Archive for June, 2008

The Facts About Smoking and Pregnancy

Sunday, June 29th, 2008

Mothers-to-be would quit smoking if they could, but smoking remains an addiction, a serious chemical dependency that is difficult to stop whether or not a person is pregnant, experts say. Answering questions about the issue is Paul Cinciripini, Ph.D., a professor in M. D. Anderson's Department of Behavioral Science and principal ...

Buerger’s Disease

Tuesday, June 24th, 2008

Buerger's disease, also known as thromboangiitis obliterans, is a rare disorder that, in most cases, affects young or middle-aged male cigarette smokers. It is characterized by narrowing or blockage (occlusion) of the veins and arteries of the extremities, resulting in reduced blood flow to these areas (peripheral vascular disease). The ...

Kicking Butts

Friday, June 20th, 2008

Nicotine is more powerfully addictive than most people realize. It will probably take several tries before you learn enough tricks to stay cigarette-free for good. It may not be a "sin" anymore, but few would dispute that smoking is the devil to give up. Of the 46 million Americans who smoke—26 ...

Why Quit?

Tuesday, June 17th, 2008

Tobacco use, especially smoking, is the number-one preventable cause of death and disease in the United States. One out of two people who continue to smoke will die early because of their smoking. Everyone who uses ...

Maintaining the New Lifestyle

Saturday, June 14th, 2008

Many of the changes you feel when you first quit tobacco are not positive. Nicotine withdrawal can make you feel short-tempered and nervous. You may have trouble sleeping, or concentrating. These symptoms can last for several weeks, but they do ...

Strategies and Skills for Quitting

Thursday, June 12th, 2008

When you plan your strategy for quitting tobacco, use the U.S. Surgeon General's five keys to quitting: get ready, get support, learn new skills and behaviors, get and use medicine, and be prepared for relapse. 1. Get ready Contact your doctor or local health department to find out the kinds of medicines ...

Setting Goals

Tuesday, June 10th, 2008

It may help you to achieve a long-term goal like quitting tobacco by breaking it down into smaller goals. Every time you reach a goal, you feel a sense of pride along the path to becoming tobacco-free. Set your goals clearly. Write down your goals, or tell someone what you ...

Getting Ready to Quit

Saturday, June 7th, 2008

What would motivate you to quit smoking? Think about it. Use this self-test to help you discover what might motivate you to quit smoking. Staying healthy is one reason for teens to quit using tobacco. ...

Why Do You Use Tobacco?

Wednesday, June 4th, 2008

Most people don't think about when or why they use tobacco. They just do it. But knowing when and why you smoke or chew can help you choose the quitting strategy that is most likely to work. Perhaps you use tobacco: To relieve tension, especially after ...

Should I take medicine to quit smoking?

Sunday, June 1st, 2008

This information will help you understand your choices, whether you share in the decision-making process or rely on your doctor's recommendation. Key points in making your decision Quitting smoking is hard because your body becomes addicted to the nicotine in tobacco. Giving it up is more than just kicking a bad habit. ...