Introduction The US Surgeon General has stated, "Smoking cessation (stopping smoking) represents the single most important step that smokers can take to enhance the length and quality of their lives." Quitting smoking is not easy, but you can do it. To have the best chance of quitting successfully, you need to know what you're up against, what your options are, and where to go for help. You'll find this information here. Why Is It So Hard to Quit Smoking? Mark Twain said, "Quitting smoking is easy. I've done it a thousand times. " Maybe you've tried to quit, too. Why is quitting and staying quit hard for so many people? The answer is nicotine. Nicotine Nicotine is a drug found naturally in tobacco. It is highly addictive -- as addictive as heroin or cocaine. Over time, a person becomes physically and emotionally addicted to, or dependent on, nicotine. Studies have shown that smokers must deal with both the physical and psychological dependence to be successful at quitting and staying quit. Nicotine Goes Where and How Long it Stays When you inhale smoke, nicotine is carried deep into your lungs, where it is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and carried throughout your body. Nicotine affects many parts of the body, including your heart and blood vessels, your hormonal system, your metabolism, and your brain. Nicotine can be found in breast milk and even in cervix mucus secretions of smokers. During pregnancy, nicotine freely crosses the placenta and has been found in the amniotic fluid and umbilical cord blood of newborn infants. Several different factors can affect how long it takes the body to remove nicotine and its by-products. In general, a regular smoker will have nicotine or its by-products, such as cotinine, in the body for about 3 to 4 days after stopping. How Nicotine Hooks Smokers Nicotine produces pleasant feelings that make the smoker want to smoke more. It also acts as a kind of depressant by interfering with the flow of information between nerve cells. As the nervous system adapts to nicotine, smokers tend to increase the number of cigarettes they smoke, and therefore the amount of nicotine in their blood. After a while, the smoker develops a tolerance to the drug, which leads to an increase in smoking over time. Over time, the smoker reaches a certain level and then nicotine smokes to maintain this level of nicotine. In fact, nicotine, when inhaled in cigarette smoke, reaches the brain faster than drugs that enter the body intravenously (IV). Nicotine Withdrawal When smokers try to cut back or quit, the lack of nicotine leads to withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal is both physical and mental. Physically, the body reacts to the absence of nicotine. Mentally, the smoker is faced with giving up a habit, which calls for a major change in behavior. Both must be addressed in order for the process to quitting work. If a person has smoked regularly for a few weeks or longer and suddenly stops using tobacco or greatly reduces the amount smoked, they will have withdrawal symptoms. Symptoms usually start within a few hours of the last cigarette and peak about 2 to 3 days later. Withdrawal symptoms can last for a few days to up to several weeks. Withdrawal symptoms can include any of the following: Dizziness (which may only last 1-2 days after quitting) Depression Feelings of frustration, impatience and anger Anxiety Irritability Sleep disturbances, including having trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, and having bad dreams or even nightmares Trouble concentrating Restlessness Headaches Tiredness Increased appetite These symptoms can lead the smoker to start smoking cigarettes again to boost blood levels of nicotine back to a level where there are no symptoms. Smoking also makes your body get rid of some drugs faster than usual. When you quit smoking, it changes the way your body handles these medicines. Ask your doctor if any medicines you take regularly need to be checked or changed after you quit. Why Should I Quit? Your Health Health concerns usually top the list of reasons people give for quitting smoking. This is a very real concern: About half of all smokers who continue to smoke will end up dying from a smoking-related illness. Cancer Nearly everyone knows that smoking can cause lung cancer, but few people realize it is also a risk factor for many other kinds of cancer as well, including cancer of the mouth, voice box (larynx), throat (pharynx), esophagus, bladder, kidney, pancreas, cervix, stomach, and some leukemias. Lung Diseases Pneumonia has been included in the list of diseases caused by smoking since 2004. Smoking also increases your risk of getting lung diseases such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. These diseases are grouped together under the term COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). COPD causes chronic illness and disability, and worsens over time - sometimes becoming fatal. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis can be found in people as young as 40, but are more commonly diagnosed later in life, when the symptoms are more severe. Long term smokers have the highest risk of developing severe COPD. Heart Attacks, Strokes, and Blood Vessel Diseases Smokers are twice as likely to die from heart attacks as are non-smokers. And smoking is a major risk factor for peripheral vascular disease, a narrowing of the blood vessels that carry blood to the leg and arm muscles. Smoking also affects the walls of the vessels that carry blood to the brain (carotid arteries), which can cause strokes. Men who smoke are more likely to develop erectile dysfunction (impotence) because of blood vessel disease. Blindness and Other Problems Smoking also causes premature wrinkling of the skin, bad breath, bad smelling clothes and hair, yellow fingernails, and an increased risk of macular degeneration, one of the most common causes of blindness in the elderly. Special Risks to Women and Babies Women have some unique risks linked to smoking. Women over 35 who smoke and use birth control pills have a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, and blood clots of the legs. Women who smoke are more likely to have a miscarriage or a lower birth-weight baby. Low birth-weight babies are more likely to die or have learning and physical problems. Years of Life Lost Due to Smoking Based on data collected in the late 1990s, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that adult male smokers lost an average of 13.2 years of life and female smokers lost 14.5 years of life because of smoking. And given the diseases that smoking can cause, it can steal your quality of life long before you die. Smoking-related illness can limit your activities by making it harder to breathe, get around, work, or play. Why Quit? No matter how old you are or how long you've smoked, quitting will help you live longer. People who stop smoking before age 50 cut their risk of dying in the next 15 years in half compared with those who continue to smoke. Ex-smokers enjoy a higher quality of life with fewer illnesses from cold and flu viruses, better self-reported health, and reduced rates of bronchitis and pneumonia. For decades the Surgeon General has reported the health risks linked to smoking. In 1990, the Surgeon General concluded: Quitting smoking has major and immediate health benefits for men and women of all ages. Benefits apply to people with and without smoking-related disease. Former smokers live longer than people who keep smoking. Quitting smoking decreases the risk of lung cancer, other cancers, heart attack, stroke, and chronic lung disease. Women who stop smoking before pregnancy or during the first 3 to 4 months of pregnancy reduce their risk of having a low birth-weight baby to that of women who never smoked. The health benefits of quitting smoking are far greater than any risks from the small weight gain (usually less than 10 pounds) or any emotional or psychological problems that may follow quitting. 