Want to Quit?

You promised yourself that you would finally quit smoking.

It isn’t easy giving up something that is so much a part of what you do every day.

But you are not alone. Over 1 million people each year decide to quit and are successful.
Tried Quitting Before?

Maybe once, maybe more…

You started out feeling the time was right, but for whatever reason, you’re smoking again. Now, you’re asking whether it’s worth it to try quitting again. You bet it is!

Quitting is hard, but don’t give up!

Some smokers try a number of times before they quit for good. Studies show that each time you try to quit, the more likely you will be to eventually succeed. With each try, you are better able to know what helps and what hurts. Any attempt to quit is a step in a healthier direction.
Pregnant?

There’s no better time to quit.

And for two very good reasons:

* You.
* Your baby.

Even if someone you know smoked during pregnancy and had a problem-free delivery, smoking puts your baby’s health at risk. Quitting at any time during pregnancy is still the best chance for you and your baby to get a fresh start.

It is also important to remember that infants and children exposed to second-hand smoke are more likely to develop health problems such as chronic ear infections and asthma. Helping to eliminate these health risks is another good reason to quit.
How Do I Start?

Make a Plan

* You may want to consult a health care professional to choose a quit smoking plan that is best for you.
* Set a quit date and stick to it.
* Get the support and understanding of your family, friends, and co-workers.
* Get rid of all tobacco products and ashtrays.

Get Support and Encouragement

U.S. Public Health Service (PHS)-funded research shows the more support you have, the greater your chance for success.

Join a quit smoking program or start your own quit smoking group. Check with your health care professional, local hospitals, the American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, or American Heart Association for schedules for existing groups.
Learn How to Handle the Urge to Smoke

Be aware of the things that may cause you to smoke, such as:

* Other smokers.
* Stress.
* Depression.
* Alcohol.

What Works?

Current treatments

There are no magic solutions for quitting smoking. But, if you are ready to quit, effective treatments are available that can help reduce the urge to smoke.

Studies show that almost everyone can benefit from these nicotine and non-nicotine replacement therapies.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy

* Nicotine patch.
* Nicotine gum.
* Nicotine nasal spray.*
* Nicotine inhaler.*

Non-Nicotine Therapy

* Bupropion SR.*

*Available only by prescription.

Are you one of most smokers who want to quit? Then try following this advice.

1. Don’t smoke any number or any kind of cigarette. Smoking even a few cigarettes a day can hurt your health. If you try to smoke fewer cigarettes, but do not stop completely, soon you’ll be smoking the same amount again.

Smoking “low-tar, low-nicotine” cigarettes usually does little good, either. Because nicotine is so addictive, if you switch to lower-nicotine brands you’ll likely just puff harder, longer, and more often on each cigarette. The only safe choice is to quit completely.

2. Write down why you want to quit. Do you want to—

* Feel in control of you life?
* Have better health?
* Set a good example for your children?
* Protect your family from breathing other people’s smoke?

Really wanting to quit smoking is very important to how much success you will have in quitting. Smokers who live after a heart attack are the most likely to quit for good—they’re very motivated. Find a reason for quitting before you have no choice.

3. Know that it will take effort to quit smoking. Nicotine is habit forming. Half of the battle in quitting is knowing you need to quit. This knowledge will help you be more able to deal with the symptoms of withdrawal that can occur, such as bad moods and really wanting to smoke. There are many ways smokers quit, including using nicotine replacement products (gum and patches), but there is no easy way. Nearly all smokers have some feelings of nicotine withdrawal when they try to quit. Give yourself a month to get over these feelings. Take quitting one day at a time, even one minute at a time—whatever you need to succeed.

4. Half of all adult smokers have quit, so you can— too. That’s the good news. There are millions of people alive today who have learned to face life without a cigarette. For staying healthy, quitting smoking is the best step you can take.

5. Get help if you need it. Many groups offer written materials, programs, and advice to help smokers quit for good. Your doctor or dentist is also a good source of help and support.

Questions and Answers About Smoking Cessation

1. How important is it to stop smoking?

It is very important. Tobacco use remains the single most preventable cause of death in the United States. Cigarette smoking accounts for nearly one-third of all cancer deaths in this country each year.

Smoking is the most common risk factor for the development of lung cancer, which is the leading cause of cancer death. It is also associated with many other types of cancer, including cancers of the esophagus, larynx, kidney, pancreas, and cervix. Smoking also increases the risk of other health problems, such as chronic lung disease and heart disease. Smoking during pregnancy can have adverse effects on the unborn child, such as premature delivery and low birth weight.

