Posts tagged ‘Understand’

Creatively Using a Nicotine Test Kit to Help Quit Smoking

A home nicotine test kit which gives instant results could be an incentive to quit smoking and refrain from relapse once your quit smoking goal has been achieved.

The key to successfully stop smoking is to have a quit smoking strategy which includes a quit date and the notification of family, friends and coworkers of your stop smoking plans with a request for support and understanding. In addition to moral support and encouragement, motivation in the form of measurable benefits is also an important ingredient of a successful quit smoking endeavor.

As with any undertaking that requires continuous effort and commitment, the main motivation to continue the effort is measurable benefit(s), such as the achievement of a desired weight from a weight loss program, obtaining a grade of A on an examination after extensive studying or receiving a job promotion for diligent performance. Although blood pressure and heart rate decrease within 20 minutes of stopping smoking, these are the only benefits that are immediately measurable.  Improved circulation which also occurs within 20 minutes of stopping smoking is not measurable, and other benefits such as improvement of cough and shortness of breath take weeks to months to be appreciated.  Other benefits such as reduced risk of cancer, stroke and heart disease occur one to several years after one has stopped smoking.

Home urine nicotine test kits measure cotinine, a metabolite or breakdown product of nicotine which is measureable in the urine for from five to seven days following tobacco use and is an indirect indicator of the concentration of nicotine in the body.  There is only one home urine nicotine test kit on the market which provides an immediate test result of the concentration of cotinine from which one’s level of tobacco exposure can be determined based on the cotinine concentration expressed in nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml) and the interpretation scale that accompanies the kit. A reading between 0 and 10 ng/ml is interpreted as a non-smoker with no nicotine exposure, whereas a result between 10 and 30 ng/ml is interpreted as a non-smoker with low passive nicotine exposure, also referred to as second-hand exposure.

Cotinine levels of between 30 and 100 ng/ml correlate with a non-smoker with higher degrees of passive nicotine exposure, and concentrations of 100 to 1000+ are interpreted as active smoking or use of tobacco products.

In this creative model the level of nicotine exposure of the person participating in the quit smoking plan, henceforth referred to as the subject, as well as family members and other household contacts is determined by performing nicotine tests with the instant quantitative home test kit at the beginning of the stop smoking program and continued until the smoker has successfully managed to stop smoking.

Testing the subject from start date to stop date is designed to provide motivation and positive feedback so important for successfully quitting smoking.  The testing of household contacts at or prior to the start date of the quit smoking campaign is for the purpose of providing the subject with added motivation to begin the quit smoking plan by providing measurable data showing the potential harm that his or her smoking habit poses for his or her dear ones if their test results are consistent with passive nicotine exposure. Daily urine testing of the subject with recordings of declining cotinine levels, providing nicotine use is at least decreasing, is designed to provide the smoker with measurable positive feedback to continue the quit smoking plan, even if the stop date has to be adjusted further into the future.

Daily or random testing of household contacts until the quit smoking date has been reached is designed to provide additional immediate gratitude and reward for the subject once the level of nicotine exposure of those individuals reaches the 0 to 10 ng/ml level.

Since relapse is a big problem with many smokers who have managed to stop initially, it would be reasonable for the former smoker to give family members and others in his or her support group permission to perform random quantitative urine nicotine testing as a surveillance safeguard and hopefully, a deterrent to relapse.  It is appropriate and recommended that your healthcare provider be involved in the nicotine testing and all aspects of the stop smoking plan if he or she is willing.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purpose only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical consultation with a qualified professional. The author encourages Internet users to be careful when using medical information and to consult your physician if you are unsure about your medical condition.

As a board certified internist I recognized the medical and economic burdens tobacco use places on society and the need to help patients stop smoking. To learn more about how nicotine test kits can be used as a tool to help stop smoking visit http://www.proactivehealthoutlet.com.