20 minutes after quitting: Your heart rate and blood pressure drops. (Effect of Smoking on Arterial Stiffness and Pressure Pulse Amplification, Mahmud, A, Feely, J. 2003. Hypertension: 41:183). 12 hours after quitting: The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal. (US Surgeon General's Report, 1988, p. 202) 2 weeks to 3 months after quitting: Your circulation improves and your lung function increases. (US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, pp.193, 194.196, 285, 323) 1 to 9 months after quitting: Coughing and shortness of breath decrease; Cilia (tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection. (US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, pp. 285-287, 304) 1 year after quitting: The excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker's. (US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, p. vi) 5 years after quitting: Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker 5 to 15 years after quitting. (US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, p. vi) 10 years after quitting: The lung cancer death rate is about half that of a continuing smoker's. The risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix, and pancreas decrease. (US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, pp. Vi, 131, 148, 152, 155, 164.166) 15 years after quitting: The risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker's. (US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, p. vi) Immediate Rewards of Quitting Kicking the tobacco habit offers some benefits that you'll notice right away and some that will develop over time. These rewards can improve your day-to-day life a great deal. Your breath smells better Stained teeth get whiter Bad smelling clothes and hair go away Your yellow fingers and fingernails disappear Food tastes better Your sense of smell returns to normal Everyday activities no longer leave you out of breath (for example, climbing stairs or light housework). Cost The prospect of better health is a major reason for quitting, but there are other reasons, too. Smoking is expensive. It is not hard to figure out how much you spend on smoking: multiply how much money you spend on tobacco every day by 365 (days per year). The amount may surprise you. Now multiply that by the number of years you have been using tobacco and that amount will probably shock you. Multiply the cost per year by 10 (for the upcoming 10 years) and ask yourself what you would rather do with that much money. And this does not include other possible costs, such as higher costs for health and life insurance, and health care costs likely due to tobacco-related problems. Social Acceptance Smoking is less socially acceptable now than it was in the past. Almost all workplaces have some kind of smoking rules. Some employers even prefer to hire non-smokers. Studies show smoking employees cost businesses more to employ because they are out sick more. Employees who are ill more often than others can raise an employer's need for expensive short-term replacement workers. They can both increase insurance costs for other employees and for the employer, who often country part of the workers' insurance premiums. Smokers in a building also can increase the maintenance costs of keeping down odors, since residue from cigarette smoke clings to carpets, drapes, and other fabrics. Landlords may choose not to rent to smokers since maintenance costs and insurance rates may rise when smokers occupy buildings. Friends may ask you not to smoke in their homes or cars. Public buildings, concerts, and even sporting events are largely smoke-free. And more and more communities are restricting smoking in all public places, including restaurants and bars. Like it or not, finding a place to smoke can be a hassle. Smokers may also find their prospects for dating or romantic involvement, including marriage, are largely limited to other smokers, who make up only about 21% of the adult population. Health of Others Smoking not only harms your health but it hurts the health of those around you. Exposure to secondhand smoke (also called environmental tobacco smoke or passive smoking) includes exhaled smoke as well as smoke from burning cigarettes. Studies have shown that secondhand smoke causes thousands of deaths each year from lung cancer and heart disease in healthy non-smokers. If a mother smokes, there is a higher risk of her baby developing asthma in childhood, especially if she smoked while she was pregnant. Smoking is also linked to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and low-birth weight infants. Babies and children raised in a household where there is smoking have more ear infections, colds, bronchitis, and other lung and breathing problems than children from non-smoking families. Secondhand smoke can also cause eye irritation, headaches, nausea, and dizziness. Setting an Example If you have children, you probably want to set a good example for them. When asked, nearly all smokers say they do not want their children to smoke, but children whose parents smoke are more likely to start smoking themselves. You can become a good role model for them by quitting now. Help Is Available With the wide range of counseling services, self-help materials, and medicines available today, smokers have more tools than ever to help them quit smoking for good. Remember, tobacco addiction has both a psychological and a physical component. For most people, the best way to quit will be some combination of medicine, a method to change personal habits, and emotional support. The following sections describe these tools and how they may be helpful to you. Psychological Help With Addiction Some people are able to quit on their own, without the help of others or the use of medicines. But for many smokers, it can be hard to break the social and emotional ties to smoking while getting over nicotine withdrawal symptoms at the same time. Fortunately, there are many sources of support out there -- both formal and informal. Telephone-based Help to Stop Smoking Most states run some type of free telephone program, such as the American Cancer Society's Quitline ® tobacco cessation program that links callers with trained counselors. These specialists help plan a quit method that fits each person's unique smoking pattern. People who use telephone counseling stop smoking at twice the rate of those who do not get this type of help. With guidance from a counselor, quitters can avoid common mistakes that may self-destructIntroduction The Surgeon General of the United States said: "Smoking cessation (stopping smoking) represents the most important step that smokers can take to improve the length and quality of their lives." Quitting is not easy, but you can do it. To have the best chance of success, you have to know that you are against, what are your options, and where to turn for help. This information can be found here. Why is it so hard to quit