Is Nicotine Replacement Therapy A Waste Of Time?

Nicotine gums, patches and nasal sprays. Most smokers should be familiar with these items. These are things desperate smokers turn to hoping to quit smoking in the fastest way. Unfortunately, a study has found that they have no lasting benefit.

In a rigorous long-term study conducted by the Harvard University School of Public Health, one-third of smokers who gave up smoking with the help of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) relapsed over time. This figure is no less than smokers who had not used these products.

The study revealed that smokers complained that NRT’s did not increase their odds of quitting smoking in the long run.

The study, published in the journal Tobacco Control, went on to say: “This may indicate that some heavily dependent smokers perceive NRT as a sort of ‘magic’ pill, and upon realising it is not, they find themselves without support in their quitting efforts, doomed to failure.”

Researchers said support from family and friends, anti-smoking media campaigns, tougher smoking laws, increasing tobacco taxes, and personal motivation can have a better success rate at helping smokers quit smoking.

This study really shows what quitsmokingaids.org has been advocating for so many years has been right after all… JUST QUIT! You don’t need drugs and medicine and lasers and what not to quit smoking. Just plain cold turkey will do!

Of course, one important aspect is to have strong network of friends and family to support you, as well as an undying spirit inside you that keeps telling you that you can quit smoking successfully. Read this, and this, and this and you are sure to be on your way to quitting smoking.

6 Fool Proof Ways To Quit Smoking Instantly

1. Cold Turkey

To go cold turkey, you have to set a quit date to stop smoking. Once the day arrives, throw away your cigarettes, lighters/matches, ashtrays… anything and everything that reminds you of smoking. Withdrawal symptoms are the most intense using the cold turkey method.
The success rate is about 10%, using data obtained from clinical trial. However, it could increase to 20% if cold turkey is supplemented by nicotine replacement therapy or prescription medication to help you cope with cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

2. Gradual Reduction

As with cold turkey, you too need to set a quit date for this method. The only difference is that you have to progressively cut down on your cigarettes until you no longer smoke. Say you smoke 10 sticks of cigarettes per day, you may set a target to quit in 10 days. Along the way, you reduce 1 stick a day until the tenth day when you have to quit smoking completely. This greatly reduces your cravings and withdrawal symptoms aren’t as strong as the cold turkey method.

3. Nicotine Replacement Therapy

With Nicotine Replacement Therapy, you use products such as patches, gums and inhalers. These products release small amounts of nicotine into the body, thereby alleviating withdrawal symptoms. Since only a small amount of nicotine is absorbed slowly into your body, these products are not addictive.
The success rate is in the high teens for smokers who use nicotine replacement therapy.

4. Prescription Medication

Prescription drugs can reduce your cravings and withdrawal symptoms. For example, the drug Chantix interrupts the pleasure that smokers derive from smoking by working on the same receptors in the brain that nicotine stimulates. It also works by occupying these receptors and preventing nicotine from stimulating them. When you are taking Chantix, you do not derive as much satisfaction from smoking as before. Therefore, you are less likely to want to continue smoking.

5. Hypnotherapy or Hypnosis

You are placed under hypnosis to help you quit smoking. This can be done with a hypnotherapist, or with audio products. Some people are known to have responded to only a single session of therapy. Hypnotherapy deals with the habits and behaviors associated with smoking and there is no need for any medication. It may also deal with the underlying issues of emotional smokers or people who smoke when they are in a lousy mood. If you are this kind of smoker, you might benefit from this kind of treatment. Click here for more information.

6. Rob Mellor’s Quit Smoking Today

Rob Mellor is an expert in NLP (Neuro-Linguistic-Programming). NLP is a form of psychotherapy which he has applied to help smokers quit smoking. His revolutionary techniques have been extensively tested on over 5000 smokers and the results were indeed impressive, judging by his claims at his website. Click here to find out more.
The advantage of this program is that it eradicates the usual problems that are associated with quitting smoking such as cravings, short temper, hunger and weight gain. It’s like going cold turkey without torturing yourself.

