Archive for the 'Quit Smoking' Category
Willpower, Key To Stopping Smoking
Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009“Just stop”, we’re told. Stop smoking, that is, by just deciding to stop. Wouldn’t it be great if it were that easy? But the fact is that both physiological changes and psychological issues play a role in any stop-smoking program. Even the most determined can rarely just flip a switch and never smoke cigarettes again.
Still, […]
Why Quit Smoking?
Sunday, January 25th, 2009Smoking is pleasurable, up to a point. That, after all, is why so many do it. If there were no gain, the practice would quickly die out. But a lot of meaning is stuffed into that innocent phrase ‘up to a point’. While the short term benefits of smoking cigarettes is real, the harm is […]
What’s In Cigarette Smoke?
Thursday, January 8th, 2009There are thousands of chemical compounds in cigarette smoke, many of them toxic. But simply displaying a long list of intimidating names, and even pointing out which are harmful, isn’t particularly helpful. In medicine, dosage is key.
Many of the compounds in cigarette smoke are found in only trace amounts, in the range of nanograms for […]
Stress and its role in Smoking
Thursday, January 1st, 2009Many smokers start or continue their habit in order to deal with stress. But quitting smoking increases stress itself. That double-whammy makes it doubly hard to stop. Understanding what creates stress and finding healthier ways to deal with it well help in that struggle.
At low dosages, nicotine is a stimulant. It increases heart rate and […]
Smoking and Cancer
Friday, December 26th, 2008Heavy, long-term cigarette smoking is often said to cause cancer, most prominently lung cancer and cancer of the larynx. And, the evidence is very strong, amounting to near certainty. But, interestingly enough, exactly how it does so is not fully known. It remains an active area of research.
Normal cells may be damaged, but they have […]
Smoking and Heart Disease
Thursday, December 18th, 2008One of the more serious possible conditions from long-term cigarette smoking is heart disease. That’s a statement we hear often in discussions of smoking. But what does it really mean? What is heart disease, and how does smoking cause it?
In this context, the phrase ‘heart disease’ usually refers to coronary artery disease. That’s a condition […]
