

Smoking Cigarettes Causes Accelerated Aging

Our skin is the canvas that displays the picture of our health status. Smoking makes a person look much older. The longer a person smokes, the faster they show signs of aging. Research finds that not only does smoking contribute to premature facial wrinkles but also wrinkling of skin in other areas such as the inner arm. Look at your arms smoking ladies!

Another effect smoking has on the skin is developing psoriasis, a very unsightly and unpleasant skin ailment. The higher the number of cigarettes smoked over a pack per day, the greater the risk of developing this miserable skin condition, e.g. itching and burning. You can always tell a smoker, other than by the odor which is another article, because their skin has an unhealthy tone to it as well as wrinkles.

If you want to see a clear example of the aging effects of smoking, look at pictures of famous people who smoked. One of the clearest examples is President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He was noted for his cigarette holder and there are numerous photographs of him smoking! He died of a stroke, a health condition associated with long term smoking, in 1945 at the age of 63. Look at the pictures of him in the last few years of his life. Rather than 63, he looks more like 93.

You can find many, many other examples in old photographs from the era when 44% of the population smoked. Look at the picture, guess the age and then see how old the person really was when the photograph was taken. Smoking does age you!

Is it Male Pattern Baldness or Cigarettes?

Even your hair dresser won’t know for sure! People are surprised to find that smoking affects their hair but research shows it does in several ways.

As a smoker of 10 or more years, do you find some gray hair beginning to show up? Most smokers do because research has shown that smokers are three to six times more likely to go prematurely gray than non-smokers. Another effect on the hair is that men who smoke are twice as likely to become bald as men who don’t smoke. Does this just apply to men? Or is this a reason why older women who smoke have thinning hair?

Although the smoker can ignore their skin changes because it’s gradual, they cannot ignore gray hair. However, the smoker just attributes this to getting older. They don’t realize that it’s not normal for people to start getting gray hair in their 20′s and 30′s. This is not a sign of getting older, it’s a sign of smoking!

How Does Smoking Affect Your Mouth?

Obviously, that harsh, polluted cigarette smoke passes into the lungs through the mouth. Smoking can’t help but stain your teeth which also adds to the appearance of being older than you are.

Of course, there is the awful “cigarette” breath as well. In addition to the bad breath, smoking also puts you at great risk for all sorts of dental problems, including oral cancer and gum disease.

Teeth and gum problems are another symptom associated with old age. Yet, this is happening to smokers early in their life.

Does Smoking Really Shorten Your Life?

In a word, YES! In addition to making the smoker look older, research shows that the smoker actually IS older.

A report in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed that men who never smoked lived an average of 10 years longer than their peers who smoked. YES, smoking really does shorten your life! Also, the non-smokers enjoyed a higher quality of life throughout those extra years.

Conclusion

You do not have to wait for 30 plus years to see the impact that cigarettes are having on your body. If you’ve smoked for 10 years or more, you can look in the mirror and see the effects today!

Facial wrinkles, gray hair and even baldness at a young age are the outwards signs of the internal damage caused by cigarettes. If you think the external body changes are simply the result of aging, you need to think again. These outward signs are more than cosmetic issues. They are a visible warning alerting you to the internal damage that smoking cigarettes is causing to your body. The sooner cigarettes are removed from your life, the sooner your body can begin to repair itself. Don’t wait until it’s too late, pay attention to these important signs today!

(c) Copyright 2009, R. Michael Stone

R. Michael Stone, M.S. – Counselor
Creator of The Unlearn Smoking Success System(tm) – Become not an ex-smoker but a NON-smoker in only 28 days.
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