The Benefits Of Quitting Smoking Early

A study in a Singapore University found that it is never too late to quit smoking.

Data gathered by National university of Singapore shows that the risk of dying is reduced within 5 years of quitting smoking.

Much has already been written about the reduced risk of death after kicking the habit. However, it has never been established how quickly the benefits of quitting smoking can be seen.

After studying more than sixty thousand participants aged between 45 to 74, the researchers found that those who quit for less than five years were found to have 76 per cent risk of lung cancer compared to current smokers.

For those who had quit for 17 years or more, the risk was reduced to 44 per cent.

One of the researchers said that the results showed that the benefits of quitting smoking starts rapidly even in men and women aged 60 and above.

Seven Types Of Food For Healthy Lungs

Many smokers know that if your lungs aren’t healthy you are not getting the required amount of oxygen to your body. Your lungs are the vital gas exchange in your body that ensure the respiratory system is working properly.

Your lungs serve many functions in your body. To have a healthy body, it is essential for you to have healthy lungs. It is a statistical fact that most diagnosed with lung cancer are smokers. To protect your health and your lungs, not only do you need to quit smoking, it would also do you a whole world of good by including as many of these foods as possible in your diet.

Fish

Natural Vitamin E is good for the lungs and helps to prevent disease by fighting free radicals that harm the body. Most fish contain Vitamin E and it should be an important dish in your meals. A higher intake of Vitamin E can reduce the risk of lung cancer by more than half, as cited in a study published in the International Journal of Cancer.

Mushroom

Studies have found that Vitamin D can slow declining lung function for those with asthma. Mushrooms are the only vegetables which contain this vitamin. Mushrooms can also help lower high sugar levels which can cause diabetes, which in turn can  cause damage to the lungs. However, sunlight is still your best source of Vitamin D.

Garlic

Mucus can build up on the surface of your lungs over time, which can affect your breathing. Garlic is good at detoxing the lungs and with helping to clear the buildup of this mucus. Garlic contains allicin which can also improve circulation in the lungs, resulting in improved breathing.

Asparagus

Asparagus has the same health benefits as fish because of Vitamin E that is found in this vegetable. Other than the benefit that is stated above, Vitamin E also helps to reduce the risk of developing diseases such as COPD (Coronary Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that COPD is the 5th leading cause of death worldwide.

Leafy Green Vegetables

Leafy green vegetables are rich in magnesium as well as Vitamin C. Vitamin C plays a very important part when it comes to building elastin and collagen in all cells. Together with magnesium, they help maintain healthy lungs by keeping the tissue healthy and reducing the rate of loss of lung function.

Papaya

Beta-carotene protects the lungs as it is converted into Vitamin A. Papayas are a rich source of beta-carotene. Vitamin A helps protect the lungs by lowering the risk of emphysema. Emphysema is a disease which causes shortness of breath due to the damage to the tissue supporting the physical shape of the lungs. Papayas also contain vitamins E and C.

Apple

Last but not least, how can anyone leave apples out of their diet? It is largely recognised as a fruit which has many benefits for the lungs. Apples contain quercetin, tannins and other antioxidants which protect the lungs and help to improve their functions.

This article is not meant to diagnose or treat any lung diseases. For more detailed methods of detoxing and maintaining healthy lungs, please go to this website.

The Way To Quit Smoking – My Story

Dear Friend,

Welcome to Quit Smoking Aids, and thank you for dropping by.

My name is Marcus, and I know what you are looking for. I was a smoker for 18 years, and once upon a time, I was like you, spending large amount of money on different quit smoking aids like drugs and pills hoping that I could kick my smoking habit for good. Needless to say, they weren’t as effective on me as it was claimed in the advertisements. Not only did the drugs not help me stop lighting up another cigarette, it instead burned a huge hole in my pocket.

I decided enough was enough… until I met my ex-colleague Damien who told me he managed to quit smoking in 5 days using a system so simple anybody could kick the habit without raising a sweat.