smoking? Mark Twain said, "Quitting smoking is easy. I did it a thousand times. "Maybe you tried to quit smoking, too. Why leave and leave to remain difficult for so many people? The answer is nicotine. Nicotine Nicotine is a drug found naturally in tobacco. It is highly addictive -- as addictive as heroin or cocaine. Over time, a person becomes physically and emotionally dependent on or addicted to nicotine. Studies have shown that smokers have to deal with both the physical and psychological dependence to successfully abandonment and stay quit. Where is nicotine and duration of presence When you inhale smoke, nicotine is deeply in the lungs, where it is rapidly absorbed into the blood and transported into the body. Nicotine affects many parts of the body, including your heart and blood vessels, the hormonal system, your metabolism and your brain. Nicotine can be found in breast milk and even in the cervical mucus secretions smokers. During pregnancy, nicotine freely crosses the placenta and has been found in the amniotic fluid and umbilical cord blood of newborns. Several factors can affect the time it takes the body to remove nicotine and its derivatives. In general, a regular smokers have nicotine or its derivatives, such as cotinine, in the body for about 3 to 4 days after the judgment. How hooks nicotine smokers Nicotine produces pleasant feelings that make smokers want to smoke more. It also acts as a kind of depressant by interfering with the flow of information between nerve cells. As the nervous system adapts to nicotine, smokers tend to increase the number of cigarettes they smoke, and therefore the amount of nicotine in the blood. After some time, the smoker develops a tolerance to the drug, leading to an increase in smoking over time. Over time, the smoker reaches a certain level of nicotine, and smokes to maintain that level of nicotine. In fact, nicotine, by inhalation of cigarette smoke, reaches the brain faster than drugs that enter the body intravenously (IV). Nicotine Withdrawal Smokers who try to reduce or stop, the lack of nicotine leads to withdrawal symptoms. The withdrawal is both physical and mental. Physically, the body reacts to the absence of nicotine. Mentally, the smoker is faced with giving up the habit, which implies a significant change in behavior. Both need to be addressed so that the abandonment of the work process. If a person has smoked regularly for a few weeks or more and suddenly stops using tobacco or greatly reduces the number of cigarettes smoked, they will have withdrawal symptoms. Symptoms usually start within a few hours of the last cigarette and peak around 2 to 3 days later. Withdrawal symptoms can last from a few days to several weeks. Withdrawal symptoms may include any of the following characteristics: Dizziness (which may only last 1-2 days of the judgment) Depression Feelings of frustration, impatience and anger Anxiety Irritability Sleep disorders, including difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep, and having bad dreams, or even nightmares Concentration Problems Agitation Headaches Fatigue Increased appetite These symptoms can lead smokers to start smoking cigarettes again to increase blood levels of nicotine back to a level where there are no symptoms. Smoking also makes your body to get rid of certain drugs more quickly than usual. When you stop smoking, it changes the way your body handles these drugs. Ask your doctor if you are taking medication regularly need to be checked or modified after quitting. Why should I stop? Your Health Health concerns usually top the list of reasons people give to quit. It is a very real concern: About half of all smokers who continue to smoke will eventually die from a tobacco-related disease. Cancer Almost everyone knows that smoking can cause lung cancer, but few people realize he is also a risk factor for many other types of cancer as well, including cancer of the mouth, the larynx (voice box), throat (pharynx), esophagus, bladder, Reins, pancreas, cervix, stomach, and certain types of leukemia. Pulmonary Diseases Pneumonia was included in the list of diseases caused by smoking since 2004. Smoking also increases the risk of developing lung diseases such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. These diseases are grouped under the term COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). COPD because of a chronic illness and disability, and worsens over time - sometimes be fatal. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis can be found in people as young as 40, but are more frequently diagnosed later in life when the symptoms are more severe. Long-term smokers have the highest risk of developing severe COPD. Heart attacks, stroke and blood diseases Vessel Smokers are twice as likely to die from a heart attack as nonsmokers. And smoking is a major risk factor for peripheral vascular disease, a narrowing of blood vessels that carry blood to the leg and arm. Smoking also affects the walls of the vessels that carry blood to the brain (carotid arteries), which can cause stroke. Men who smoke are more likely to develop erectile dysfunction (impotence) because of the disease of the blood vessels. Blindness and other problems Smoking also causes premature wrinkling of the skin, bad breath, bad smelling clothes and hair, nails yellow, and an increased risk of macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness among the elderly. Risks for women and babies Some women have specific risks related to smoking. Women over 35 smoking and use of oral contraceptives have a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, blood clots and legs. Women who smoke are more likely to have a miscarriage or birth weight baby lower. Low birth-weight babies are more likely to die or have learning difficulties and physical problems. Years of life lost due to smoking Based on data collected in the late 1990, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that smokers adult males lost an average of 13.2 years of life and women smokers lost 14 , 5 years of life because of smoking. And given the diseases that smoking can cause, it can steal your quality of life long before dying. A tobacco-related disease may limit your activities by making it more difficult to breathe, move, work or play. Quit Why? No matter how old you are or how long you have smoked, you help the abandonment live longer. People who stop smoking before age 50 cut their risk of dying in the next 15 years by half compared with those who continue to smoke. Ex-smokers enjoy a better quality of life with fewer diseases from the cold and flu viruses, better self-health, and reduced rates of bronchitis and pneumonia. For decades, the Surgeon General has reported the health hazards related to smoking. In 1990, the Surgeon General concluded: Quitting smoking has major advantages immediate health and for the men and women of all ages. Benefits apply to persons with and without smoking-related illnesses. Former smokers live longer than people who continue to smoke. Quitting smoking decreases the risk of lung cancer, other cancers, heart attacks, stroke, and chronic lung disease. Women who stop smoking before pregnancy or during the first 3 to 4 months of pregnancy reduce their risk of having a low birth weight baby than women who have never smoked. The health benefits of quitting are far greater than the risks of early weight gain (usually less than 10 pounds) or any psychological or emotional problems that may arise from neglect. 