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On 2nd October 2008 the ban on smoking was imposed at public places. But the question is how far it has been implemented and who is implementing it. Just imposing a ban for the heck of it doesn’t really help and a mere fine of Rs.200 is nothing for someone who would spend like 100 bugs on a packet of cigarette. Its not just the government that is to be blamed but also the public which is not ready to change. Children look curiously at these smokers ... Why should there be a special smoking zone in malls, restaurants, hotels etc.. that ways you are actually asking them to smoke… these people are thinking about the business and the profit… why would they be concerned about your health. The sad part is that most of the smokers are aware of the hazards of smoking… but most of them say “Life Life King Size, lets not talk about future.. Live Today”. Neither the public is bothered about the Ban nor are they being fined by the government. “The latest data reveals that, by 2010, one million Indians will die due to smoking-related diseases. Thus, the irony is that smoking is the single largest cause of preventable death in the country.” Smokers live about 14 years less than nonsmokers, are at increased risk for a laundry list of health problems.
How can some one who loves smoking quit this deadly habit? Well one of the safest solutions is to join the brigade of quitters. But as all of us know it may not be that easy. In fact it is a Herculean task which only few can achieve. Smoking is a habit which is easy to form but difficult to leave. Even when one determines to leave smoking, it reoccurs with vengeance. One is left to suffer like a fish without water.
A question to all the smokers of the world; Do you actually like seeing yourself in that state; where you are practically dependent on a piece of cigarette, without which your living becomes miserable? we all try to defend our smoking habit by giving one or the other reason, but in our hearts we all know that it is the worst habit that we ever picked in our life.
The biggest problems in quitting smoke are the cravings. When we smoke, nicotine enters our brain cells through blood and activates our pleasure producing cells. The effect produced is overpowering, in order to return to the same pleasurable state we smoke again and this is how we get addicted to it. But when we want to quit we face problems like anxiety, uneasiness, troubled state of mind, excitement, pain in the head and body, upset stomach, diarrhea etc. If one doesn’t have a strong willpower he is bound to get defeated by these cravings.
Here is a link, that might be of some use to those who are serious about quitting this deadly habit.
http://www.rd.com/living-healthy/25-ways-to-stop-smoking-cigarettes/article16127.html
Apart from the ones mentioned in the link Psychotherapy, Hypnosis, Medication, Rehabiliation Centre are the other ways that would help in quitting smoking.
If we all look at the problem of smoking from a wiser angle we will find that it definitely is a sweet poison which slowly and lovingly snatches away our life from us.
DON’T LET YOUR LIFE GO OFF THIS WAY, IT IS VERY PRECIOUS. PLEASE LOVE AND RESPECT YOUR LIFE.
Can you pls put in your views on this.
Just wanted to understand from your experience as a doctor as to how can someone actually quit smoking.... inspite of all the determination and will power, i have seen one of my close friend falling prey to this habit again and again.
The information you provided is very accurate.
I am gathering data regarding smoking effects on health for more than 3 years.
Smoking is like an injection with nicotine, which needs 7 second to reach directly to the brain. It's one of the most powerful addiction. Nicotine produces a dependency 6-8 times more than alcohol and similar to cocaine consume. More than 95% of the smokers are addicted due to the direct stimulation that nicotine produces to brain cells.
It's very difficult to quit smoking. It takes a lot of will and determination to do it. The relapse is very frequent.
Those who are trying to quit smoking should be encouraged, supported by their families and closed friends. They should not be judged, they should be understood.
It is much easier if they try to replace the habit of smoking with another one (eating fruits, chewing gum), to keep their hands busy until they loose this habit. They should also avoid drinking caffeine.
They should avoid stress in the immediate days, take a rest, seek the company of others to help them in keeping their decision cause they are very often tempted to give up and start smoking again.
They can also use nicotine patches to release a little quantity of nicotine through skin in blood vessels in order to diminish the discomfort caused by quitting.
The information you provided is very accurate.
I am gathering data regarding... See Claudia's complete reply
Thanks a ton Claudia for your reply.. i had actually posted this forum for more than a month now... didnt c any response.. but this time i was sure you would revert ;)
I really appreciate your efforts in gathering data regarding smoking effects... . i wish there would actually be a ban on manufacturing cigerattes ;)
Replacing smoking with another habit sounds good... provided the victim is willing to do so.... I would also like to add meditation as a substitute.... this would give that inner strength and detremination required to quit smoking ( my views)
How about counselling / psychotheraphy ?... would that work? ... what impact would that have ?
