I found an article on quitting smoking that you might find interesting. Look at it and tell me what you think about it. Learn more about the study here:
=========
Secondhand smoke may trigger nicotine cravings and make it harder for cigarette smokers to quit.
A new study shows secondhand smoke exposure delivers a “priming” dose of nicotine to the brain that increases nicotine craving in smokers.
“This mechanism may explain why adult smokers exposed to multiple sources of SHS [secondhand smoke] have difficulty initiating and maintaining abstinence compared with smokers without such exposure,” write researcher Arthur Brody and colleagues in the Archives of General Psychiatry.
In the study, researchers examined the effects of secondhand smoke exposure in 24 young adults, including 11 cigarette smokers and 13 nonsmokers.
The participants underwent PET scanning as they sat in the passenger seat of a car for one hour while being exposed to moderate amounts of secondhand smoke or no smoke at all.
Increased Nicotine Cravings
The results showed that exposure to secondhand smoke led to an increase in plasma nicotine concentration of about 0.2 ng/mL and a 19% increase in nicotine receptor occupancy in the brain.
In addition, smokers had an average 23% increase in nicotine cravings with exposure to secondhand smoke, which were alleviated by subsequent cigarette smoking.
“Study findings suggest that such exposure delivers a priming dose of nicotine to the brain that contributes to continued cigarette use in smokers,” write the researchers.
Researchers say several health care groups have called for wider smoking bans in cars, and the results of this study strongly support those recommendations.
In order to enhance your length and quality of life quitting smoking can be one of the most important steps that you take.This is not a easy step for someone to do but it can be done.You need to know what you are up against in order to have the best chance of quitting and staying that way.You will need to know what you are up against,what your options are, and where to go for help.
The reason why people have trouble quitting smoking is because of nicotine.Nicotine is a drug and it is found naturally in tobacco.It is as addictive to a person as heroin or cocaine.A person can over time become physically and emotionally addicted to nicotine.According to studies it has been shown that smokers must deal with both the physical and psychological (mental) dependency in order to quit and stay quit.Nicotine is carried deep into your lungs when you inhale smoke.It is then absorbed into the bloodstream and carried throughout your body.Nicotine can affect many parts of your body.These include your heart and blood vessels,your hormones,the way your body uses food(metabolism),and your brain.There are different factors that affect how long it takes the body to remove nicotine and its by-products.Regular smokers will still have nicotine or its by-products in their bodies for 3 or 4 days after stopping smoking.
Nicotine will cause pleasant feelings that will make the smoker want to smoke more.It will also act as a depressant by interfering with the flow of information between nerve cells.As the nervous system adapts to nicotine the smoker will tend to increase the number of cigarettes that they smoke.This will increase the amount of nicotine that is in the smoker’s blood.The nicotine that is inhaled in cigarette smoke will reach the brain faster than drugs entering the body through a IV.The smoker will eventually develop a tolerance to the drug.Over time the smoking will increase and make quitting smoking even harder.
When smokers are trying to cut back or quit they will experience withdrawal symptoms.Withdrawals from quitting smoking is both physical and mental.During physical withdrawal the body will react to the absence of nicotine.Mental withdrawals are experienced by the smoker being faced with giving up a habit.This will call for them to have a major change in behavior.Both of these physical and mental factors need to be addressed before quitting smoking can be successful.
Here’s a good article on About.com over quit smoking ==> Right Here
For people who have smoked for any length of time, the habit generally becomes a true addiction, and quitting can be quite difficult. Nicotine is the chemical component creating addiction, but there are also psychological factors that can be almost more difficult to overcome than the chemical component. Smokers have to be genuinely committed to quitting, or positive results are unlikely. For many smokers, quitting smoking side effects are difficult to overcome and some smokers may question the value of quitting.
Nicotine addiction causes the body to crave the substance. When smokers attempt to stop smoking, quitting smoking side effects will quickly manifest themselves. Within hours of stopping smoking the first side effects will be noticed. Craving for cigarettes will begin, and many smokers attempting to stop report an increased appetite. Other common quitting smoking side effects include nervousness or fatigue. Many smokers exhibit short tempers and complain of headaches. These symptoms will often appear within a few hours of having the last cigarette, and may continue for quite some time.
