Quitting Smoking
We have so many cancer causing toxins in our environment today, I just don’t understand why one would voluntarily choose to do something that increases their chance of cancer, especially lung cancer, by smoking. The increased chance of developing lung cancer is quite staggering from cigarette smoking. Read links below.
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/tobacco/cancer
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/lung/basic_info/risk_factors.htm
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070323105016.htm
The use of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine for smoking addiction is quite popular. The question you want to know is “Does it work?”. Different Acupuncturists have different protocols when working with smoking addiction and you may find one more helpful than others. Generally, the goal with Acupuncture and smoking addiction is to relax the mind so that it is not looking for a constant fix. This could also be applied to other addictions like alcohol, drugs or food. Although Acupuncture treatments can be very helpful is minimizing cravings, life style change can increase your ability to stop smoking.
The body rids itself of nicotine after 3 days or so. However, just because the body has rid itself of nicotine, it doesn’t mean you wont have the urge to still smoke. The list below will help you fight the urge to smoke.
1. Manage your stress.
2. Avoid spicy foods, greasy (deep fried) foods, sweets, and dairy (ice cream)
3. Avoid alcohol and caffeine
4. Avoid anyone that smokes. Just don’t hang out with them.
5. Get Acupuncture, Massage, Reflexology or other stress relieving treatments regularly.
6. Exercise 3-5 days a week.
Many people attempting to quit do fine until something stressful occurs in their life. As soon as stress or anxiety appears, smokers run to cigarettes like they’ll make you feel better. In actuality, cigarettes in the long run make you more anxious and more easily stressed. You see in the short term, cigarettes may make you feel more relaxed, but in the long term they actually make you more anxious. I will write further articles on the actual biological mechanism of this. So the most important thing is to manage your stress so that you don’t go running to cigarettes as a safe haven.
The most difficult aspect to quitting smoking is getting momentum. Everyone that’s quit knows that the second week is easier than the first week and that the sixth month is easier than the third month. So the key to quitting is building momentum and following the above listed suggestions will make it much easier for you to quit. Finally, I just wanted to comment on women on oral contraceptives that may smoke. If your on OC’s and smoke, it is imperative that you quit. The research shows various serious health implications if you don’t. These can include cardiovascular disorders like clots, strokes and heart attacks. Please read links below.
http://www.popline.org/docs/1278/138146.html
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/258/10/1339
Filed under: Smoking Addiction on September 12th, 2008 | No Comments »