20 minutes after the abandonment: Your heart rate and blood pressure decreases. (Effects of Smoking on Arterial Stiffness and Pulse Amplification pressure, Mahmud A Feely, J. 2003. Hypertension: 41:183). 12 hours after the abandonment: The level of carbon monoxide in your blood decreases to normal. (US Surgeon General's Report, 1988, p. 202) 2 weeks to 3 months after the abandonment: Your circulation improves and your lung function increases. (US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, pp.193, 194,196, 285, 323) 1 to 9 months after the abandonment: The cough and shortness of breath decrease; Ciliaire (tiny hair like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean lungs, and reduce the risk of infection. (US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, pp. 285-287, 304) 1 year after quitting: The excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker. (US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, p. vi) 5 years after abandonment: Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a non-smoker 5 to 15 years after quitting. (US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, p. vi) 10 years after abandonment, the death rate from lung cancer is about half that of a smoker. The risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix and pancreas decreases. (US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, pp. VI, 131, 148, 152, 155, 164,166) 15 years after abandonment: The risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker. (US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, p. vi) Immediate Rewards of quitting Kicking the habit of smoking offers some advantages that you will notice immediately and others that will develop over time. These rewards can improve your daily life very much. Your breath smells better Tachées get whiter teeth Bad smell clothes and hair disappear Your fingers and nails yellow disappear The food tastes better Your sense of smell returns to normal Daily Activities no longer leave you out of breath (for example, climb stairs or household). Cost The prospect of better health is a major cause of abandonment, but there are other reasons, too. Smoking is expensive. It is not difficult to imagine how much you spend on smoking: multiply how much money spent on tobacco every day by 365 (days per year). The amount may surprise you. Now multiply that by the number of years you use tobacco and that amount will probably shock you. Multiply the cost per year by 10 (for the next 10 years), and wonder what you would do with a lot of money. And that does not include any other costs, such as higher costs for health and life insurance, and probably the cost of health care because of problems related to smoking. Social Acceptance Smoking is less socially acceptable now than it was in the past. Almost all workplaces have some kind of smoking rules. Some employers prefer to hire even nonsmokers. Studies show smoking employees cost businesses more to use because they are no more sick. Employees who are sick more often than others might pose an employer requires costly short-term replacement workers. They can increase the cost of insurance for other employees and the employer who pays workers often part of insurance premiums. Smokers in a building can increase maintenance costs to keep the odor down, as the residue of cigarette smoke clings to carpets, curtains and other tissues. The owners may choose not to rent to smokers because maintenance costs and insurance rates may increase when smokers occupy buildings. Friends may ask you not to smoke in their homes or cars. Some public buildings, concerts and sporting events are largely smoke-free. And more and more communities are restricting smoking in all public places, including restaurants and bars. Like it or not, finding a place to smoke can be a hassle. Smokers may also find their prospects for dating or romantic involvement, including marriage, are largely restricted to other smokers, who make up only about 21% of the adult population. The health of others Smoking night not only to your health, but it hurts the health of those around you. Exposure to secondhand smoke (also known as environmental tobacco smoke or passive smoking) has expired smoke and the smoke from burning cigarettes. Studies have shown that secondhand smoke causes thousands of deaths each year from lung cancer and heart disease in healthy nonsmokers. If the mother smokes, there is a higher risk of the baby developing asthma in childhood, especially if she smoked while she was pregnant. Smoking is also linked to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and low birth weight. Babies and children raised in a household where there is smoking have more ear infections, colds, bronchitis, and other lung and respiratory problems than children from non-smoking families. In tobacco smoke can also cause eye irritation, headaches, nausea and dizziness. Setting an Example If you have children, you probably want to set a good example for them. When asked, nearly all smokers say they do not want their children to smoke, but children whose parents smoke are more likely to start smoking themselves. You can become a good role model for them by abandoning now. Help is available Thanks to the wide range of counseling services, self-help materials, and medicines available today, smokers have more tools than ever to help them quit smoking for good. Remember, smoking is both psychological and physical. Pour la plupart des gens, la meilleure façon d'arrêter de fumer sera une combinaison de la médecine, une méthode pour modifier ses habitudes, et un soutien affectif. Les sections suivantes décrivent ces outils et comment ils peuvent être utiles pour vous. Aide à la dépendance psychologique Certaines personnes sont en mesure de quitter de leur propre chef, sans l'aide d'autrui ou à l'utilisation des médicaments. Mais pour de nombreux fumeurs, il peut être difficile de briser le lien social et affectif à l'égard du tabac tout en finissant sur les symptômes de sevrage de nicotine, dans le même temps. Heureusement, il existe de nombreuses sources d'appui qui existe -- la fois formelles et informelles. Téléphone fondée sur Aide pour cesser de fumer La plupart des États exécuter un certain type de téléphone gratuit à base de programme, telles que l'American Cancer Society's Quitline ® sevrage tabagique programme qui fait le lien avec les appels formés conseillers. Ces spécialistes aider à planifier une méthode qui convient à quitter chaque personne est unique modèle de fumer. Les personnes qui ont recours au téléphone conseils arrêter de fumer deux fois plus vite que ceux qui ne reçoivent pas ce type d'aide. Avec des conseils d'un conseiller, quitters permet d'éviter les erreurs qui peuvent s'autodétruire quitter une tentative. Arabic to English BETAChinese to English BETAChinese (Simplified to Traditional) BETAChinese (Traditional to Simplified) BETAEnglish to Arabic BETAEnglish to Chinese (Simplified) BETAEnglish to Chinese (Traditional) BETAEnglish to FrenchEnglish to GermanEnglish to ItalianEnglish to Japanese BETAEnglish to Korean BETAEnglish to PortugueseEnglish to Russian BETAEnglish to SpanishFrench to EnglishFrench to GermanGerman to EnglishGerman to FrenchItalian to EnglishJapanese to English BETAKorean to English BETAPortuguese to EnglishRussian to English BETASpanish to English a quit attempt.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Guide to Quitting Smoking
