How to give up smoking?

Who smokes?

2008-06-08T13:21:00.000-07:00

Who Smokes?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 46.2 million US adults were current smokers in 2001 (the most recent year for which numbers are available). This is 22.8% of all adults (25.2% of men, 20.7% of women) - nearly 1 in every 4 people.

When broken down by race/ethnicity, the numbers were as follows:

Whites - 24,0 %
African Americans - 22,3 %
Hispanics - 16,7 %
American Indians/Alaska Natives - 32,7 %
Asian Americans - 12,4 %

Alarmingly, the numbers were higher in younger age groups. Almost 27% of those 18 to 24 years old were current smokers.

Nationwide, 22.9% of high school students were current smokers in 2002. White and Hispanic students were among the highest in terms of cigarette use.

Smoking Kills

2008-06-08T13:03:00.000-07:00

Smoking kills

1.1 Smoking kills. Smoking is the single greatest cause of preventable illness and premature death in the UK. Smoking kills over 120,000 people in the UK a year - more than 13 people an hour1. Every hour, every day. For the EU as a whole the number of deaths from tobacco is estimated at well over 500,000 a year2. A generation after the health risks from smoking were demonstrated beyond dispute, smoking is still causing misery to millions. Smoking is still killing.

' smoking kills more than 13 people an hour'

1.2 The Government is determined to see a major improvement in health in the UK. To help that, we have proposed tough and specific new targets for health improvement, backed with clear proposals for action to achieve them. Achieving these targets can only be done if we tackle smoking. One of the targets is to reduce cancer deaths. Another will be to reduce heart disease deaths. Cancer and heart disease are the two most common fatal diseases in this country. Smoking is a major cause of cancer and heart disease1.
1.3 The new targets will reinforce our key goals for public health improvement, which were set out with proposed targets in our consultative document earlier this year, Our Healthier Nation†3. They are:

to improve the health of the population as a whole by increasing the length of people's lives and the number of years people spend free from illness; and
to improve the health of the worst off in society and to narrow the health gap

Achieving the targets and these key goals will give everyone in our country a better chance to enjoy a full, healthy and prosperous life. It cannot be done unless we tackle smoking.

' achieving the targets and these key goals will give everyone in our country a better chance to enjoy a full, healthy and prosperous life. It cannot be done unless we tackle smoking'

1.4 We made clear in our election manifesto that we intended to take action over smoking. We are doing so with the proposals we are publishing here. Tackling smoking is central to cutting deaths from cancer and heart disease. Tackling smoking is central to improving health in Britain.

Smoking - the facts

1.5 Tobacco first came to Britain in the sixteenth century. But smoking as a mass habit is a phenomenon of the twentieth century. So too is smoking as a mass killer.

' smoking as a mass habit is a phenomenon of the twentieth century. So too is smoking as a mass killer'

1.6 Smoking peaked in the 1950s and 1960s, and fell steadily in the 1970s and 1980s4. Currently, there are around 13 million adult smokers in the UK5. But the long downward trend in smoking may be levelling out. Adult smoking rates rose in 1996, the last full year for which figures are available, for the first time since 1972. We may be seeing the beginning of a new upward trend in smoking. Among people aged 16 and over, the smoking rate of 28 per cent in England was the same as in 1992 and was up on the 1994 rate of 26 per cent6. The adult smoking rate is particularly high in Scotland and Walesat 32 per cent6,7. In No rthern Ireland it is 29 per cent8.

1.7 More and more children and young people are starting to smoke. The proportion of those aged 11 to 15 who smoke regularly was 8 per cent in England in 1988. In 1996 it was 13 per cent. The upward trend is particularly notable among girls. In 1988, just one in five 15-year-old girls smoked regularly. Now it is one in three9.
1.8 82 per cent of smokers take up the habit as teenagers6. Smoking is addictive, and many of the children and young people who smoke will go on to smoke all their lives.

' the vast majority of smokers take up the habit as teenagers - many will go on to smoke all their lives'

1.9 Rising rates of children smoking are feeding through into rates of adult smoking as each successive generation gets beyond the age of 16.

