Pack-a-day smokers can save $50,000 if they quit
Issue date: 9/7/08 Section: Health
(ARA) - It's well known that smoking causes cancer. But did you know that smoking may also raise your risk for type 2 diabetes? Or that it's a major factor in nearly half of heart attacks? It's never easy to stop smoking, but millions of people have quit, and you can, too.
Cigarettes contain more than 4,000 chemicals, including ammonia and substances found in rat poison. No matter how long you've smoked, you'll be healthier just 20 minutes after you quit, as your pulse rate goes back to normal. That reduces the stress on your heart. After just three days, the nicotine leaves your body and each breath comes easier. What about financial benefits?
A pack-a-day smoker saves about $150 after one month without cigarettes, more than $1,800 after one year, and close to $50,000 after 25 years.
About four out of five smokers would like to quit. Are you one of them? Here are some tips to get smoke-free:
MAKE A PLAN
Write down the reasons you want to stop smoking. Maybe you want to be around to see your kids graduate. Or be able to spend time with your grandchildren in the extra 10 years, on average, you'll live as a nonsmoker. Then stock up on distractions - carrots, pretzels or sugar-free gum.
CHOOSE YOUR OFFICIAL "QUIT DAY"
According to Dr. Ann L. Albright, president of Health Care & Education at the American Diabetes Association, "The day you quit should be during a time that you expect your life to be fairly calm so that stress won't tempt you to smoke and withdrawal symptoms won't significantly interfere with your life." Then throw away matches, lighters and ashtrays.
GET HELP
Quitting cold turkey works for some. But more succeed by blunting the discomfort of withdrawal. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) can help. Options include the nicotine patch, gum, lozenges, inhaler or nasal spray. For some, prescription medicines such as bupropion (Zyban) or varenicline (Chantix) are more effective than NRT in reducing the craving for nicotine. Talk with your doctor about the best option for you.
Cigarettes contain more than 4,000 chemicals, including ammonia and substances found in rat poison. No matter how long you've smoked, you'll be healthier just 20 minutes after you quit, as your pulse rate goes back to normal. That reduces the stress on your heart. After just three days, the nicotine leaves your body and each breath comes easier. What about financial benefits?
A pack-a-day smoker saves about $150 after one month without cigarettes, more than $1,800 after one year, and close to $50,000 after 25 years.
About four out of five smokers would like to quit. Are you one of them? Here are some tips to get smoke-free:
MAKE A PLAN
Write down the reasons you want to stop smoking. Maybe you want to be around to see your kids graduate. Or be able to spend time with your grandchildren in the extra 10 years, on average, you'll live as a nonsmoker. Then stock up on distractions - carrots, pretzels or sugar-free gum.
CHOOSE YOUR OFFICIAL "QUIT DAY"
According to Dr. Ann L. Albright, president of Health Care & Education at the American Diabetes Association, "The day you quit should be during a time that you expect your life to be fairly calm so that stress won't tempt you to smoke and withdrawal symptoms won't significantly interfere with your life." Then throw away matches, lighters and ashtrays.
GET HELP
Quitting cold turkey works for some. But more succeed by blunting the discomfort of withdrawal. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) can help. Options include the nicotine patch, gum, lozenges, inhaler or nasal spray. For some, prescription medicines such as bupropion (Zyban) or varenicline (Chantix) are more effective than NRT in reducing the craving for nicotine. Talk with your doctor about the best option for you.
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Natural Cures
posted 9/14/08 @ 7:17 AM EST
They do not want you to quit so they add chemicals to it to make it much more addictive. The first step is to get on the pure stuff. Switch to American Spirit. (Continued…)
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