Introduction The US Surgeon General has stated, "Smoking cessation (stopping smoking) represents the single most important step that smokers can take to enhance the length and quality of their lives." Quitting smoking is not easy, but you can do it. To have the best chance of quitting successfully, you need to know what you're up against, what your options are, and where to go for help. You'll find this information here. Why Is It So Hard to Quit Smoking? Mark Twain said, "Quitting smoking is easy. I've done it a thousand times. " Maybe you've tried to quit, too. Why is quitting and staying quit hard for so many people? The answer is nicotine. Nicotine Nicotine is a drug found naturally in tobacco. It is highly addictive -- as addictive as heroin or cocaine. Over time, a person becomes physically and emotionally addicted to, or dependent on, nicotine. Studies have shown that smokers must deal with both the physical and psychological dependence to be successful at quitting and staying quit. Nicotine Goes Where and How Long it Stays When you inhale smoke, nicotine is carried deep into your lungs, where it is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and carried throughout your body. Nicotine affects many parts of the body, including your heart and blood vessels, your hormonal system, your metabolism, and your brain. Nicotine can be found in breast milk and even in cervix mucus secretions of smokers. During pregnancy, nicotine freely crosses the placenta and has been found in the amniotic fluid and umbilical cord blood of newborn infants. Several different factors can affect how long it takes the body to remove nicotine and its by-products. In general, a regular smoker will have nicotine or its by-products, such as cotinine, in the body for about 3 to 4 days after stopping. How Nicotine Hooks Smokers Nicotine produces pleasant feelings that make the smoker want to smoke more. It also acts as a kind of depressant by interfering with the flow of information between nerve cells. As the nervous system adapts to nicotine, smokers tend to increase the number of cigarettes they smoke, and therefore the amount of nicotine in their blood. After a while, the smoker develops a tolerance to the drug, which leads to an increase in smoking over time. Over time, the smoker reaches a certain level and then nicotine smokes to maintain this level of nicotine. In fact, nicotine, when inhaled in cigarette smoke, reaches the brain faster than drugs that enter the body intravenously (IV). Nicotine Withdrawal When smokers try to cut back or quit, the lack of nicotine leads to withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal is both physical and mental. Physically, the body reacts to the absence of nicotine. Mentally, the smoker is faced with giving up a habit, which calls for a major change in behavior. Both must be addressed in order for the process to quitting work. If a person has smoked regularly for a few weeks or longer and suddenly stops using tobacco or greatly reduces the amount smoked, they will have withdrawal symptoms. Symptoms usually start within a few hours of the last cigarette and peak about 2 to 3 days later. Withdrawal symptoms can last for a few days to up to several weeks. Withdrawal symptoms can include any of the following: Dizziness (which may only last 1-2 days after quitting) Depression Feelings of frustration, impatience and anger Anxiety Irritability Sleep disturbances, including having trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, and having bad dreams or even nightmares Trouble concentrating Restlessness Headaches Tiredness Increased appetite These symptoms can lead the smoker to start smoking cigarettes again to boost blood levels of nicotine back to a level where there are no symptoms. Smoking also makes your body get rid of some drugs faster than usual. When you quit smoking, it changes the way your body handles these medicines. Ask your doctor if any medicines you take regularly need to be checked or changed after you quit. Why Should I Quit? Your Health Health concerns usually top the list of reasons people give for quitting smoking. This is a very real concern: About half of all smokers who continue to smoke will end up dying from a smoking-related illness. Cancer Nearly everyone knows that smoking can cause lung cancer, but few people realize it is also a risk factor for many other kinds of cancer as well, including cancer of the mouth, voice box (larynx), throat (pharynx), esophagus, bladder, kidney, pancreas, cervix, stomach, and some leukemias. Lung Diseases Pneumonia has been included in the list of diseases caused by smoking since 2004. Smoking also increases your risk of getting lung diseases such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. These diseases are grouped together under the term COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). COPD causes chronic illness and disability, and worsens over time - sometimes becoming fatal. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis can be found in people as young as 40, but are more commonly diagnosed later in life, when the symptoms are more severe. Long term smokers have the highest risk of developing severe COPD. Heart Attacks, Strokes, and Blood Vessel Diseases Smokers are twice as likely to die from heart attacks as are non-smokers. And smoking is a major risk factor for peripheral vascular disease, a narrowing of the blood vessels that carry blood to the leg and arm muscles. Smoking also affects the walls of the vessels that carry blood to the brain (carotid arteries), which can cause strokes. Men who smoke are more likely to develop erectile dysfunction (impotence) because of blood vessel disease. Blindness and Other Problems Smoking also causes premature wrinkling of the skin, bad breath, bad smelling clothes and hair, yellow fingernails, and an increased risk of macular degeneration, one of the most common causes of blindness in the elderly. Special Risks to Women and Babies Women have some unique risks linked to smoking. Women over 35 who smoke and use birth control pills have a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, and blood clots of the legs. Women who smoke are more likely to have a miscarriage or a lower birth-weight baby. Low birth-weight babies are more likely to die or have learning and physical problems. Years of Life Lost Due to Smoking Based on data collected in the late 1990s, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that adult male smokers lost an average of 13.2 years of life and female smokers lost 14.5 years of life because of smoking. And given the diseases that smoking can cause, it can steal your quality of life long before you die. Smoking-related illness can limit your activities by making it harder to breathe, get around, work, or play. Why Quit? No matter how old you are or how long you've smoked, quitting will help you live longer. People who stop smoking before age 50 cut their risk of dying in the next 15 years in half compared with those who continue to smoke. Ex-smokers enjoy a higher quality of life with fewer illnesses from cold and flu viruses, better self-reported health, and reduced rates of bronchitis and pneumonia. For decades the Surgeon General has reported the health risks linked to smoking. In 1990, the Surgeon General concluded: Quitting smoking has major and immediate health benefits for men and women of all ages. Benefits apply to people with and without smoking-related disease. Former smokers live longer than people who keep smoking. Quitting smoking decreases the risk of lung cancer, other cancers, heart attack, stroke, and chronic lung disease. Women who stop smoking before pregnancy or during the first 3 to 4 months of pregnancy reduce their risk of having a low birth-weight baby to that of women who never smoked. The health benefits of quitting smoking are far greater than any risks from the small weight gain (usually less than 10 pounds) or any emotional or psychological problems that may follow quitting. 