1.10 Internationally, Britain smokes heavily. While the availability and quality of smoking data varies considerably from country to country, according to World Health Organisation statistics on the quantity of cigarettes consumed per person, smokers in the UK consume about 25 per cent more than the EU average, though actual smoking rates in the UK are roughly at the average for the EU as a whole.
1.11 Other countries have had considerable success in reducing smoking rates. Norway, Finland and Iceland all introduced advertising bans back in the 1970s which were followed by hefty reductions in smoking rates or tobacco consumption10. Adult smoking rates in Finland were 22 per cent in 199611
1.12 Although Canada has taken some strong measures to tackle smoking, recent reductions in tobacco taxation have coincided with rising teenage smoking. In 1989, the US State of California introduced a comprehensive package of measures and, by 1993, average tobacco consumption per person had fallen by more than half. In 1996, adult smoking rates were 18 per cent compared with 22 per cent in the rest of the US12.
1.13 Smoking rates in the UK are considerably higher than those in places like California and Norway. The general experience of other countries is that comprehensive packages of measures can lead to significant reductions in smoking.

Smoking - the risks

1.14 Most people know that smoking is bad for health. Smoking, more than any other factor, cuts people's life expectancy. As well as being the prime cause of cancer and heart disease, it also causes many other fatal conditions and chronic illnesses among adults. The dangers of smoking are clear:

over 120,000 people are killed a year because they smoke
half of all who continue to smoke for most of their lives die of the habit; a quarter before the age of 69, and a quarter in old age13, at time when average life expectancy is 75 for men and nearly 80 for women14
those who smoke regularly and die of a smoking-related disease lose on average 16 years from their life expectancy compared to non-smokers13
for every 1000 20-year-old smokers it is estimated that while one will be murdered and six will die in motor accidents, 250 will die in middle age from smoking, and 250 will die in older age from smoking13

' for every 1000 20- year-old smokers it is estimated that one will be murdered, six will die in road accidents and 250 will die in middle age from smoking'

smoking is dangerous at any age, but the younger people start, the more likely they are to smoke for longer and to die early from smoking. Someone who starts smoking aged 15 is 3 times more likely to die of cancer due to smoking than someone who starts in their mid-20s15
smoking causes 84% of deaths from lung cancer, and 83% of deaths from chronic obstructive lung disease, including bronchitis1
smoking causes 46,500 deaths from cancer a year in the UK - 3 out of 10 cancer deaths1. As well as lung cancer, smoking can cause death by cancer of the mouth, larynx, oesophagus, bladder, kidney, stomach and pancreas1
smoking causes 1 out of every 7 deaths from heart disease - 40,300 deaths a year in the UK from all circulatory diseases1
smoking is also linked to many other serious conditions including asthma and brittle bone disease (osteoporosis)16
levels of smoking are particularly high among people with severe mental illness17. This is likely to be one of the reasons why the severely mentally ill tend to die younger

some ethnic groups in the UK favour chewed or other oral tobacco, notably betel quid. All forms of tobacco cause cancer18'

treating illness and disease caused by smoking is estimated to cost the NHS up to Ј1.7 billion every year.

treating illness and disease caused by smoking is estimated to cost the NHS up to Ј1.7 billion every year in terms of GP visits, prescriptions, treatment and operations19

The Health Risks of Cigarette Smoking

1.15 The UK has high rates of death due to smoking compared to most other countries in the EU. Women under 65 in the UK have the worst death rate from lung cancer of all EU countries except Denmark. They also have the second worst death rate from heart disease after women in Ireland. Men under 65 in the UK have a lower than average death rate from lung cancer, but the third worst death rate from heart disease after men in Finland and Ireland11.

Passive smoking

1.16 Passive smoking - breathing in other people's tobacco smoke- also kills. While most non-smokers are not exposed to levels of passive smoke sufficient for them to incur significant extra risk, many thousands are, such as those living with smokers or working in particularly smoky atmospheres for long periods of time. Non-smokers and smokers need to be made aware of the true risks.
1.17 Several hundred people a year in the UK are estimated to die from lung cancer brought about by passive smoking20. Passive smoking almost certainly also contributes to deaths from heart disease - an even bigger killer than lung cancer21.
1.18 Passive smoking, even in low levels, can cause illness18. Asthma sufferers are more prone to attacks in smoky atmospheres. Children, more vulnerable than adults and often with little choice over their exposure to tobacco smoke, are at particular risk.

