Guest post by Kate Flannery
“Smoking helps me manage stress,” most smokers would say.
However, one day, smoking might not be that fulfilling to you anymore.
Over the course of time, you will start noticing numerous problems caused by this unhealthy
habit, including sagging skin, premature aging, damaged teeth or reduced athletic ability.
Now, the question is posed–why don’t we just cut this terrible habit down before we experience
any of these symptoms.
For smokers, desire for nicotine is much more than an ordinary habit.
It’s a whole lifestyle, something deeply related to powerful personal reasons that drives us to
consume cigars.
Therefore, if you want to quit smoking, you should think of similarly powerful reasons for doing that.
Here are some basic suggestions.
Why Quit?
Smoking causes a decline in mental abilities: A recent study of both smokers and
nonsmokers over the age of 65 has shown that smoking speeds up mental decline and causes
numerous diseases, including Alzheimer’s.
Hypothetically, this means that smoking indirectly triggers dementia, memory loss, as well
as problems with judgment and thinking.
Active smoking causes autoimmune diseases, such as lupus.
They could manifest in inflammations, pain and tissue damage.
Did you know that smoking causes prematurely sagging skin?
There are more than 4000 toxic substances in tobacco that destroy the fiber collagen that
makes our skin young, fresh and elastic.
If you have problems with oral hygiene, you can certainly blame them on the cigarette
(and yourself, you smoker).
Yellow teeth, painful, damaged gums and bad breath are just the most common oral hygiene
problems.
Smokers have a greater chance at a heart stroke, because smoking narrows arteries,
which reduces blood flow, increases blood pressure and causes blood clots.
Apart from this horrifying fact, men should also be worried about erectile dysfunction caused
by lowered blood flow.
Finally, smoking can cause numerous forms of cancer, especially lung cancer, in
both smokers and nonsmokers.
Take care of your family’s health, and put out the cigarette!
Nicotine Withdrawal: Symptoms
Since nicotine causes addiction over time, its withdrawal could cause mood swings, anxiety,
depression, difficulty to concentrate and irritability.
One of the most common symptoms ex-smokers come across are food cravings.
Therefore, if you are willing to quit, yet you want to maintain your ideal weight, you should avoid
the imminent caloric intake and sweets. Instead, you should have a preset diet game-plan.
You are going on a diet, and it is going to be one of the healthiest diets you have ever had.
You will be eating a lot, but in small amounts.
Play this right, and you could even drop a few pounds!
In order to make this easier on yourself, have fruit regularly delivered, especially because
fruits and veggies make cigars smell and taste bad.
Since nicotine causes addiction over time, its withdrawal could cause mood swings,
anxiety, depression, difficulty to concentrate and irritability.
As long as you are aware of this, you will find it easier to control your urges.
It will be kinder upon the people around you if you announced that you were quitting smoking,
then they would be more sympathetic for your often unpleasant mood.
This is not a relationship breaking thing, but feelings could get hurt if both sides keep secrets
from each other, and take each other for granted.
Active nicotine users could also experience headaches, nausea, fatigue, insomnia
and diarrhea.
Unpleasant, sure. But think of it as a purge, it helps.
How to Quit?
Once you quit smoking, you need to find other ways to deal with stress.
Don’t toss your cigarettes at once!
Most people who go cold turkey end up relapsing because they’re addicted to nicotine.
Try nicotine-replacement methods.
There are numerous ways for you to replace your cigarettes, such as nicotine gums or patches
that will increase your chances to quit smoking.
However, you should never use them while still smoking.
Another solution is taking pills that affect the chemicals in your brain and decrease cravings.
Once you quit smoking, you need to find other ways to deal with stress.
Maybe you should take up sports, get massages or listen to calming music.
It is easier to let go of one habit if you form yourself another to take its place.
Avoid alcohol and coffee at first – they trigger your urge to smoke.
Numerous studies have shown that people who talk to someone while quitting have
greater chances to succeed.
Praise and support will boost your confidence and encourage you to persist.
There are many natural tinctures and remedies to use in place of medications.
Lobelia tea is used to remove poison from a snakebite, but combined with green tea, it
is a great way to remove nicotine and associated toxins from the body, as well.
It is important to know that lobelia’s effect can be a little aggressive, and too much of it
might lead to vomiting.
Green tea is enough for most smokers.
St John’s Wort teas and tinctures provide some relief from the stress of withdrawal.
Plenty of research is still conducted on the healing powers of this herb, but so far, it has
shown good results, and is a favorite among herbal remedies for cessation.
Quit Tea, a natural smoking cessation aid, contains Valerian Root, Sarsaparilla, Cinnamon,
Red Clover, St. Johns Wort, Ginger, Burdock, Clove Bud, Licorice Root, Fennel Seed, Oregano
Leaf, Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper.
*Always be sure to check with your local herbalist to see if they can recommend a remedy
with good documented results.
Cayenne pepper is one of the best natural remedies to support smoking cessation.
Cayenne pepper helps in desensitizing the respiratory system to all the addictive things,
such as tobacco and nicotine.
It also helps to lessen the craving for smoking.
Add cayenne to your diet or mix a few pinches in a glass of water.
Acupuncture is a safe way to relieve withdrawal symptoms.
Acupuncture is acclaimed as a safe way to relieve oneself from the symptoms of withdrawal.
Western medicine will continue to frown upon acupuncture, but the results show otherwise.
Quitting smoking is a really frustrating endeavor.
That’s why you need to come to face with all your weaknesses and fight them.
The best way to do that is to think of the advantages of a smokeless lifestyle, and boost your
confidence all the time.
Good luck!
About the author:
Kate comes from a family of sailors in Perth, though she has relocated to the Mediterranean Sea. She promotes a healthy, clean lifestyle and feels best on board her keel, in the company of her two dogs. She is part of the www.highstylife.com crew.
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