20 minutes after quitting: Your heart rate and blood pressure drops. (Effect of Smoking on Arterial Stiffness and Pressure Pulse Amplification, Mahmud, A, Feely, J. 2003. Hypertension: 41:183). 12 hours after quitting: The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal. (US Surgeon General's Report, 1988, p. 202) 2 weeks to 3 months after quitting: Your circulation improves and your lung function increases. (US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, pp.193, 194.196, 285, 323) 1 to 9 months after quitting: Coughing and shortness of breath decrease; Cilia (tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection. (US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, pp. 285-287, 304) 1 year after quitting: The excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker's. (US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, p. vi) 5 years after quitting: Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker 5 to 15 years after quitting. (US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, p. vi) 10 years after quitting: The lung cancer death rate is about half that of a continuing smoker's. The risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix, and pancreas decrease. (US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, pp. Vi, 131, 148, 152, 155, 164.166) 15 years after quitting: The risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker's. (US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, p. vi) Immediate Rewards of Quitting Kicking the tobacco habit offers some benefits that you'll notice right away and some that will develop over time. These rewards can improve your day-to-day life a great deal. Your breath smells better Stained teeth get whiter Bad smelling clothes and hair go away Your yellow fingers and fingernails disappear Food tastes better Your sense of smell returns to normal Everyday activities no longer leave you out of breath (for example, climbing stairs or light housework). Cost The prospect of better health is a major reason for quitting, but there are other reasons, too. Smoking is expensive. It is not hard to figure out how much you spend on smoking: multiply how much money you spend on tobacco every day by 365 (days per year). The amount may surprise you. Now multiply that by the number of years you have been using tobacco and that amount will probably shock you. Multiply the cost per year by 10 (for the upcoming 10 years) and ask yourself what you would rather do with that much money. And this does not include other possible costs, such as higher costs for health and life insurance, and health care costs likely due to tobacco-related problems. Social Acceptance Smoking is less socially acceptable now than it was in the past. Almost all workplaces have some kind of smoking rules. Some employers even prefer to hire non-smokers. Studies show smoking employees cost businesses more to employ because they are out sick more. Employees who are ill more often than others can raise an employer's need for expensive short-term replacement workers. They can both increase insurance costs for other employees and for the employer, who often country part of the workers' insurance premiums. Smokers in a building also can increase the maintenance costs of keeping down odors, since residue from cigarette smoke clings to carpets, drapes, and other fabrics. Landlords may choose not to rent to smokers since maintenance costs and insurance rates may rise when smokers occupy buildings. Friends may ask you not to smoke in their homes or cars. Public buildings, concerts, and even sporting events are largely smoke-free. And more and more communities are restricting smoking in all public places, including restaurants and bars. Like it or not, finding a place to smoke can be a hassle. Smokers may also find their prospects for dating or romantic involvement, including marriage, are largely limited to other smokers, who make up only about 21% of the adult population. Health of Others Smoking not only harms your health but it hurts the health of those around you. Exposure to secondhand smoke (also called environmental tobacco smoke or passive smoking) includes exhaled smoke as well as smoke from burning cigarettes. Studies have shown that secondhand smoke causes thousands of deaths each year from lung cancer and heart disease in healthy non-smokers. If a mother smokes, there is a higher risk of her baby developing asthma in childhood, especially if she smoked while she was pregnant. Smoking is also linked to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and low-birth weight infants. Babies and children raised in a household where there is smoking have more ear infections, colds, bronchitis, and other lung and breathing problems than children from non-smoking families. Secondhand smoke can also cause eye irritation, headaches, nausea, and dizziness. Setting an Example If you have children, you probably want to set a good example for them. When asked, nearly all smokers say they do not want their children to smoke, but children whose parents smoke are more likely to start smoking themselves. You can become a good role model for them by quitting now. Help Is Available With the wide range of counseling services, self-help materials, and medicines available today, smokers have more tools than ever to help them quit smoking for good. Remember, tobacco addiction has both a psychological and a physical component. For most people, the best way to quit will be some combination of medicine, a method to change personal habits, and emotional support. The following sections describe these tools and how they may be helpful to you. Psychological Help With Addiction Some people are able to quit on their own, without the help of others or the use of medicines. But for many smokers, it can be hard to break the social and emotional ties to smoking while getting over nicotine withdrawal symptoms at the same time. Fortunately, there are many sources of support out there -- both formal and informal. Telephone-based Help to Stop Smoking Most states run some type of free telephone program, such as the American Cancer Society's Quitline ® tobacco cessation program that links callers with trained counselors. These specialists help plan a quit method that fits each person's unique smoking pattern. People who use telephone counseling stop smoking at twice the rate of those who do not get this type of help. With guidance from a counselor, quitters can avoid common mistakes that may self-destructIntroduction The Surgeon General of the United States said: "Smoking cessation (stopping smoking) represents the most important step that smokers can take to improve the length and quality of their lives." Quitting is not easy, but you can do it. To have the best chance of success, you have to know that you are against, what are your options, and where to turn for help. This information can be found here. Why is it so