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Stop Smoking America – 4 Steps to Quit Smoking

I want to share 4 simple steps to quit smoking because the The Great American Smokeout day is approaching and it is time to stop smoking America! Instead of quitting for just a day, make it a lifetime commitment. I did it 15 years ago and you can too! Begin with these 4 simple steps. 

Step 1. 

Pick a quit day. You will have lots of support if you choose the Great American Smokeout day as your quit day. If that does not work for you, pick another day. Do not wait for the perfect day because that will never come. Just get a date in your head and circle it on the calendar! 

Step 2. 

Tell you friends, family and coworkers that you are planning to stop smoking. Tell them the quit day you have chosen and ask for their support and understanding while you wage your battle against nicotine. Sharing the fact that you are going to quit makes it more of a reality. 

Step 3. 

Find and join a support group for people trying to quit. It has been proven that joining one of these groups can raise the success rate of quitting for good. Nothing beats knowing you can turn to people who understand exactly what you are going through. In addition to the live group, enroll in an online stop smoking forum. The internet is a great place to escape to when cravings to light up hit! 

Step 4. 

Select a nicotine replacement aid. This is also another proven safe and effective way to quit. The aids can lessen your withdrawal symptoms making it easier to fight them. Remember, the withdrawal phase is a short one but it can be tough. A great aid on the market today is Miracet. Check it out and have it handy to support you during your first smokeless weeks. 

As you can tell from the 4 listed steps, support is the key factor. You may have been smoking alone for years but in order to quit successfully you will need help. Battling an addiction is not something you should attempt alone. Join a support group, let your friends and family do what they can to help and find a nicotine replacement aid that will work for you. 

Stay focused and determined. It is a great life when you are no longer dependant on those little cellophane packages of tobacco. It truly is time to stop smoking America and these 4 steps to quit smoking will help you reach your goal of a smokeless life!

It is time to Stop Smoking America! 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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Quit Smoking And See The Benefits

Do you know how to quit smoking once and for all?  We’re not talking about cutting back a little bit, occasionally sneaking a smoke here and there.  We’re talking about absolutely never, ever picking up a lighter again unless you’re about to light the grill for a cookout.  There’s a completely effortless way to get the Marlboro monkey off your back once and for all.

Die.

  1. It’ll kill you and you’ll never have the urge to light up again.

It may seem like a drastic approach, but it does have a 100% success rate.

Seriously, we can assume that you’d like to find out how to quit smoking in a way that doesn’t involve an early grave.  That is the smarter alternative.  Unfortunately, it’s also going to be a little more difficult.  While some people find giving up tobacco easier than they expected, most smokers will struggle like mad against their addiction.  For some, it will be the toughest thing they’ve ever accomplished.

That’s why it’s important for you to do more than listen to well-meaning people who want to tell you how to quit smoking.  While those folks have your best interests at heart, they don’t understand your relationship to tobacco or the nature of your addiction.  Both are extremely individual and personal.

You need to do your homework.  You need to evaluate a variety of “how to quit smoking” plans and find the one that resonates with you.  It may involve tapering consumption and supplementing with a nicotine substitute.  It may involve hypnosis.  You might feel like having a sponsor or a support group can help you get over the hump.  There are many different approaches available and it’s incumbent upon you to find the one that will meet your personal needs.

After you find that approach, you need to follow it.  Seriously.  Get yourself pumped up for the positive change and make a wholehearted commitment to seeing things through.  You’re going to be challenged and there will be a moment where making a 3:00 a.m. drive to convenience store for a pack of your favorites and a lighter seems like a good decision.  You need to follow through while using an approach that fits you like a glove.

You’re reading this.  That’s proof positive that you want to find out how to stop smoking.  Get started right now.

If you’re not willing to do that, there’s always the alternative.  No one smokes at his or her own funeral, after all.

Here is some more information in how to quit smoking and health insurance ireland.

