Resisting the urge of smoking in all circumstances

September 4, 2015

Resisting the urge of smoking in all circumstances: When the obstacles of quitting are so enormous

I have made a decision to quit and I’m now resisting the urge of smoking in all circumstances.

The way people get introduced into cigarette smoking is often very easy and luring. Ignorantly or willfully both the young and the old who are now addicts to these substances started small from a friend and progressively graduated to irresistible addiction. Even though the best solution to this kind of addiction is quitting, it is important to appreciate that this will not come in a silver platter. Somebody will have to work for it by resisting the urge of smoking in all circumstances as and when they come. It will not be easy however we have real time addiction experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury (MD). Doctor Akoury is also the founder of this facility whose primary objective is to bring hope to the hopeless drug addicts from our societies. Therefore as we progress into the discussion, you have any concerns relating to any kind of addiction, then this is the right place for you. You may therefore want to schedule for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today for the commencement of your treatment that will restore back your health and life all in just a couple of weeks and at a very pocket friendly rates.

Resisting the urge of smoking in all circumstances: How can I resist the urge to smoke when I’m around smokers?

You may want to analyze situations in which watching others smoke triggers an urge in you to smoke. Figure out what it is about those situations that makes you want to smoke. Is it because you associate feeling happy with being around other smokers? Or, is there something special about the situations, such as being around the people you usually smoked with? Is it tempting to join others for routine smoke breaks?

Here are some tips:

Limit your contact with smokers, especially in the early weeks of quitting.
Do not buy, carry, light, or hold cigarettes for others.
If you are in a group and others light up, excuse yourself, and don’t return until they have finished.
Do not let people smoke in your home. Post a small “No Smoking” sign by your front door.
Ask others to help you stay quit. Give them specific examples of things that are helpful (such as not smoking around you) and things that are not helpful (like asking you to buy cigarettes for them).
Focus on what you’ve gained by quitting. For example, think of how healthy you will be when all smoking effects are gone from your body and you can call yourself smoke-free. Also, add up how much money you have saved already by not purchasing cigarettes and imagine (in detail) how you will spend your savings in 6 months.

Resisting the urge of smoking in all circumstances: How can I start the day without smoking?

Many smokers light up a cigarette right after they wake up. After 6 to 8 hours of sleep, a smoker’s nicotine level drops and the smoker needs a boost of nicotine to start the day. After you quit, you must be ready to overcome the physical need and routine of waking up and smoking a cigarette. Instead of reaching for your cigarettes in the morning, here are some tips:

The morning can set the tone for the rest of the day. Plan a different wake-up routine, and divert your attention from smoking.
Be sure no cigarettes are available.
Before you go to sleep, make a list of things you need to avoid in the morning that will make you want to smoke. Place this list where you used to place your cigarettes.
Begin each day with a planned activity that will keep you busy for an hour or more. It will keep your mind and body busy so you don’t think about smoking.
Begin each day with deep breathing and by drinking one or more glasses of water.

Resisting the urge of smoking in all circumstances: How can I resist the urge to smoke when I’m feeling stressed?

Most smokers report that one reason they smoke is to handle stress. This happens because smoking cigarettes actually relieves some of your stress by releasing powerful chemicals in your brain. Temporary changes in brain chemistry cause you to experience decreased anxiety, enhanced pleasure, and alert relaxation. Once you stop smoking, you may become more aware of stress.

Everyday worries, responsibilities, and hassles can all contribute to stress. As you go longer without smoking, you will get better at handling stress, especially if you learn stress reduction and relaxation techniques.

Here are some tips:

Know the causes of stress in your life (your job, traffic, your children, money) and identify the stress signals (headaches, nervousness, or trouble sleeping). Once you pinpoint high-risk trigger situations, you can start to develop new ways to handle them.
Create peaceful times in your everyday schedule. For example, set aside an hour where you can get away from other people and your usual environment.
Try relaxation techniques, such as progressive relaxation or yoga, and stick with the one that works best for you.
Rehearse and visualize your relaxation plan. Put your plan into action. Change your plan as needed.
You may find it helpful to read a book about how to handle stress.