One of the most common quitting smoking side effects is weight gain. This is very common, but it should be noted that there are fewer negative effects from moderate weight gain than from continuing to smoke. A craving for food appears to be a substitute for craving a cigarette. Another very common side effect is depression. The intensity of the depression will vary from one individual to another, and if the depression worsens medical intervention may be indicated. Again, the length of time these symptoms persists is not consistent for all individuals, and may last for a short period or for several months.
Few health professionals have expressed the belief that enduring a period where quitting smoking side effects are suffered is not worth the effort. Long-term benefits of quitting far outweigh short-term discomfort. However, individuals with underlying health conditions should work with their physician when attempting to stop smoking to control the underlying conditions. Should other symptoms become extreme, intervention by health care professionals is also indicated. While most individuals will exhibit relatively minor symptoms, medical professionals are generally in agreement that smoking cessation efforts are well worth the efforts for long-term health benefits.
Countless individuals try to quit smoking on a regular basis. While some succeed, many fail to stop smoking even after multiple attempts have been made to do so. Some simply do not have the commitment needed to succeed. It may be that a family member or employer is applying pressure to quit, but the smoker may not yet be ready to take that step. Even if a smoker really wants to stop, the quitting smoking symptoms may be overwhelming. As with any addiction, many people will require assistance to succeed in stopping.
Some quitting smoking symptoms occur very shortly after having that last cigarette. A craving for another cigarette will begin quickly. At this point it is critical that the smoker attempts to stay away from conditions that trigger the urge. That may mean staying out of situations where others are smoking. For many people, taking that “cigarette break” is also a social situation that may have to be replaced by another social situation. Most people will find that to be quite difficult, as their friends are continuing to smoke. Some people are in the habit of smoking after meals or indulging in a cigarette during the trip to or from work. Whatever the trigger situations are, avoiding them when possible will increase the likelihood of successfully quitting.
Longer term quitting smoking symptoms are even more difficult for some people to cope with. Weight gain is one of the most common issues encountered by smokers when attempting to quit. Virtually all smokers experience some weight gain in the weeks or months after quitting, but for some the weight gain may be significant. The common belief is that one craving is substituted for another. If the problem becomes severe, medical intervention may be required. Some smokers also suffer from depression or anger issues after stopping smoking. These issues may last for some time and create conditions that could negatively affect an individual’s personal or professional well-being.
No one ever said that stopping smoking would be easy, and some people quit only with a great deal of difficulty. From a medical standpoint, quitting is well worth the effort, but for some people quitting without outside help is virtually impossible. For better all-around health, any short term discomfort is worth the suffering. While quitting smoking symptoms may last for months, the benefits will last a lifetime.
When it comes to smoking, everyone should know the quitting smoking facts. Such as smoking can cause lung cancer and it will take your life. If you are serious about quitting, you can do it, you just have to set your mind to it. You will not regret it once you have quit once and for all. Some of the benefits of quitting are, increased health, which means you will live longer, you will be able to breathe better, and you will feel great. No more coughing all of the time. The benefits of quitting begin almost immediately. As soon as 20 minutes to be exact.
After less than fifteen hours of smoking, your carbon monoxide level is the same as a non smoker. This is a pretty amazing fact. Three months after quitting, your lung capacity will begin to increase, and you will feel amazing. Less than 9 months after quitting, your breathing will return to normal, and you will no longer have smokers hack. One year after quitting, your risk of heart disease is cut in half. These are only a few of many quitting smoking facts.
Cigarette smoking will cause lung cancer, as well as breathing problems and heart disease. These are some serious quitting smoking facts that should be considered by anyone who is thinking about smoking. Gum disease, as well as stomach ulcers and serious risks to an unborn child if you are a woman who is expecting.
It is never too late for you to quit smoking. As long as you have not gotten to the cancer, lung and heart diseases stages of smoking, your body can repair itself and you will see no further side effects of smoking. It is important to understand that quitting is very hard, and you should have all of the quitting smoking facts ahead of time, so that you will be prepared for what will happen. You should be prepared to have a relapse, and have a plan ahead of time to not give up. If you need it, do not be afraid to use medication for help. Let your family know ahead of time that you are quitting, and ask them for their support.