hard to quit smoking? Mark Twain said, "Quitting smoking is easy. I did it a thousand times. "Maybe you tried to quit smoking, too. Why leave and leave to remain difficult for so many people? The answer is nicotine. Nicotine Nicotine is a drug found naturally in tobacco. It is highly addictive -- as addictive as heroin or cocaine. Over time, a person becomes physically and emotionally dependent on or addicted to nicotine. Studies have shown that smokers have to deal with both the physical and psychological dependence to successfully abandonment and stay quit. Where is nicotine and duration of presence When you inhale smoke, nicotine is deeply in the lungs, where it is rapidly absorbed into the blood and transported into the body. Nicotine affects many parts of the body, including your heart and blood vessels, the hormonal system, your metabolism and your brain. Nicotine can be found in breast milk and even in the cervical mucus secretions smokers. During pregnancy, nicotine freely crosses the placenta and has been found in the amniotic fluid and umbilical cord blood of newborns. Several factors can affect the time it takes the body to remove nicotine and its derivatives. In general, a regular smokers have nicotine or its derivatives, such as cotinine, in the body for about 3 to 4 days after the judgment. How hooks nicotine smokers Nicotine produces pleasant feelings that make smokers want to smoke more. It also acts as a kind of depressant by interfering with the flow of information between nerve cells. As the nervous system adapts to nicotine, smokers tend to increase the number of cigarettes they smoke, and therefore the amount of nicotine in the blood. After some time, the smoker develops a tolerance to the drug, leading to an increase in smoking over time. Over time, the smoker reaches a certain level of nicotine, and smokes to maintain that level of nicotine. In fact, nicotine, by inhalation of cigarette smoke, reaches the brain faster than drugs that enter the body intravenously (IV). Nicotine Withdrawal Smokers who try to reduce or stop, the lack of nicotine leads to withdrawal symptoms. The withdrawal is both physical and mental. Physically, the body reacts to the absence of nicotine. Mentally, the smoker is faced with giving up the habit, which implies a significant change in behavior. Both need to be addressed so that the abandonment of the work process. If a person has smoked regularly for a few weeks or more and suddenly stops using tobacco or greatly reduces the number of cigarettes smoked, they will have withdrawal symptoms. Symptoms usually start within a few hours of the last cigarette and peak around 2 to 3 days later. Withdrawal symptoms can last from a few days to several weeks. Withdrawal symptoms may include any of the following characteristics: Dizziness (which may only last 1-2 days of the judgment) Depression Feelings of frustration, impatience and anger Anxiety Irritability Sleep disorders, including difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep, and having bad dreams, or even nightmares Concentration Problems Agitation Headaches Fatigue Increased appetite These symptoms can lead smokers to start smoking cigarettes again to increase blood levels of nicotine back to a level where there are no symptoms. Smoking also makes your body to get rid of certain drugs more quickly than usual. When you stop smoking, it changes the way your body handles these drugs. Ask your doctor if you are taking medication regularly need to be checked or modified after quitting. Why should I stop? Your Health Health concerns usually top the list of reasons people give to quit. It is a very real concern: About half of all smokers who continue to smoke will eventually die from a tobacco-related disease. Cancer Almost everyone knows that smoking can cause lung cancer, but few people realize he is also a risk factor for many other types of cancer as well, including cancer of the mouth, the larynx (voice box), throat (pharynx), esophagus, bladder, Reins, pancreas, cervix, stomach, and certain types of leukemia. Pulmonary Diseases Pneumonia was included in the list of diseases caused by smoking since 2004. Smoking also increases the risk of developing lung diseases such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. These diseases are grouped under the term COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). COPD because of a chronic illness and disability, and worsens over time - sometimes be fatal. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis can be found in people as young as 40, but are more frequently diagnosed later in life when the symptoms are more severe. Long-term smokers have the highest risk of developing severe COPD. Heart attacks, stroke and blood diseases Vessel Smokers are twice as likely to die from a heart attack as nonsmokers. And smoking is a major risk factor for peripheral vascular disease, a narrowing of blood vessels that carry blood to the leg and arm. Smoking also affects the walls of the vessels that carry blood to the brain (carotid arteries), which can cause stroke. Men who smoke are more likely to develop erectile dysfunction (impotence) because of the disease of the blood vessels. Blindness and other problems Smoking also causes premature wrinkling of the skin, bad breath, bad smelling clothes and hair, nails yellow, and an increased risk of macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness among the elderly. Risks for women and babies Some women have specific risks related to smoking. Women over 35 smoking and use of oral contraceptives have a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, blood clots and legs. Women who smoke are more likely to have a miscarriage or birth weight baby lower. Low birth-weight babies are more likely to die or have learning difficulties and physical problems. Years of life lost due to smoking Based on data collected in the late 1990, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that smokers adult males lost an average of 13.2 years of life and women smokers lost 14 , 5 years of life because of smoking. And given the diseases that smoking can cause, it can steal your quality of life long before dying. A tobacco-related disease may limit your activities by making it more difficult to breathe, move, work or play. Quit Why? No matter how old you are or how long you have smoked, you help the abandonment live longer. People who stop smoking before age 50 cut their risk of dying in the next 15 years by half compared with those who continue to smoke. Ex-smokers enjoy a better quality of life with fewer diseases from the cold and flu viruses, better self-health, and reduced rates of bronchitis and pneumonia. For decades, the Surgeon General has reported the health hazards related to smoking. In 1990, the Surgeon General concluded: Quitting smoking has major advantages immediate health and for the men and women of all ages. Benefits apply to persons with and without smoking-related illnesses. Former smokers live longer than people who continue to smoke. Quitting smoking decreases the risk of lung cancer, other cancers, heart attacks, stroke, and chronic lung disease. Women who stop smoking before pregnancy or during the first 3 to 4 months of pregnancy reduce their risk of having a low birth weight baby than women who have never smoked. The health benefits of quitting are far greater than the risks of early weight gain (usually less than 10 pounds) or any psychological or emotional problems that may arise from neglect. 