' 17,000 hospital admissions in a single year of children under 5 are due to their parents smoking'

1.19 Children whose parents smoke are much more likely to develop lung illness and other conditions such as glue ear and asthma than children of non-smoking parents22. The Royal College of Physicians has estimated that as many as 17,000 hospital admissions in a single year of children under 5 are due to their parents smoking23. They also estimate that one quarter of cot deaths could be caused by mothers smoking. Women who smoke while pregnant are likely to reduce the birthweight, and damage the health, of their baby24.

Smoking and inequalities

1.20 Smoking more than any other identifiable factor contributes to the gap in healthy life expectancy between those most in need, and those most advantaged25. While overall smoking rates have fallen over the decades, for the least advantaged they have barely fallen at all. In 1996, 12 per cent of men in professional jobs smoked, compared with 40 per cent of men in unskilled manual jobs.

1.21 Such differences are reflected in the impact of smoking on health. A higher rate of smoking among people in manual jobs is matched by much higher rates of disease such as cancer and heart disease.
1.22 Between 1991 and 1993, among men aged 20 to 64 in professional work, 17 in every 100,000 died of lung cancer, compared with 82 per 100,000 in unskilled manual work. For the same period and age group, among professional workers, 81 per 100,000 died from coronary heart disease compared with 235 per 100,000 in unskilled manual jobs26.
1.23 The close link between smoking and health inequalities was highlighted again recently in the report of the independent inquiry into health inequalities chaired by Sir Donald Acheson27. The report concluded that the relatively stable rate of smoking in the least advantaged groups suggests that simply intensifying current approaches would not be sufficient to tackle the problem.

Smoking - the cost

1.24 The cost of smoking is high in terms of people's health. But the cost of smoking is high in other ways too. Smoking is estimated to cost the NHS up to Ј1.7 billion every year19. And it costs families, especially the poorest, a great deal too. It is estimated that, in 1996, there were approximately 1 million lone parents on Income Support, of whom 55 per cent smoked an average of five packs of cigarettes a week at a cost of Ј2.50 per pack28. That means lone parent families spent a staggering Ј357 million on cigarettes during that year.

Smoking - Government action

1.25 The Government is determined to tackle these problems. The case for action on smoking is clear. Governments have tried in the past to reduce smoking. But while previous efforts have contributed to the steady reduction in the overall number of adults who smoke, success has been limited. Now, the rise in children smoking and the halt in the decline in adult smoking reinforces the case for new Government action. But at the same time, we recognise that Government action in areas of personal choice like smoking is a difficult and a sensitive issue. Tobacco is a uniquely dangerous product. If introduced today, it would not stand the remotest chance of being legal. But smoking is not against the law. We do not intend to make smoking unlawful. We are not banning smoking.
1.26 Currently, well over a quarter of the people of Britain smoke. The Government fully recognises their right to choose to do so. We will not in any of our proposals infringe upon that right. But with rights come responsibilities. Smokers have a responsibility to themselves - to their own health, and to ensure that in making the choice to smoke, their choice is based on a real understanding of the risks involved. With their right to smoke, too, comes the responsibility to others who choose not to smoke. Just as the Government is determined not to infringe upon people's rights to make free and informed choices, it is also determined to ensure that the responsibilities of smokers to people who choose not to smoke are carried out. That means a balance of rights and responsibilities -for those who smoke and for those who do not. Striking that balance is a clear and tough challenge - for the Government, for business, for local authorities, for voluntary groups and especially for individuals.

