I am a quitter - for more than a year

It is already more than a year that I don’t smoke, and it’s time to share experience and thoughts with you – people who are about to quit smoking. I can’t say that it was hard to quit smoking, and I can’t say that it was to easy – it was like I have taken a goal to achieve and managed to do this.

To decide whether and what you want to achieve is the first step one must take. So I have done this way. To set a goal was… ahah… rather hard I want to say. But my girlfriend has met my cessation like flowers in May, so I was very happy she was happy with me. And this underlined my goal: I WANT TO QUIT SMOKING BECAUSE I WANT TO LIVE.

And because I can do it.

Lots of funny things happened to me during last year – most were connected with my friends who thought I am still a smoker – their presented me cigarette holders, pipes, some expensive sorts of tobacco and so on! Just imagine how bizarre and uncomfortable it was. I knew that they will understand for I have not smoked at all, but I still have to place a pleasant look on my face.

By the way, have you got such things ever happened to you? It’s not very convenient, is it?

So it is already more than a year. Can’t believe.

Here is another tip for quitters: try breathing exercises. Inhale deeply, than hold the air for as long as you can, wait until your head will slightly go round, and then breath. Try doing it several times, and every time you feel you want to smoke. You will not only remember that smoking acts on your lungs badly, but also develop certain breathing powers.

Cheers and don’t give up! I will continue with my study and smoking tips! I am a quitter - for more than a year

Alcohol As A Hazard Of Heard Diseases

After smoking, excess alcohol is the second most common cause of preventable death. Alcohol is toxic to virtually every organ in the human body, but when consumed in moderate amounts, it is detoxified by the liver and does little or no harm. Alcoholic beverages contain ethyl alcohol (ethanol), which is metabolized in the body to acetaldehyde. In large amounts, both ethanol and acetaldehyde interfere with normal functions of organs throughout the body, including the heart.

There is a significantly higher incidence of high blood pressure among those who consume more than 2 ounces of ethanol a day (which translates into 4 ounces of 100-proof whiskey, 16 ounces of wine, or 48 ounces of beer). Abrupt withdrawal of alcohol from those consuming large amounts on a regular basis may cause the condition known as delirium tremens (DTs), which is associated with a significant risk of cardiac arrest.

Binge drinking can provoke arrhythmias (irregular heart rhythms)-frequently in the form of atrial fibrillation-in people with no previous symptoms of heart disease. This alcohol-induced rhythm disturbance is most common among people who have chronically abused alcohol. It is sometimes called “holiday heart” because it often occurs over the holidays or on weekends, after consumption of more alcohol than usual. People who are deprived of sleep are susceptible to developing “holiday heart” from drinking too much at one time, even if they do not regularly abuse alcohol.

Alcohol is thought to provoke arrhythmias by stimulating the sympathetic nervous system. Alcoholics tend to have higher blood levels of the chemical messengers of this system such as epinephrine (adrenaline). Deficiency of the trace mineral magnesium, which often occurs with chronic alcohol abuse, may also play a role.

Up to a third of all cases of a type of heart disease called cardiomyopathy are attributed to excessive drinking. Alcoholic cardiomyopathy occurs most often in middle-aged men. In this disorder, the heart muscle (myocardium)—particularly the right and left ventricles—enlarges and becomes flabby. As the working cells deteriorate, they become more sparse, and are replaced by fibers of connective tissue in the spaces between the cells (interstitial fibrosis). Eventually, alcoholic cardiomyopathy can result in heart failure, in which the heart does not pump blood efficiently to all parts of the body. Fatigue, shortness of breath during exercise, and swelling in the ankles are its most common symptoms. The heart’s inability to send blood efficiently to the kidneys, where excess salt and water are normally filtered out, means the body begins to retain salt, and thus water. This in turn raises blood volume and causes a backup of fluid into tissues such as the lungs (hence the breathing difficulty).

When individuals with congestive heart failure caused by alcoholic consumption continue to drink, their prognosis is poor. In contrast, those who abstain from alcohol raise their chances of reversing the progress of alcoholic cardiomyopathy, especially if the problem is detected early Their hearts may return to normal size, and they can live for many years. In fact, patients with alcoholic cardiomyopathy who abstain from drinking have a better prognosis than do patients with cardiomyopathy from other causes.

