The New Wellness Revolution

Government institutions like the Department of Health and City Health Office spent millions of dollars to campaign against smoking. Unfortunately, statistics show that it’s still a problem that has unceasingly been causing several illnesses like coronary heart disease, lung disease, hardening of the arteries, hypertension, ulcer, emphysema, acute bronchitis and others.

Chemicals that are found in tobacco smoke are nicotine and tar that get deposited in the bronchi and lungs. Some other chemicals that are found in tobacco are:

1 . Acetone
2 . Ammonia
3. Carbon Monoxide
4. Carbon Dioxide
5. Hydrogen Cyanide
6. Methane
7. Benzopyrene

All these chemicals are the major factors that causes the health problems related to smoking.

So why is it hard to quit smoking? Nicotine increases the activities of dopamine, a chemical in the brain that elicits pleasurable sensation. The hardest part is the withdrawal thus if you think of starting to quit, here’s few tips that you have to remember.

1. Choose a date to quit where your level of stress is at the lowest.
2. For women, do not start quitting during your premenstrual period where your stress level is high.
3. Commit to lowering the number of sticks every week.
4. Exercise.
5. Drink plenty of water.
6. Eat healthy fruits and vegetables.
7. Take plenty of vitamins and minerals.
8. Tell your friends you quit smoking so you will get embarrassed if they catch you smoking.
9. Take naps, warm bath or shower during intensive cravings to smoke.
10. Change your activities or habits that are associated with smoking. If necessary, change your circle of friends or try avoiding your friends every time they go for a smoke.

Benefits of quitting smoking:

Chronologically, these are the benefits when one decides to quit smoking:

1. Within 20 minutes, the blood pressure and pulse rate drop to normal, the body temperature of the hands and feet returns to normal.
2. Within 8 hours, the carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal and the oxygen level I blood increases to normal.
3. Within 24 hours, the risk of a sudden heart attack decreases.
4. Within 48 hours, the nerve endings begin to regenerate and a person’s ability to smell and taste begins to return to normal.
5. Within 2 weeks to 3 months, blood circulation improves and lung function increases up to 30%.
6. Within 1 to 9 months, overall energy increases, signs and symptoms of coughing, nasal congestion, fatigue, and shortness of breath are markedly reduced. Natural cleansing mechanisms of the respiratory tract returns to normal, so that the body is able to handle mucus, clean the respiratory tract, and prevent respiratory infections.
7. Within 1 year, risk of coronary heart disease is reduced by 50%.
8. Within 5 years, the risk of dying from lung cancer is reduced by 50%. The risk of cancer of the mouth is half that of a tobacco user.
9. Within 10 years, the risk of dying lung cancer, stroke and heart attack is the same as that of a non-smoker’s.

So why quit smoking? We just mentioned all the right reasons for you to quit and experience a healthier lifestyle. That should be ample reason to seriously think about making a change.

Posted on 08.March 2008 at 14:35 in Health. Trackback-Url for this Article.