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Many people say they don't want to stop smoking because they're afraid they'll gain weight. That's the least of your worries if you smoke. About one in five deaths in America is caused by smoking. That's 400 000 people every year. Smoking more than doubles your risk of heart disease. It worsens many other medical conditions, depresses your immune system and makes it harder for you to heal. It can cause a much higher risk for heart attack, strokes, and blood clots in women who are taking birth control pills. If that's not enough, a new study states that secondhand smoke is much more harmful to nonsmokers than it is to smokers themselves. That's because smokers have developed natural protection against the toxic substance in cigarettes, while nonsmokers haven't. The researchers claim that damage caused by passive smoke is America's third leading cause of preventable death, after smoking itself and alcohol abuse. Waitresses have the highest cancer rate of any female occupation. According to the U.S Occupational Safety and Health Administration, nearly 47 000 people in America die each year from heart disease caused by secondhand smoke, and 150 000 others suffer nonfatal heart attacks. Those are shocking figures.
There are over 2500 chemicals in tobacco and over 4000 in tobacco smoke. Nicotine, the active substance in cigarettes, is highly addictive and harder to kick, say most, than heroin. Withdrawal symptoms are unpleasant: anxiety, restlessness, irritability, disturbed sleep, inability to concentrate, hunger, and, of course, a desperate craving for nicotine. Luckily your risk of developing cancer, heart disease, and all the dozen of other illnesses related to smoking start to decline as soon as you stop.
Here are a few of the methods for quitting smoking:
1. Nicotine gum and patches. Ask your doctor for advice and a prescription.
2. Hypnosis and acupuncture. This can help you relax.
3. Cold turkey. Easier said than done. It takes tremendous willpower and determination
4. Exercise. Start slowly. Once your breathing gets easier, you may find some extra incentive to keep you away from the cigarettes. Fortunately, many former smokers find some form of exercise does help them kick the habit. Not only doe they have more wind and energy, but aerobics helps prevent the weight gain so many women are afraid of and provides a healthy outlet for the stress of nicotine withdrawal.