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Conquering the Fear of Quitting Smoking

The addiction to nicotine is the world’s single most dangerous epidemic, and also, the most preventable.  Billions worldwide are addicted to nicotine, and many will try to quit dozens of times without success.  In this article, I hope to shed some light on the facts about your addiction, and also some ways of coping with the uncomfortable side effects of cessation.

Making the decision to quit is the easiest part, but actually putting down the cigarette and lighter can be a seemingly impossible undertaking.  It is understandable however, for smoking has been there when you needed it most.  When you are bored and waiting around in public, or stuck in traffic, or even getting off a long flight, the cigarettes are always there for you, easing the tension of daily life.  The first question I would like to present you with is this: “Does the actual act of cigarette smoking remove any stress from your life permanently?”  Permanently is the operative word there, because although cigarettes may distract you, they only serve to delay feelings of stress and anxiety.

Many people fear quitting for various reasons, and I will now address some of the more common concerns that those quitting are faced with, while laying out the facts for you.

1. “I’m afraid if I quit, I will gain a tremendous amount of weight!”

Weight gain is generally caused by your body trying to counter balance the loss of one addiction by replacing it with another.  When you smoke, the nicotine releases the blood suger from your pancreas into your blood stream, so when you quit smoking, you will begin to eat more regularly.  Keeping an eye on your diet and maintaining an exercise program can counter balance this symptom.

2.”The anxiety is simply too great, I need cigarettes because the withdrawal is unbearable!”

While the withdrawal can be very uncomfortable, bear in mind that these physical symptoms are very short term, and will only last for 3-7 days.  You have tricked your body into thinking it required something which it does not, so the discomfort is your body readjusting to a non chemical dependent status.

3.”How will I deal with stressful situations without cigarettes?”

Naturally, you have tricked yourself into believing that cigarettes help you deal with stress, but think back to before you were a smoker(if you can.)  How did you deal with stress?  Are you now, as a smoker, less stressed than you were before overall?  I can make a bet that most of you dealt with the same amount of stress before you were a smoker as you do now.

After addressing these concerns, the only way to quit smoking is to simply stop doing it.  As simple as it sounds, that is the truth.  There are many options and aids to help you quit smoking, but in my experience, the all natural method (no patches/gum) made me feel healthier, and actually helped me to stay quit much more effectively than common anti-smoking products.  Good luck to you in your life changing decision to quit, and look to your local department of health for further information.

For more information on how to quit smoking for good, visit my blog by clicking here!

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Conquering the Fear of Quiting Smoking

The addiction to nicotine is the world’s single most dangerous epidemic, and also, the most preventable.  Billions worldwide are addicted to nicotine, and many will try to quit dozens of times without success.  In this article, I hope to shed some light on the facts about your addiction, and also some ways of coping with the uncomfortable side effects of cessation.

Making the decision to quit is the easiest part, but actually putting down the cigarette and lighter can be a seemingly impossible undertaking.  It is understandable however, for smoking has been there when you needed it most.  When you are bored and waiting around in public, or stuck in traffic, or even getting off a long flight, the cigarettes are always there for you, easing the tension of daily life.  The first question I would like to present you with is this: “Does the actual act of cigarette smoking remove any stress from your life permanently?”  Permanently is the operative word there, because although cigarettes may distract you, they only serve to delay feelings of stress and anxiety.

Many people fear quitting for various reasons, and I will now address some of the more common concerns that those quitting are faced with, while laying out the facts for you.

1. “I’m afraid if I quit, I will gain a tremendous amount of weight!”

Weight gain is generally caused by your body trying to counter balance the loss of one addiction by replacing it with another.  When you smoke, the nicotine releases the blood suger from your pancreas into your blood stream, so when you quit smoking, you will begin to eat more regularly.  Keeping an eye on your diet and maintaining an exercise program can counter balance this symptom.

2.”The anxiety is simply too great, I need cigarettes because the withdrawal is unbearable!”