2. What are the immediate benefits of stopping smoking?

The health benefits of smoking cessation (quitting) are immediate and substantial. Almost immediately, a person’s circulation begins to improve and the level of carbon monoxide in the blood begins to decline. (Carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless gas found in cigarette smoke, reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen.) A person’s pulse rate and blood pressure, which may be abnormally high while smoking, begin to return to normal. Within a few days of quitting, a person’s sense of taste and smell return, and breathing becomes increasingly easier.

3. What are the long-term benefits of stopping smoking?

People who quit smoking live longer than those who continue to smoke. After 10 to 15 years, a previous tobacco user’s risk of premature death approaches that of a person who has never smoked. About 10 years after quitting, an ex-smoker’s risk of dying from lung cancer is 30 percent to 50 percent less than the risk for those who continue to smoke. Women who stop smoking before becoming pregnant or who quit in the first 3 months of pregnancy can reverse the risk of low birth weight for the baby and reduce other pregnancy-associated risks. Quitting also reduces the risk of other smoking-related diseases, including heart disease and chronic lung disease.

There are also many benefits to smoking cessation for people who are sick or who have already developed cancer. Smoking cessation reduces the risk for developing infections, such as pneumonia, which often causes death in patients with other existing diseases.

4. Does cancer risk change after quitting smoking?

Quitting smoking reduces the risk for developing cancer, and this benefit increases the longer a person remains “smoke free.” People who quit smoking reduce their risk of developing and dying from lung cancer. They also reduce their risk of other types of cancer (see question 1). The risk of premature death and the chance of developing cancer due to cigarettes depends on the number of years of smoking, the number of cigarettes smoked per day, the age at which smoking began, and the presence or absence of illness at the time of quitting. For people who have already developed cancer, quitting smoking reduces the risk of developing another primary cancer.

5. At what age is smoking cessation the most beneficial?

Smoking cessation benefits men and women at any age. Some older adults may not perceive the benefits of quitting smoking; however, smokers who quit before age 50 have half the risk of dying in the next 16 years compared with people who continue to smoke. By age 64, their overall chance of dying is similar to that of people the same age who have never smoked. Older adults who quit smoking also have a reduced risk of dying from coronary heart disease and lung cancer. Additional, immediate benefits (such as improved circulation, and increased energy and breathing capacity) are other good reasons for older adults to become smoke free.

6. What are some of the difficulties associated with quitting smoking?

Quitting smoking may cause short-term after-effects, especially for those who have smoked a large number of cigarettes for a long period of time. People who quit smoking are likely to feel anxious, irritable, hungry, more tired, and have difficulty sleeping. They may also have difficulty concentrating. Many tobacco users gain weight when they quit, but usually less than 10 pounds. These changes do subside. People who kick the habit have the opportunity for a healthier future.

7. How can health care providers help their patients to stop smoking?

Doctors and dentists can be good sources of information about the health risks of smoking and about quitting. They can tell their patients about the proper use and potential side effects of nicotine replacement therapy (see question , and help them find local smoking cessation programs.

Doctors and dentists can also play an important role by asking patients about smoking at every office visit; advising patients to stop; assisting patients by setting a quit date, providing self-help materials, and suggesting nicotine replacement therapies (when appropriate); and arranging for followup visits.

8. What is nicotine replacement therapy?

Nicotine is the drug in cigarettes and other forms of tobacco that causes addiction. Nicotine replacement products deliver small, steady doses of nicotine into the body, which helps to relieve the withdrawal symptoms often felt by people trying to quit smoking. These products, which are available in four forms (patches, gum, nasal spray, and inhaler), appear to be equally effective. There is evidence that combining the nicotine patch with nicotine gum or nicotine nasal spray increases long-term quit rates compared with using a single type of nicotine replacement therapy. Nicotine gum, in combination with nicotine patch therapy, may also reduce withdrawal symptoms better than either medication alone. Researchers recommend combining nicotine replacement therapy with advice or counseling from a doctor, dentist, pharmacist, or other health provider.

* The nicotine patch, which is available over the counter (without a prescription), supplies a steady amount of nicotine to the body through the skin. The nicotine patch is sold in varying strengths as an 8-week smoking cessation treatment. Nicotine doses are gradually lowered as the treatment progresses. The nicotine patch may not be a good choice for people with skin problems or allergies to adhesive tape.

* Nicotine gum is available over the counter in 2- and 4-mg strengths. Chewing nicotine gum releases nicotine into the bloodstream through the lining of the mouth. Nicotine gum might not be appropriate for people with temporomandibular joint disease (TMJ) or for those with dentures or other dental work such as bridges.