Nicotine patches.... are they safe ... coz i have read somewhere that it has many side effects? Claudia, Looks like i have loaded you with many questions :) ( i feel your expertise in the medical field would throw much light on this)
How fair is it to have a special smoking zone for offices / restuarants and other public places ? Do we actually see the ban? Is this not alluring the smokers?
I want everybody to please participate and share their views and experiences on this...
Yes, you are absolutely right: psychic is very important in every disease and in quitting smoking too. Meditating, finding inner peace, searching for the equilibrium in your life helps to overcome the discomfort of quitting. Psychotherapy helps also by getting to know your inner self, finding your strength and your personal motivation.
The most difficult step is - once someone decided to give up this habit - to persist in his/her decision, overcoming the negative immediate symptoms, the irritability, the tremor or the fear of gaining weight. At this point, family, friends support and psychotherapy are the most important.
This is a useful link regarding psychotherapy:
http://www.altmd.com/Articles/Psychotherapy-for-Quitting-Smoking
Nicotine patches help in cases of severe addiction cause they release a small quantity of nicotine, to help the nervous system getting used to less and less nicotine until you can quit much easier. It's a safe method used on a short time. I have my doubts regarding it's efficiency. I think the most appropriate way to quit smoking is to establish an exact date, when you don't have a stressful time and quit at once, without "prolonging" it undefined.
We didn't say anything about passive smokers - who are exposed to the same diseases and who's life quality is affected by smoke. It's proven that a smoker inhales 15% of the smoke from a cigarette, while 85% is released in the air and so non-smokers can inhale the 4000 chemical substances (60 of them causing cancer) from the smoke too.
The solution would be to stop the production of cigarettes. How stupid it is to show images of sick children, genetic malformations, tumors, grey lungs on the cigarette packs but still commercialize them. How can we hope to do that when cigarette companies are giants that make fortunes in the detriment of our health.
Yes, you are absolutely ri... See Claudia's complete reply
This link is very informative, thanks Cluadia.
I totally agree, that the best way is to establish date.... its like setting a target for yourself..... prolonging it might make you weak as well and yes support from family and friends is equally important.
Passive Smoking … we missed it ....This link would give a detailed insight on the effects of passive smoking: http://www.chantixhome.com/passive_smoking_effects.html
Ban on manufacturing cigarretes is the best solution.. and im sure government would not do so as most of the revenue is generated from this business. But some intiative can definetley be taken by the government like increasing the tax on these products, which would inturn result in steep rise in price of a cigeratte pack.. some countries are already following this.
Just imagine how many ppl die bcoz of this habit on a daily basis... and still we turn a deaf ear to this cause considering this to be a habit...
- you don’t pollute the air;
- blood pressure is back to normal;
- the hands and feet temperature becomes normal.
After 8 hours:
- the carbon monoxide blood level decreases;
- the oxygen blood level becomes normal.
After 24 hours:
- the risk of vascular stroke decreases.
After 48 hours:
- the neurons are adapting to the absence of nicotine;
- the smell and taste capacity increases.
After at least 2 weeks to 3 months:
- the blood circulation and the capacity of lung are improved;
- respiratory symptoms are not so frequent;
- walking becomes much easier;
- the organism has more energy.
After one year:
- the cardiovascular mortality rate decreases with 50 %
These are all important steps, major achievements that should be known and should motivate any chronic smoker who wants to quit.
- you don’t pollute the air;
- blood p... See Claudia's complete reply
This is awesome claudia...
This would defintely motivate any chronic smoker. I will pass it on to all my friends.
It is very sad and disheartening that no body is participating in this discussion. This is for a good cause, request all of you to share your views and experiences.
Our discussions might actually help those who have even 0.1% of desire to quit smoking.
Don't worry that nobody is responding for this article. Hope all will be reading the article and the reply for ur questions.
Thanks Claudia for ur replies which are more informative.
I have forwarded this article to all my friends who smoke, to know the problems happening to them and also for the environment.
Rajila
Don't worry that nobody is responding for this article. Hope all will ... See Rajila's complete reply
Thanks Rajila.... my only motive is awareness and iam glad you have forwarded them to your friends.
Thanks to Rinku for bringing this up and Claudia for her great inputs.
Here are a few tips:
1. Pray to God and faithfully believe he would help you get rid of the habit. It's so addictive that it's almost impossible to stop without God's help.
2. Stop at once. Don't stop by gradually reducing and then stopping.
3. Learn and make a habit of diaphragm breathing and other deep breathing techniques. Deep breathing and smoking cannot go together!
RK
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