' with their right to smoke, too, comes the responsibility to others who choose not to smoke'

1.27 The Government has a clear role in tackling smoking. While it is for individuals to make their own choices about smoking, the impact of smoking on the people of Britain - on their health, in causing premature deaths, on non-smokers and in terms of its overall cost - is so great that if it we re any other cause, the Government would face accusations of negligence for failing to take action. The Government also has a clear responsibility to protect children from tobacco.
1.28 Reducing smoking will save lives. The Government intends to implement a tough and comprehensive programme to ensure that those who smoke are aware of the potential consequences of their choice, that those who do not smoke are protected against those who do, and that the number of people smoking in Britain falls.
1.29 We have already taken action, especially in Europe. The Government's proposals in this White Paper set out the major steps we now intend to take. We will support this new programme of action, with new money - more than Ј100 million over the next three years. We recognise the scale of the challenge we all face to reduce smoking. But in partnership with others, we are determined to meet that challenge, and to improve the overall health of everyone - smokers and non-smokers alike - in our country.

' we will support this new programme of action, with new money - more than Ј100 million over the next three years'

Helpful Hints to Kick the (Smoking) Habit

2008-04-13T15:11:00.000-07:00

If you are ready to quit smoking, UM smoking cessation expert Kevin Ferentz has some advice for you.

You know you need to quit. You really want to quit. But smoking has become such a huge part of your life that you just can't imagine waking up in the morning without reaching for a cigarette, finishing a meal without lighting up or hanging out with your friends -- all smokers -- without smoking yourself.

How does one go about kicking the habit for good? What is going to make this year any different than previous ones where you resolved to swear off nicotine?

An effective strategy can help. Armed with a little knowledge, you can improve your odds of success. You just have to know what you are up against.

"The difficulty people have when trying to quit around New Year's is that there is typically so much alcohol consumption during the holiday," said Kevin Scott Ferentz, M.D., associate professor of family and community medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

"The alcohol makes it much less likely that they will be able to quit because most smokers like to smoke when they drink. I tell people who want to quit around New Year's not to worry if they don't quit exactly on January 1, exactly on New Year's Day."

Ferentz, who specializes in smoking cessation, said that choosing a quit date and sticking to it is an important part of breaking the habit. Smokers who want to become ex-smokers, however, must chose a date that makes sense for them.

"There is nothing wrong with making that day January 3rd or the 4th," Ferentz said. "Choosing a day later in the week after all of the parties and activities have died down is probably more realistic. You have to do what works for you because you don't want to set yourself up for failure."

Ferentz said one of the biggest mistakes smokers make when attempting to quit is that they give up the fight too soon if their initial efforts don't work. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over half of all adult smokers do manage to quit for good. Most of them, however, aren't successful the first time around. In fact, studies show that most smokers attempt to quit several times before they are able to make it stick.

"People shouldn't be hard on themselves," said Ferentz. "Quitting is a process. Smokers who want to quit and have tried and failed in the past shouldn't feel defeated because quitting is far from impossible. It is actually quite possible. There are more people out there who have successfully quit smoking than there are people who still smoke."

Smoke-Free Suggestions

Here are some tips Ferentz suggests keeping in mind if quitting is one of your goals:

Put it in writing. Write down your reasons for quitting on 3 X 5-inch index cards so you can refer to them when you are tempted to smoke.
Explore your motives for smoking. Keep a journal before you quit to document your feelings about your habit. You want to include details about where you smoke most often, when you smoke, with whom and why. Review your diary after four or five days to identify feelings and circumstances that trigger your cravings for nicotine.
Modify your behavior. Write down your "triggers" on the left side of a piece of paper and on the right side, jot down how you plan to either avoid or cope with those situations or feelings that send you reaching for nicotine.
Reduce the pleasure quotient. Most people have favorite brands of cigarettes. In the week or so leading up to your quit date, ditch your favorites for other, less-appealing varieties. For example, buy menthols if you normally don't smoke them. Buy low-tar filters or light versions of your favorite brand or try new, unusual brands that you've never smoked before.
Spread the news. Tell everyone you know you're quitting to develop a network of family members, co-workers and friends who can support your efforts.
Get rid of smoking paraphernalia. Throw out all of your ashtrays, matches and lighters.
Go cold turkey. Despite an urge to gradually cut back, stopping completely on your chosen quit date is the best approach to kicking the habit for good.
Reward yourself. Come up with reasons to celebrate your quitting at regular intervals. For example, a week after you quit, go to the movies or bowling. A month after quitting, go to a nice hotel for an evening or treat yourself to a shopping spree. A year after quitting, go on a nice vacation with the money you save from no longer buying packs of cigarettes.
If you relapse, don't panic. Identify what it was that triggered your desire to smoke again and come up with a way to cope with the trigger. The urge to smoke -- no matter how overwhelming -- will pass after a few minutes, whether or not you give into it.
Seek help. If you aren't able to quit on your own, try using aids such as nicotine gum or the nicotine patch. If you still aren't able to quit, see your doctor about other options. You may also want to join a support group. Whatever you do, don't give up!

