“Just stop”, we’re told. Stop smoking, that is, by just deciding to stop. Wouldn’t it be great if it were that easy? But the fact is that both physiological changes and psychological issues play a role in any stop-smoking program. Even the most determined can rarely just flip a switch and never smoke cigarettes again. [...]

There are several different types of products on the market today to help smokers quit. Only about 6% of those who try to stop permanently succeed their first time. Using one or more of the products discussed below can help you be in that group. One of the most popular products is the nicotine patch. [...]

One of the more serious possible conditions from long-term cigarette smoking is heart disease. That’s a statement we hear often in discussions of smoking. But what does it really mean? What is heart disease, and how does smoking cause it? In this context, the phrase ‘heart disease’ usually refers to coronary artery disease. That’s a [...]

The role that long-term, heavy smoking plays in developing lung cancer and heart disease are widely known. But it also plays a significant role in damaging dozens of other body systems and overall health. For example, even apart from specific damage to the lungs or larynx or arteries, smoking reduces the desire to exercise in [...]

Heavy, long-term cigarette smoking is often said to cause cancer, most prominently lung cancer and cancer of the larynx. And, the evidence is very strong, amounting to near certainty. But, interestingly enough, exactly how it does so is not fully known. It remains an active area of research. Normal cells may be damaged, but they [...]

One of the common effects of quitting smoking is weight gain, usually from 5-10 pounds, sometimes more. But, though common, it’s not inevitable. Weight gain from a stop-smoking program can have a number of causes. For many individuals, it’s a natural response to cravings from nicotine withdrawal. They substitute food for smoking. Increase the amount [...]

Many who consider quitting smoking think “the damage is done”. Or, “Why bother, it’s too late”. The scientific data say otherwise. It says the benefits are immediate and long-lasting. Within the first hour after you stop smoking, blood pressure and pulse decrease and the internal temperature of the hands and feet increase. The compounds produced [...]

Stopping smoking often brings on cravings for that foregone cigarette. There’s no one magic method for dealing with withdrawal cravings that works for every individual. Each person employs a different stop-smoking method and each one will react differently as nicotine levels are reduced. But there are a handful of techniques that have proved effective for [...]

Psychotherapy can help you stop smoking permanently. But it need not involve expensive counseling sessions with a professional. Any mixture of self-help and outside assistance can up your odds of a permanent change in behavior, one conducive to long-term health. Don’t limit your choice to any one school of psychotherapy – there are a dozen [...]

Many smokers start or continue their habit in order to deal with stress. But quitting smoking increases stress itself. That double-whammy makes it doubly hard to stop. Understanding what creates stress and finding healthier ways to deal with it well help in that struggle. At low dosages, nicotine is a stimulant. It increases heart rate [...]