* Nicotine nasal spray was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1996 for use by prescription only. The spray comes in a pump bottle containing nicotine that tobacco users can inhale when they have an urge to smoke. This product is not recommended for people with nasal or sinus conditions, allergies, or asthma, nor is it recommended for young tobacco users.

* A nicotine inhaler, also available only by prescription, was approved by the FDA in 1997. This device delivers a vaporized form of nicotine to the mouth through a mouthpiece attached to a plastic cartridge. Even though it is called an inhaler, the device does not deliver nicotine to the lungs the way a cigarette does. Most of the nicotine only travels to the mouth and throat, where it is absorbed through the mucous membranes. Common side effects include throat and mouth irritation and coughing. Anyone with a bronchial problem such as asthma should use it with caution.

9. Are there smoking cessation aids that do not contain nicotine?

Bupropion, a prescription antidepressant marketed as Zyban®, was approved by the FDA in 1997 to treat nicotine addiction. This drug can help to reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms and the urge to smoke. Some common side effects of bupropion are dry mouth, difficulty sleeping, dizziness, and skin rash. People should not use this drug if they have a seizure condition such as epilepsy or an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia, or if they are taking other medicines that contain bupropion hydrochloride.

10. What if efforts to quit result in relapse?

Many smokers find it difficult to quit smoking, and it may take two or three attempts before they are finally able to quit. Although relapse rates are most common in the first few weeks or months after quitting, people who stop smoking for 3 months are often able to remain cigarette-free for the rest of their lives.

Sources: 1, 2

How memory works or Why we forget

Forgetting is normal and necessary. Your brain is bombarded with millions of bits of information every day. All of this information could not possibly be stored, nor is it important enough to remember for any length of time. The mind decides what information is unimportant and immediately disregards it. What your mind remembers is what you need to function. There are strategies to use that will increase your ability to remember important information.

Types of Memory

Sensory Memory – We are constantly processing information gathered through our senses. Through selective attention, your mind determines what of the huge amount of incoming information is important and ignores the rest. When you concentrate on your professor’s lecture or the discussion that is going on you use selective attention to deem this information important. Although sensory information is only kept in your mind a few seconds, by concentrating on a certain piece of information, you can transfer it to your short-term memory.

Short-Term Memory – Information in your short-term memory lasts only about a minute. When you meet someone and they tell you their name, chances are, an hour later, you won’t remember their name. By reciting and rehearsing information like names, lists or phone numbers, you can increase your retention of the information. Short-term memory is limited, however. The average number of items you can keep in short-term memory is seven. To remember larger amounts of information you must group it into common themes, memorize “chunks” of information at once, or use other strategies to improve retention.

Long-Term Memory – Once information is moved to long-term memory, it is integrated with existing information. If this integration is not successfully done, the information may get “lost” and will be harder to recall. Long-term memory is like a giant warehouse full of file cabinets. You take information you know and you place it in existing “files.” If there is no existing file and you do not create one by integrating like information, the information may be more difficult to recall.

The 3 R’s of Memory

Reception – Be attentive and observant. This will help you receive important information more easily. Engage all of your senses. Look at the professor, listen to the lecture and discussion, and take notes. Ask questions if you aren’t clear about something. If you don’t understand, you won’t be able to remember. Survey before reading the material. If you know what the selection is about before reading, you will be more attentive to the information.

Retention – Make a conscious effort to remember what is being said. If you set goals for your performance and motivate yourself this will give you the incentive to remember. Become an active reader by highlighting and marking your text. Review your notes frequently to increase your retention. Recite your notes aloud when possible. By using both your visual and auditory senses, you will increase your retention rate. Do all your homework when it is assigned. Using information in and out of the classroom will help you remember it better. See the list of Memory Aids for tips on improving your memory.

Recollection – Organize your material before the test. Group tests, summaries, and notes according to chapters and similar topics. Make a list of important topics and what you should know about them. The week before the test set up a block of time (2-3 hours) to thoroughly review the information. Remember to take breaks when studying! During the test visualize your diagrams and flashcards to help remember the information. Use practice tests to study. Anticipate possible test questions and make up your own test or look at old tests if they are available from the professor.

Memory Aids

Mnemonics – rhymes, sayings or phrases that repeat or codify the information you’re trying to remember. HOMES – an acronym that stands for the first letter of each of the five Great Lakes Fall Back, Spring Ahead – this phrase helps you remember Daylight Savings Time Thirty days hath September… - this jingle helps you remember how many days there are in each of the twelve months.