Cigarettes contain toilet cleaner and rat poison?

2008-04-09T14:43:00.001-07:00

You maybe don’t believe but it is true, cigarettes contain these chemicals.

Cigarettes smoke contains over 4,000 different poisonous chemicals including chemicals used in toilet cleaners and rat poison. At least 43 of them cause cancer.

This fact makes them the only legal product which can harm or even kill you.

This list shows the most dangerous chemicals contained in cigarettes:

Nicotine: Very addictive deadly poison.
Benzene: Used as a solvent in fuel and in chemical manufacture. It is a known carcinogen and is associated with leukaemia.
Formaldehyde: A colourless liquid, highly poisonous, used to preserve dead bodies.
Ammonia: Found in dry cleaning fluids(toilet cleaner) .
Acetone: Nail polish remover.
Arsenic: Rat poison.
Hydrogen Cyanide: Gas chamber poison.
Cadmium: Used in batteries.
Methane: A component of rocket fuel.
Carbon Monoxide: Same chemical that comes out of car exhaust.

Isn’t this enough reason to do yourself one of the biggest favours of your life and quit smoking today?

Quit Smoking, Start Remembering

2008-04-09T14:37:00.000-07:00

I bet you know that when you get older your memory is not what it used to be when you were young, this is normal. Yes but do you know exactly why? Don’t you want to know how to help you retain or increase your memory? Did you know there are 4 main reasons for this degeneration?

Reduction in Neurotransmitters, especially acetylcholine causes decline in your brain function.
Reduced blood circulation. The brain uses a significant proportion of all blood. Any impediment to blood flow therefore has a huge impact on brain function.
Effects of Cortisol. Cortisol is produced in your brain when you are stressed and damages your Hippocamus which basically converts short term memories to long term ones. The damage in the hippocampus also triggers further production of cortisol setting off a ever increasing cycle of cell damage.
Free radical damage. Free radicals are atoms that have an electron imbalance and are constantly seeking to steal an electron to make itself whole. This process of stealing electrons from cells causes cell damage. Brain cells are no exception and brain cell damage also occurs due to free radical activity.

“Ok, these are the reasons, show me how to increase my memory!”. There are many ways to limiting and preventing brain degeneration:

Limit your intake of salt, fat and cholesterol. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and foods high in antioxidants.
Do exercises, don’t become overweight.
Control your blood presure.
Don’t stress to much!
Limit alchohol intake and quit smoking will help you reduce the free radical damage and brain damage.
Eat fish. They contain Omega 3 fatty acids which helps you in the battle with the free radical damage.
Limit the depression, it affect the way your brain processes information and retrieves it.
Do mental exercises like playing board games.

Smoking - Number One Cause of Death in America

2008-04-09T14:34:00.000-07:00

Have you ever realized that the smoking is number one killer in America although it is the most preventable? Do you know that smoking is the major cause of heart attack? The statistic shows that it’s responsible for 40 percent of all heart attacks in people under sixty-five.

Smoking contributes to reduced bone marrow which causes bone and hip fractures. It also has an bad effect on your skin. It causes wrinkles around the eyes and mouth and gives skin a leathery appearance in some people.

Smoking is also associated with cervical cancer, stomach ulcers and cancer, kidney and bladder cancers, coronary heart disease, and lung cancer. It can also contribute to cancer of your voice box and throat. Add erectile dysfunction to the list. It is said that one in every five deaths in the United States is smoking related.