20 minutes after the abandonment: Your heart rate and blood pressure decreases. (Effects of Smoking on Arterial Stiffness and Pulse Amplification pressure, Mahmud A Feely, J. 2003. Hypertension: 41:183). 12 hours after the abandonment: The level of carbon monoxide in your blood decreases to normal. (US Surgeon General's Report, 1988, p. 202) 2 weeks to 3 months after the abandonment: Your circulation improves and your lung function increases. (US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, pp.193, 194,196, 285, 323) 1 to 9 months after the abandonment: The cough and shortness of breath decrease; Ciliaire (tiny hair like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean lungs, and reduce the risk of infection. (US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, pp. 285-287, 304) 1 year after quitting: The excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker. (US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, p. vi) 5 years after abandonment: Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a non-smoker 5 to 15 years after quitting. (US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, p. vi) 10 years after abandonment, the death rate from lung cancer is about half that of a smoker. The risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix and pancreas decreases. (US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, pp. VI, 131, 148, 152, 155, 164,166) 15 years after abandonment: The risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker. (US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, p. vi) Immediate Rewards of quitting Kicking the habit of smoking offers some advantages that you will notice immediately and others that will develop over time. These rewards can improve your daily life very much. Your breath smells better Tachées get whiter teeth Bad smell clothes and hair disappear Your fingers and nails yellow disappear The food tastes better Your sense of smell returns to normal Daily Activities no longer leave you out of breath (for example, climb stairs or household). Cost The prospect of better health is a major cause of abandonment, but there are other reasons, too. Smoking is expensive. It is not difficult to imagine how much you spend on smoking: multiply how much money spent on tobacco every day by 365 (days per year). The amount may surprise you. Now multiply that by the number of years you use tobacco and that amount will probably shock you. Multiply the cost per year by 10 (for the next 10 years), and wonder what you would do with a lot of money. And that does not include any other costs, such as higher costs for health and life insurance, and probably the cost of health care because of problems related to smoking. Social Acceptance Smoking is less socially acceptable now than it was in the past. Almost all workplaces have some kind of smoking rules. Some employers prefer to hire even nonsmokers. Studies show smoking employees cost businesses more to use because they are no more sick. Employees who are sick more often than others might pose an employer requires costly short-term replacement workers. They can increase the cost of insurance for other employees and the employer who pays workers often part of insurance premiums. Smokers in a building can increase maintenance costs to keep the odor down, as the residue of cigarette smoke clings to carpets, curtains and other tissues. The owners may choose not to rent to smokers because maintenance costs and insurance rates may increase when smokers occupy buildings. Friends may ask you not to smoke in their homes or cars. Some public buildings, concerts and sporting events are largely smoke-free. And more and more communities are restricting smoking in all public places, including restaurants and bars. Like it or not, finding a place to smoke can be a hassle. Smokers may also find their prospects for dating or romantic involvement, including marriage, are largely restricted to other smokers, who make up only about 21% of the adult population. The health of others Smoking night not only to your health, but it hurts the health of those around you. Exposure to secondhand smoke (also known as environmental tobacco smoke or passive smoking) has expired smoke and the smoke from burning cigarettes. Studies have shown that secondhand smoke causes thousands of deaths each year from lung cancer and heart disease in healthy nonsmokers. If the mother smokes, there is a higher risk of the baby developing asthma in childhood, especially if she smoked while she was pregnant. Smoking is also linked to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and low birth weight. Babies and children raised in a household where there is smoking have more ear infections, colds, bronchitis, and other lung and respiratory problems than children from non-smoking families. In tobacco smoke can also cause eye irritation, headaches, nausea and dizziness. Setting an Example If you have children, you probably want to set a good example for them. When asked, nearly all smokers say they do not want their children to smoke, but children whose parents smoke are more likely to start smoking themselves. You can become a good role model for them by abandoning now. Help is available Thanks to the wide range of counseling services, self-help materials, and medicines available today, smokers have more tools than ever to help them quit smoking for good. Remember, smoking is both psychological and physical. Pour la plupart des gens, la meilleure façon d'arrêter de fumer sera une combinaison de la médecine, une méthode pour modifier ses habitudes, et un soutien affectif. Les sections suivantes décrivent ces outils et comment ils peuvent être utiles pour vous. Aide à la dépendance psychologique Certaines personnes sont en mesure de quitter de leur propre chef, sans l'aide d'autrui ou à l'utilisation des médicaments. Mais pour de nombreux fumeurs, il peut être difficile de briser le lien social et affectif à l'égard du tabac tout en finissant sur les symptômes de sevrage de nicotine, dans le même temps. Heureusement, il existe de nombreuses sources d'appui qui existe -- la fois formelles et informelles. Téléphone fondée sur Aide pour cesser de fumer La plupart des États exécuter un certain type de téléphone gratuit à base de programme, telles que l'American Cancer Society's Quitline ® sevrage tabagique programme qui fait le lien avec les appels formés conseillers. Ces spécialistes aider à planifier une méthode qui convient à quitter chaque personne est unique modèle de fumer. Les personnes qui ont recours au téléphone conseils arrêter de fumer deux fois plus vite que ceux qui ne reçoivent pas ce type d'aide. Avec des conseils d'un conseiller, quitters permet d'éviter les erreurs qui peuvent s'autodétruire quitter une tentative. Arabic to English BETAChinese to English BETAChinese (Simplified to Traditional) BETAChinese (Traditional to Simplified) BETAEnglish to Arabic BETAEnglish to Chinese (Simplified) BETAEnglish to Chinese (Traditional) BETAEnglish to FrenchEnglish to GermanEnglish to ItalianEnglish to Japanese BETAEnglish to Korean BETAEnglish to PortugueseEnglish to Russian BETAEnglish to SpanishFrench to EnglishFrench to GermanGerman to EnglishGerman to FrenchItalian to EnglishJapanese to English BETAKorean to English BETAPortuguese to EnglishRussian to English BETASpanish to English a quit attempt.
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