Associate – Relate the information you’re trying to remember to something you already know. To help remember the three stages of memory (reception, retention, and recollection) you can associate the mind with a computer. By recalling the computer’s three processes (input, storage, and output) you will be able to remember the stages of memory.

Visualize – Drawing out pictures and diagrams makes the information easier to recall by visualizing the drawing while taking the test. When memorizing the names of bones in the body, draw a human skeleton and label the bones. During the test, visualize the skeleton and you will be able to remember the names.

Flashcards – Write key words or terms that you need to know on one side of an index card. Write the explanation or definition on the other side of the card. Carry these cards with you and review them as often as possible.

Academic Resource Center, Wheeling Jesuit University, 2001.

Want to estimate the risk of having a heart attack? It allows to take preventive measures and descrease this risk.

Heart Attack Risk Calculator

Please, just because you want to lose weight, don’t dump your nutritious foods and live on celery sticks and diet sodas. It will hurt you in the long run by depriving you of needed nutrition and fiber.

Instead replace some of your unhealthy foods with healthy foods. You can start a better diet and it will be a low calorie diet compared to what many people have been eating.

Focus on more vegetables in your diet. Especially the leafy green vegetables. Eat 7 or more half-cup servings of vegetables a day. This would mean two or three different servings of vegetables per meal.

Eat a variety of vegetables, with a variety of colors each day. This creates visual appeal, different textures and the good nutrition that you need.

Don’t cut them out, but don’t use as much of the root vegetables because they are more starchy. Example: potatoes, sweet potatoes.

Drink water instead of soft drinks and fruit juices. This will lower your calories and provide you with the fluids you need for health and weight loss. Yes, water and plenty of it will help you lose weight.

Be ready ahead of time for snacks. Don’t reach for the nearest goodie or candy bar, instead get out the snack you thought about ahead of time. Maybe a little cheese and apple, a piece of fruit, or some cottage cheese with mixed fruit. Keep the serving small - it is not a meal, just a snack.

Consider Fiber And Protein

One of the best ways for you to get that full feeling without filling up on lots of food is to consume foods that are rich in good fiber and lean proteins. Now, you’ve heard all about low carb diets and those are anything but the best choice for you. Unfortunately, you’ll need to invest a few minutes in finding out what carbs are good carbs and which are the right ones. The fact is that you can’t just cut them out. If you do, you’ll end up having to restrict yourself for the rest of your life. Instead, consider a low calorie diet solution.

When you eat foods that are refined carbs, such as those that are white including rice and pasta, you are packing on carbs that don’t do much for you at all. Instead, consider eating brown rice and whole grain wheat pasta. Chances are you won’t notice the difference but they will provide you with another benefit too. They will fill you up. So, they provide a nutritional benefit that your body needs and they keep you full longer and faster, meaning you eat less. The end result is that they are the perfect choice for the low calorie diet.

In addition to this, consider the protein that you need. Again, you can’t cut out the proteins altogether, but you can control the ones that you consume. Answering questions on how to do a low calorie diet, one would say that If you eat more lean proteins, such as those like fish and lean cuts of chicken, you will gain the protein that your body needs that is no full of saturated fats that your body shouldn’t have. In fact, lean proteins also provide a full sensation that will last, allowing you to eat less and lose weight.

Eat less and lose weight, that’s as simple as a low calorie diet can get.

Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeannie_Crabtree

Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Lang 

It is no secret that some of us want to loose weight.

Take control of your weight

In order to loose weight, you need to use up more calories than you eat. To do this, multiply your ideal body weight (in kilograms) by 15 (if you are active) or 13 (if you are not so active). The result is the maximum number of calories you should eat per day to gradually achieve your ideal body weight.

• Use the chart below to determine the range for your ideal body weight. Aim to get your weight into the ideal range. Don’t overdo it and drop too far below that range.
  
  
• Remember that loosing weight gradually and keeping it off is better for you than loosing weight quickly and then putting it back on again.
• A rapid increase in body weight (i.e. overnight) may be a sign of fluid retention and you should consult your physician promptly.
• Calculate and monitor your body mass index (BMI). This is one way to determine when extra pounds translate into health risks. The BMI is a measure that takes into account a person’s weight and height to estimate total body fat in adults. The higher your BMI, the greater your risk of developing additional health problems. You can calculate your BMI by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in metres, squared (or visit http://www.nutri-facts.com/bmi.asp where you can find a calculator that will do this for you).

I should like to point out some FREE online tools for keeping your nutrition/diet daily journal. Track how much stuff you eat and see if you’re missing out on some.

* FitDay
* Traineo
* My Pyramid Tracker
* Ontri
* The Daily Plate

Good luck!