According to the 1990 report of the US Surgeon General, ‘Smoking is probably the most important modifiable cause of poor pregnancy outcome among women in the United States.‘

The Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking and Health, 1964 stated that ‘the habitual use of tobacco is related to psychological and social drives reinforced and perpetuated by pharmacological actions on the central nervous system, the latter being interpreted subjectively as a stimulant or a tranquilizer depending on the individual response‘.

Pros and cons of smoking

2008-03-31T23:38:00.000-07:00

Though the smokers are aware of the dangers of smoking, they are not able to kick the bad habit. They have their own reasons for smoking. Let's have a look at the various pros and cons of smoking. The pros of smoking are as below:

Most of the smokers believe that they feel a very strong bonding with other smokers.
Smokers enjoy a sense of gratification by smoking.
Nicotine gives a feeling of pleasure to the smokers.
Smoking cigarettes give smokers the feeling of creating a ritual.
Watching the smoke swirl and the cigarette burn is a fun for most of the smokers.

But the cons of smoking cigarette are numerous. They are:

Cigarette smoke leaves an after smell on everything: your clothes, car and home.
You may not be able to breathe properly.
You may have a nagging cough all day and night.
You may suffer from severe headaches, and occasional migraines.
You may feel dizzy after smoking cigarettes too fast or after having too many of them.
You may have yellow skin, tooth and fingernails.
You may have lot of phlegm, which may force you to clear your voice continuously and may even make you lose your voice mid sentence.
You may suffer from increased rate of hypertension.
You may have a feeling of inadequacy and substance dependence.
You may suffer from nausea after too much of smoking.
You may feel anxiety and no relaxation throughout the day.
You may experience limited motivation and energy to do anything.
The sense of smell and taste may diminish.
You may accidentally burn holes in you clothes or your upholstery.
You are wasting your hard earned money and ruining your health as well.
You may also suffer from lingering colds and bronchitis.

Surely, the cons outnumber the pros and give you reason enough to quit this bad habit, right now!

Stop to smoke - some usefull tips

2008-03-31T23:30:00.000-07:00

Below, some tips to help you quit smoking are listed. First and foremost, set a quit date and quit COMPLETELY on that day. To prepare for that day:

Keep a diary to help you determine such risky times. Record each time you have a cigarette, including time of day and what you are doing.

Identify the times you are most likely to smoke. For example, do you tend to smoke when feeling stressed? When you are out at night with friends? While you are drinking coffee? When you are bored? While you are driving?

Make a plan about what you will do instead of smoking at those times that you are most likely to smoke. For example, drink tea instead of coffee -- tea may not trigger the desire for a cigarette. Or, take a walk when feeling stressed. Remove ashtrays and cigarettes from the car. Place pretzels or hard candies there instead. Pretend-smoke with a straw.

Let all of your friends, family, and co-workers know of your plan to stop smoking and your quit date. Just being aware that they know can be a helpful reminder and motivator.

Prior to your quit date, start reducing your cigarette use, including decreasing the number and strength of the cigarettes. However, DON'T do this simply to make your diary "look good!" Get rid of all of your cigarettes just prior to the quit date and clean out anything that smells like smoke, such as clothes and furniture.

Other tips that can help you quit and stay quit include:

Find out about nicotine patches(like this on the banners bellow), gum, and sprays.

Enroll in a smoking cessation program (hospitals, health departments, community centers, and work sites frequently offer programs).

Ask your health care provider for advice, including whether prescription medications (such as bupropion -- Zyban or Wellbutrin) are safe and appropriate for you.

Exercise to relieve urges to smoke.
Try hypnosis - it works for some people.
Avoid smoke - filled settings and situations in which you are more likely to smoke.

Smoke effect on children

2008-03-31T12:53:00.000-07:00

Smoking causes 80% of lung cancer whole over the world. One in every 5 deaths in the U.S is a results from using tobacco & each year, smoking takes 520,000 lives in the U.S. alone. In 2007, 71% of all secondary students reported having used some type of tobacco product during their lifetime. There was a 18% increase in smoking among high school seniors between 2003 and 2007 in U.S. Each year about more than 5,000 non-smoking adults die of lung cancer as a result of breathing the smoke of other's cigarettes.