Physicians once believed that malnutrition was the sole mechanism by which alcohol damaged the heart. In extreme cases, alcoholics consume too many calories as drink and not enough as food, and they become malnourished. This could cause depletion of the protein in heart muscle. However, it is now recognized that in most cases, alcohol damages the heart even in the absence of malnutrition.

Alcohol As A Hazard Of Heard Diseases

Allen Carr’s easy way to quit smoking

Probably there is not so much people who haven’t got acquainted with information about Allen Carr’s “Easy Way to Quit” book yet. I bet you have heard about this book at least.

So – what’s about it, you will ask?

Many people state that this book helps to quit smoking for real – even those people, who smoked while reading, smashed their packs after reaching the end and forgot about smoking forever. In this very book Allen Carr simply gathered everything what one can tell about cigarettes.

Using simple language, Allen tells us why people continue to smoke despite all negative peculiarities and obvious disadvantages. His method is declared to be the opposite to willpower method – one that haven’t helped Allen to end with his bad habit.

He tells us it’s fear that prevents from quitting and keeps one hooked on smoking tobacco. Here what they say.

Allen Carr’s Easyway Method is successful because:

1. It removes the smokers’ conflict of will.

2. There are no bad withdrawal pangs.

3. It is instantaneous and easy.

4. It is equally effective for long-term heavy smokers and light smokers.

5. You need not gain weight.

6. You will not miss smoking.

But books and videos by Allen Carr are not everything he has given to the world.

There are his Stop Smoking Clinics worldwide, where people are treated, take part in meetings with other smokers.

Other books of his also help people lose weight and stop with alcohol easy. Allen Carr’s easy way to quit smoking

Stars help to quit smoking

Through history of mankind stars helped people to predict future, guess if whether this or that will happen, determine where and when it’s better to plant crops and so on. Why not just help us quit smoking, yo, stars! And – yes – stars are able to help in quitting.

Astrology – is a “science” completely based on position of the stars, planets, phases of the moon. Depending on this circumstances one can quit smoking as well, if he or she follows advices of the competent astrologist. Christopher Warnock – author of RenaissanceAstrology web-site – tells us that electional astrology can help in picking a date which will be the best to start with quitting smoking. This can help to stop smoking forever, according to Warnock’s words.

Mars planet is considered to be the ruling planet over tobacco, so it’s position also must be taken in account. When the moon diminishes – it is the best time to start activity aimed on elimination of something.

Completing the whole picture with these factors and other factors (like date and time of your birthday), the astrologist will tell you the date when it’s best to start your quit-smoking process.
Christopher Warnock stresses that with such knowledge one will be able to quit smoking with no withdrawal symptoms.

Astrologists also say that it is very important to be strong in your desire to quit, make some preparations psychologically. Other authors also include position of Saturn and moon in their stop-smoking date determination.

Thus one can certainly ask for help of an astrologists – you never know – maybe it’s the little thing that was ever absent in your quitting scheme. Stars help to quit smoking

Genes and smoking

New research conducted recently suggested that smoking habit may be connected to genes. People who feel that it is too hard to quit their habit for good may be just suffering from their genetic. This research selected three genetic mutations that increase number of cigarettes one smokes a day.

Few of mutations are closely connected with starting with the habit from the early age, and one – with cessation. Those genetic changes are linked to lung cancer development and nicotine addiction.

Newest research had shown that earlier results are true and there is even more to find.

Dr Kari Stefansson, executive chairman of deCODE (Icelandic company), that took part in the research, and one of the researchers from 23 institutions in a dozen countries, said: "Smoking is bad for anyone's health. It is even worse for some, and today's discoveries continue to strengthen our ability to identify who those people are and give them a compelling additional reason to quit.

"We plan to incorporate these SNPs into our testing products to do that. What we do not yet know is exactly how this additional risk is conferred. To some degree these variants suggest that those for whom nicotine is more addictive are driven to smoke more, increasing their exposure to environmental risk. But given the quite substantial corresponding increases in risk of lung cancer it may also be that they make people more susceptible to the noxious effects of tobacco smoke.

"What is clear is that these variants - which are all near genes that encode nicotine metabolizing enzymes and receptors - are giving us a solid starting point for finding answers to advance personal and public health."

Though don’t blame your genes! It is always up to you to decide whether to smoke or not! Genes and smoking