Resisting the urge of smoking in all circumstances: How can I resist the urge to smoke when I’m driving or riding in a car?

You may have become used to smoking while driving—to relax in a traffic jam or to stay alert on a long drive. Like many smokers, you may like to light up when driving to and from work to relieve stress, stay alert, relax, or just pass the time. There is some evidence that smoking actually does make you feel more awake and alert.

Tips for short trips:
Remove the ashtray, lighter, and cigarettes from your car.
Keep nonfattening snacks in your car (such as licorice, sugarless gum, and hard candy).
Turn on your favorite music and sing along.
Take an alternate route to work or try carpooling.
Clean your car and make sure to use deodorizers to reduce the tobacco smell.
Tell yourself:
- “This urge will go away in a few minutes.”
- “So, I’m not enjoying this car ride. Big deal! It won’t last forever!”
- “My car smells clean and fresh!”
- “I’m a better driver now that I’m not smoking while driving.”

When you are driving or riding with other people:

Ask passengers not to smoke in your car.
If you’re not driving, find something to do with your hands.

Your desire to smoke may be stronger and more frequent on longer trips. Doctor Akoury says that you may want to apply the following tips for long trips:

Take a stretch break along the way.
Take fresh fruit along.
Plan rest stops.
Plan stops for water or fruit juice and always ensure that you consult with professionals from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center from time to time for safety.

Resisting the urge of smoking in all circumstances: When the obstacles of quitting are so enormous

Real concerns for smokers desiring to quite

September 4, 2015

Real concerns for smokers desiring to quite: Finding solutions to all your smoking frustrations

Please don’t because I understand the real concerns for smokers desiring to quite. I appreciate but no thank you.

Until you get there you may not understand the magnitude of the real concerns for smokers desiring to quite their smoking habits. The desire to quite is often very high in most smokers, but they are always pulled down by environmental events, social and physical events. Speaking to experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, it is very evident that smokers are easily angered, frustrated and irritated, they are anxious, depressed and often are worried about their BMI. These are some of the real concerns for smokers desiring to quite that we want to focus on in this article as follows.

Real concerns for smokers desiring to quite: What can I do about anger, frustration, and irritability?

Anger and frustrations are a common occurrence after one opts for quitting smoking, at this point you may feel jittery and short-tempered, and you may even want to give up on tasks and assignments more quickly than usual. Because of this you may be less tolerant of others and easily get into more arguments with people even at the slightest different in opinion. Over the years experts have been researching on the link between anger, frustrations and cigarette smoking and it was established that the most common negative feelings associated with quitting smoking are feelings of anger, frustration, and irritability. These negative feelings are always at their highest within the first week of quitting and may last for 2 to 4 weeks. For easy management of these negative feelings the following are some useful hints:

In all you do always remind yourself that these feelings are temporary and will fade with time.
Engagement actively in physical activities like taking a walk is very important.
Reduce from your diet caffeine by limiting or avoiding coffee, soda, and tea.
Try meditation or other relaxation techniques, such as getting a massage, soaking in a hot bath, or breathing deeply through your nose and out through your mouth for 10 breaths.
Always consult with your doctor about nicotine replacement products or other medications before you can administer any in your body.

Real concerns for smokers desiring to quite: What can I do about anxiety?

Doctor Akoury is registering that the feeling of anxious is almost becoming a routine every time one make effort of quitting. Ordinarily within a time spun of 24 hours of quitting smoking, you will most likely feel tense and agitated. You may also feel tightness in your muscles especially around the neck and shoulders. According to the various studies conducted in the past it has been established that anxiety is one of the most common negative feelings associated with quitting. Therefore if anxiety occurs, it builds over the first 3 days after quitting and may last 2 weeks. We can therefore apply the following tips in the managing anxiety:

Remind yourself that anxiety will pass with time.
Set aside some quiet time every morning and evening a time when you can be alone in a quiet environment it will help you remain focus objectively.
Engage in physical activity, such as taking a walk.
Reduce caffeine by limiting or avoiding coffee, soda, and tea.
Try meditation or other relaxation techniques, such as getting a massage, soaking in a hot bath, or breathing deeply through your nose and out through your mouth for 10 breaths.
Consult with your doctor about nicotine replacement products or other medications.