I must say I was very surprised that Damien managed to quit smoking before I did! You see, many years ago when Damien and I were working in the same company, he was a very heavy smoker averaging 40 sticks a day. I was smoking only half that amount!

Then one day, an announcement by our company hit us like a ton of brick. They were going to tear down the office smoking room, and we would have to go down 22 floors to our office lobby just to smoke! Damien and I decided it wasn’t going to help our career if we were seen sneaking out of office every half an hour or so for that all important puff, and made a pact to quit smoking together.

We tried all methods, from cold turkey to drugs and hypnotism, but still ended up craving for cigarettes. Then things happened in the company and Damien quit. I followed not long after…

Fast forward 6 years. I met Damien in an industry seminar (yes we are still in the same industry). We talked about how he had looked more vibrant and how I was still trying to quit smoking. He said he had quit, and told me about a method that was given to him by someone who had successfully quit smoking naturally without any drugs or medicines. I was curious, and asked him to send me the materials so I could give it a try…

That was 9 years ago when I met Damien at the seminar, and I have been smoke-free ever since, using the exact same method that Damien gave me. Soon, many of my smoker friends started asking me how I did it, and I found myself repeating the methods to them over and over again. It soon got to a point where I thought it would be better if I could make this public material so that everyone who are serious about quitting can have access to the methods.

But in order to make this system work, you need to be serious about quitting smoking. I do not want to give to people who asked for it just because it’s free, and do not take action. I had half a mind of charging for it, but decided against it as it would be unfair to people like you who genuinely want to quit.

So there you have it. Go ahead and get the FREE eCourse (top right hand corner) and be smoke-free in 5 days flat. You will not be disappointed!

Good luck and stay healthy always,
Marcus

Dr. Drew Quitting Smoking Tips

Dr. Drew Pinsky Provides New Tips and Resources to Help Smokers Overcome Smoking Addiction.

How to Stop Smoking -Quick & Easy

www.leinsterhypnotherapyclinic.ie There are two different types of hypnotherapy for various symptoms and conditions. The two types of hypnotherapy are known as Suggestion Therapy (also known as clinical hypnosis) and Analytical Hypnotherapy (also known as hypnoanalysis, or ‘Pure’ hypnoanalysis as it is called in the association). Suggestion Therapy (clinical hypnosis) Suggestion therapy is a wonderfully quick and powerful type of therapy using the state of hypnosis. In suggestion therapy the client is induced into a relaxing hypnotic state and given positive hypnotic suggestions specifically tailored to reframe and change a persons behavior the symptoms you are wanting help with. Suggestion therapy is particularly successful for so-called minor symptoms such as to stop and quit smoking, pre-test nerves, nail-biting and assistance with pain control especially in relaxed childbirth therapy.

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It’s Never Too Late To Quit Smoking

Studies have shown that quitting smoking at any stage can save a smoker’s life. Even if it doesn’t, your life could be prolonged because you have stopped smoking.

Doctors in England said that smokers diagnosed with lung cancer should not assume they have a death sentence. Quitting smoking even if you are diagnosed with a fatal illness can greatly boost your chances of  survival.

63 to 70 percent of smokers who quit after diagnosis were still alive after five years. This 5-year period is a benchmark of survival in cancer research. On the other hand, only 29 to 33 per cent of smokers who continued to smoke survived this 5-year period, said an online report published by the British Medical Journal.

The study was a result of a review of 10 published studies in smoking and cancer survival carried out by scientists at Birmingham University, central England.

The authors speculated that tobacco smoke may accelerate progression of a tumor, although further work is needed to confirm this.

In spite of the lack of empirical evidence, the study showed it could be worthwhile for doctors to encourage smokers to give up their habit when diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer.

The connection between smoking and lung cancer has been know for many years. The risk of developing a primary lung tumor is 20 times greater for a hardcore smoker than a non-smoker, according to a 2003 study.

So smokers, stub it out while you still can!