Each year, smoking around children leads to hospitalization of more than 18,000 children & nearly 30,000 new cases of asthma, approximately 200,000 - 350,000 lung infections like bronchitis and pneumonia. Maternal smoking is responsible for 38% of all SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) deaths in the U. S. and smoking during pregnancy triples the risk of SIDS. Over 45% of SIDS is due to mothers smoking during and/or after pregnancy or another person smoking in the house. Some of the most common problems for children which can be attributed to second hand smoking include, but are not limited to:

Ear Infections. The toxic chemicals in smoke irritate the lining of the Eustachian tube, which leads from the back of the nose to the ear. The irritated lining creates mucous which collects behind the eardrum. The ear may become infected and cause pain or hearing loss.

Asthma. Irritants in tobacco smoke can cause the lining of the airways to swell making it difficult for a child to breathe. Tobacco smoke or even the stale odor of old smoke in a car can trigger an asthma attack in a child.

Problems after birth. Mothers who smoke during and after pregnancy may have children who are more likely to suffer behavioral problems such as hyperactivity. In one study, children from similar backgrounds who had parents that smoked scored 6% lower on tests than children whose parents did not smoke.

Birth defects, some studies suggest that smoking during pregnancy can cause birth defects such as cleft (split) lip or cleft palate (an opening between the nose and the roof of the mouth). Smoking is also responsible for low birth weight babies, miscarriages, and SIDS.

Cigarette smoking is not only harmful to an individual, but it is particularly detrimental during the reproductive period, when it may not only harm the unborn child, but may also damage the reproductive capacity of the next generation. Even though tobacco smoking seems to be decreasing considerably among the older age group, unfortunately the same is not happening among the younger generation. It is estimated that in the U.S. 38% of males and 39% of females between ages of 20-24 are regular smokers and more children than ever before start their smoking habit at a very young age.

The most important point that can be made about cigarette-induced fetal damage is that it is totally preventable and only by informing both prospective parents about the potential dangers of tobacco smoking before conception, and particularly the dangers of maternal smoking whilst pregnant, can we hope to reduce these ever increasing statistics of pre-term births, low birth weight infants and children presently suffering from various neuro-developmental disorders and general ill-health.

No risk product for give up smoking

2008-03-14T17:34:00.001-07:00

Why Zero Nico Really Works
Zero Nico is safe and easy to use. Each patch contains a dose of the most effective herbal ingredients, formulated to alleviate the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal while cleansing the system of all smoking-related toxins. To break free from smoking, you need to break free from nicotine. Unlike other stop smoking patches, Zero Nico's all-natural formula eliminates, rather than replenishes, the level of nicotine in your body, helping you break the habit.
Kick the Nicotine Habit Naturally
It is a well-known fact that withdrawal from nicotine is very unpleasant. In fact, it is the single thing that causes even the most committed quitters to go back to smoking. What makes the Zero Nico patch so amazing is that it combines the all-natural healing properties of a unique variety of traditional herbal formulas to completely and naturally eliminate your body's need for nicotine. Try Zero Nico, and take the first step to claiming your life back. Order the stop smoking patch today!
Consider the Benefits of Quitting
Stroke risk is reduced to that of a person who never smoked after 5 to 15 years of not smoking.
Cancers of the mouth, throat, and esophagus risks are halved 5 years after quitting.
Cancer of the larynx risk is reduced after quitting.
Coronary heart disease risk is cut by half 1 year after quitting and is nearly the same as someone who never smoked 15 years after quitting.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease risk of death is reduced after you quit Lung cancer risk drops by as much as half 10 years after quitting.
Ulcer risk drops after quitting.
Bladder cancer risk is halved a few years after quitting.
Peripheral artery disease goes down after quitting.
Cervical cancer risk is reduced a few years after quitting.
Low birth weight baby risk drops to normal if you quit before pregnancy or during your first trimester the benefits of quitting.