While the withdrawal can be very uncomfortable, bear in mind that these physical symptoms are very short term, and will only last for 3-7 days.  You have tricked your body into thinking it required something which it does not, so the discomfort is your body readjusting to a non chemical dependent status.

3.”How will I deal with stressful situations without cigarettes?”

Naturally, you have tricked yourself into believing that cigarettes help you deal with stress, but think back to before you were a smoker(if you can.)  How did you deal with stress?  Are you now, as a smoker, less stressed than you were before overall?  I can make a bet that most of you dealt with the same amount of stress before you were a smoker as you do now.

After addressing these concerns, the only way to quit smoking is to simply stop doing it.  As simple as it sounds, that is the truth.  There are many options and aids to help you quit smoking, but in my experience, the all natural method (no patches/gum) made me feel healthier, and actually helped me to stay quit much more effectively than common anti-smoking products.  Good luck to you in your life changing decision to quit, and look to your local department of health for further information.

For more information on how to quit smoking for good, visit my blog by clicking here!

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Stop Smoking Cold Turkey – Should You Try?

I have rarely met a smoker who has not tried to stop smoking cold turkey. As an ex smoker myself, I know how many times I tried this method and failed. The truth is only 10 percent of smokers who try any mehtod are successful on their first attempt .Why is it so difficult to stop smoking cold turkey compared to other ways? 

First you need to understand exactly why nicotine is so addictive in the first place. When you inhale, the nicotine from your cigarette causes receptors in your brain to release several chemicals, including dopamine which causes many of the good feeling you get when you smoke. Then when you quit your smokes, the lower levels of the same chemicals cause the miserable symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. These symptoms can begin as soon as four to six hours after your last cigarette and stay with you for a month or more.

 The withdrawal symptoms vary with each smoker but can include: 

            Overwhelming cravings to smoke
            Insomnia
            Tiredness
            Headache
            Cough
            Sore throat
            Tightness in the chest
            Dry Mouth 

So although they are temporary, you can see why such physical reactions could make you extremely uncomfortable. The more uncomfortable you are, the faster you will reach for a cigarette to relieve yourself of the unpleasantness of withdrawal. It can become a vicious circle. 

When I finally won my battle over nicotine addiction, it was with the help of a nicotine replacement aid. These aids work by giving you nicotine without having to smoke. You will be 50% to 100% more likely to quit using a nicotine replacement aid.

The aids come in different forms according to your individual lifestyle. You can choose from gum, patches, inhalers, lozenges, and sprays. New and improved products have hit the market since I quit but with a little research you can find the perfect aid for you. 

Arm yourself first with the nicotine replacement aid of your choice and then meet your challenge head on! I did it and I know you can too! The challenge to quit smoking is monumental. While every smoker would like to quit smoking cold turkey, it is certainly not the proven way to go nor is it the easiest.

Learn more about Stop Smoking Cold Turkey and take advantage of this exciting free trial offer for a Stop Smoking Aid

that will help you win your battle over nicotine!Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/quit-smoking-articles/stop-smoking-cold-turkey-should-you-try-1404820.html

Avoiding Stop Smoking Weight Gain

Although most smokers are well aware of the dangers of inhaling nicotine all day long for years and years, they are still hesitant to quit for fear of gaining a few pounds! That rationale hardly makes sense but as an ex smoker I can understand this train of thought. Some smokers use this reasoning as an excuse not to quit. They are the ones who are not ready for the challenge. However, if you are one of the committed ones and are ready to meet your nicotine addiction head on, I can give you a few tips on how to avoid the stop smoking weight gain. 

The simple fact is smokers who finally succeed in quitting average a weight gain of ten pounds. The reasons for this gain are also simple. 

If you are accustomed to having a cigarette in hand and in your mouth, you’re going to try to find a substitute. Also, since you are able to smell and taste better without the cigarettes, food will be your first, handiest, and tastiest resort. In addition, nicotine increases the metabolic rate so when you stop smoking, your metabolic rate goes down. Ending result? The additional ten pounds! 

Recognizing the facts about weight gain is the first step. Now let’s look at how to avoid it. 

Studies have proven that people who exercise while quitting smoking have a much lower weight gain and are twice as likely to stick with their stop smoking program than those who don’t. After you quit smoking, you will feel better and will probably look forward to adding exercise to your daily routine. 

Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fiber. Include whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables in your daily diet. Keep a food journal. 

Keep your mouth busy with hard sugar-free candies or gum. Carrot sticks are a great way to occupy your hands and your mouth.

Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. It will help your cravings to smoke as well as boost your metabolism. 

Allow time for a food craving to pass just as you would a cigarette craving. 

The whole process of quitting smoking is a challenge. Being aware of all the obstacles ahead of you will make the going easier. Follow the steps above and you will be able to quit without the stop smoking weight gain. Stay focused and determined. Recognize the obstacles and prepare yourself to overcome them! You can do! I’m betting on you!

 

 

 

Learn more about Stop Smoking Weight Gain! Take advantage of this exciting free trial offer for a smoke aid that will help ease your withdrawal symptoms Click Here!

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Stop Smoking With Hypnosis and Success Rates For Smoking Cessation With Hypnosis

Hypnosis is possibly one of the world’s oldest forms of preventive and alternative non-medicine induced method of healing. Most people have a misconception of hypnosis through a lack of understanding it. Some say it is the perfect form of persuasion. Maybe it is… maybe it isn’t , but whatever it is, it’s been proven to work. Hypnosis helps you to relax, allowing people to tap into their subconscious mind, to create new realities through images and results and eventually manifest them into their own lives.

Research studies show that during hypnosis, patients are given coping tools for withdrawal symptoms and the urge to smoke. The patient is given an audio cd of their training to continue their reinforcement of coping skills at home. It is hoped that over time the patient will gain increased confidence in their ability not to smoke. Hypnosis is gaining wider acceptance at some of the nations respected hospitals and medical research centers.

For women it may sometime seem more difficult to stop smoking. Studies speculate that the probable reasons might be due to the fact that women are more emotional and sensitive than men. Therefore a woman may smoke a cigarette a lot quicker than a man. Because of this sensitive nature in women, depression becomes another issue. Studies showed that hypnosis was helpful for would be quitters with a much higher success rate with hypnosis.

Most people start smoking young in years and continue across a lifetime; with multiple periods of remission and relapse.

Statistics released by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention show that more than 45 million people in the United States are smokers in spite of anti-smoking campaigns. Smoking remains the leading preventable cause of death.

Trying to quit smoking on your own has a far less success rate. Some researchers show that doing it on your own rates about 5%. Using hypnosis is above 66%, using behavior therapy about 25%, and using Nicotine Replacement Products about 25%.

The benefits of not smoking are priceless and life changing such as: adding more years onto your life and gaining self-respect. Your lungs will become cleaner and stronger. You will have more energy, more of a sense of accomplishment and more time for the things that you have always wanted to do. (smoking occupies a lot of time) There you have it… not only will you look and feel better…you get to keep money in your pocket.

Tammy Shadday St. Petersburg Florida Hypnotherapy St. Petersburg Florida Hypnosis Center

St. Petersburg Hypnosis CenterArticle Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/quit-smoking-articles/stop-smoking-with-hypnosis-and-success-rates-for-smoking-cessation-with-hypnosis-1392642.html

Can i really be successfull quitting smoking?

The most important is to know YOU CAN DO IT! Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your loved ones. To kick the habit for good, you need motivation, dependable real support, and sound strategies. We’ve got you covered with all three!

Before you start paying out money on any of the well known (and heavily advertised) stop smoking programs, you need to understand how your body has been managing your desire to smoke, and how you can use this information to your benefit.

Soon, in just some days, you will quit smoking and blow smoke away, and on your way back to better health Guaranteed! We guarantee you will quit smoking! Without buying any product, without paying any single dime, just devoting a bit time of your day and helping yourself to realize the upcoming results which

Ashley Keane helps people start an internet business they love, and grow it with email marketing tips on http://www.howcanidothe.info

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What are the best ways to quit smoking?

There are lots of people who really hope to quit smoking. Every cigarette addict recognise that smoking causes lung cancer, heart problems and can worsen a lot of other health problems. Yet they continue to smoke. You may be one such folk. You might have tried a lot of times, using a diverseness of ways, ranging from the ‘cold turkey’ approach to the quit smoking patches and gums. There is more quit smoking advice on the net than you can shake a stick at. If you fail, using one strategie or another, it’s a unacceptable experience, typically come with by a big self-inflicted guilt feelings. If you want to quit smoking, you need to understand that the best ways to quit smoking fit your individual physical make-up and psychical profile.

Your doctor may have told you that the patches or glues were one of the best strategies to quit smoking, with a high success rate. A friend may have endorsed the ‘cold turkey’ method, with a supercilious, “Just mind over matter!” So why did not either of these work for you? The truth is that, people are individuals. What works for one person may not work for another.

When I stopped smoking, now long time ago, I first come with the patches, appointed by my doctor. I was appointed  a certain dosage which corresponded with the amount I was smoking. Sounded good. Gradually drop-off the nicotine, alleviating the withdrawal factor and I’d be home free, right? Wrong.

Maybe they have improved the product or the delivery system now, but my experience was bad news. Within one-half hour of affixing the patch to my arm, I felt like someone had injected me with nicotine. I was absolutely overwhelmed with a nicotine rush that had me sticking out of my skin! That patch went over in a blink of an eye! Back to the drafting board. The doctor importuned that the dose was correct. $50 down the drain. Decided to give the gum a shot, with around the same result. This was unquestionably not one of the better strategies to quit smoking, at least not for me.

Then I tried a quit smoking hypnosis seminar, which I attended with a like-minded friend. By the end of the 2 hour seminar, the thought of smoking a cigaret was anathema to me. It run! My pleasure at being so easily relieved from my insalubrious, compulsive habit was short-lived. My friend and I went to an outdoorsy coffee shop for lunch. As we finished, to my amazement, my friend lit up! Not only that, but she pulled out another one and said, “Oh, c’mon! One’s not going to hurt! C’mon!” Mayhap the hypnosis required time to settle into the unconscious. I took the smoke and that was that. I was very angry with her and myself.

So it’s easy to see that while the methodsand  paths to quit smoking are many, you need to do a little research and decide on which of those ways to quit smoking might work best for you. You can make this determination more easy by doing a little investigatory work. Do scary pictures of lung cancer x-rays gross you out? Google some images and tack them up above your desk for inspiration and motivation. How about an online quit smoking support group or forum? Browse a bookstall for a self-help book on ways to quit smoking. Eventually, you’ll find resources that motivate you.

Thus, you might be wondering as to what I found to be the most working strategies to quit smoking, for me: having found that the name-brand cigarettes contained anywhere from 500 to 1100 (!) chemicals, as well the nicotine, I converted to an all natural 100% baccy smoke. The withdrawal experienced was from the chemicals! Then I switched to herbal substitutes, which didn’t taste very well. Then I quit smoking altogether!
Talk to your doctor, join a stop smoking forum and read up on the effects of this nasty and costly habit. Find your personal motivating and what greatest helps address your triggers. That is when you’ll find your greatest  strategies to stop smoking. You can do it!

kayla has been writing articles online for nearly 5 years now. Not only does this
author specialize in weight loss,fitness and diet, you can as well check out his latest website on dog bark collar , dog training shock collar and outdoor cat enclosure

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