Real concerns for smokers desiring to quite: What can I do about depression?

It is normal to feel sad for a period of time after you first quit smoking after all you are losing something that you originally loved so much. Therefore progressively this mild depression will occur and normally it will commence within the first day of quitting and may progress for a couple of weeks, and disappear within a month. However if you have a history of depression which is associated with a more severe withdrawal symptoms including more severe depression then such depressions need to be treated in isolation as it may be an indicator of a more serious problem. Many people have a strong urge to smoke when they feel depressed and therefore the following tips may be helpful for you in the management of your depression:

Call a friend and plan to have lunch or go to a movie, concert, or other pleasurable event.
Identify your specific feelings at the time that you seem depressed. Are you actually feeling tired, lonely, bored, or hungry? Focus on and address these specific needs.
Increase physical activities. This will help to improve your mood and lift your depression.
Breathe deeply.
Make a list of things that are upsetting to you and write down solutions for them one by one.
If depression continues for more than 1 month, see your doctor. Ask your doctor about prescription medications that may help you with depression. Studies show that bupropion and nortriptyline can help people with a past history of depression who tries to quit smoking.

Real concerns for smokers desiring to quite: What can I do about weight gain?

Gaining weight is common after quitting. Studies have shown that, on average, people who have never smoked weigh a few pounds more than smokers, and, when smokers quit, they attain the weight they would have had if they had never smoked. Although most smokers gain fewer than 10 pounds after they quit smoking, the weight gain can be troublesome for some people. However, the health benefits of quitting far outweigh the health risks of a small amount of extra weight. Here are some tips for managing weight gain:

Ask your doctor about the medication bupropion. Studies show that it helps counter weight gain.
Studies also show that nicotine replacement products, especially nicotine gum and lozenges, can help counter weight gain. Because some people who quit smoking increase their food intake, regular physical activity and healthy food choices can help you maintain a healthy weight.
If weight gain is a problem, you may want to consult a nutritionist or diet counselor. And by the way this is one of the areas of strength of doctor Dalal Akoury and consulting with her will give you a clear head start on your way to recovery right way.

Real concerns for smokers desiring to quite: Finding solutions to all your smoking frustrations

Protect your family from effects of smoking

September 4, 2015

Protect your family from effects of smoking: Tobacco use affects every body

If you are really sick and tired of smoking, then stand out ans protect your family from effects of smoking

It is no longer in doubt that smoking is one of the most dangerous and health hazardous activity in the twenty first century. We are also away that all smoke able substances including marijuana, cigarettes, heroin and cocaine are very addictive and not easy to leave when one begins using them. Listening to my introduction, you will notice that I have only mentioned that once addicted to these substances, quitting is not very easy. That is bad news and can also be a statement of hope in the sense that quitting is still possible the only challenge is that it won’t be easy. It therefore means that there is hope and you can still protect your family from the effects of smoking by quitting this dangerous habit today. And like we have mentioned the journey of quitting will not be an easy one and that is why we are engaging the services of real addiction experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury to help us put to perspective some of these facts. We are therefore happy to have you on board even as we progress into the discussion with this able team of professionals.

You may not just realize it the dangers you are putting your loved one into by you smoking habit. When you send you son or daughter for a packet of cigarette to you now it may be normal after all they are your children and they are brought up knowing that obedience is a virtue. So you children will in humility be the link between you and your suppliers but have you ever thought of the implication of that seemingly harmless act of obedience from your children? In plain black and white you are progressively introducing them to drugs and you will not have any moral ground to correct them when they become of age. Remember that these are your loved ones whom you need to protect from all sorts of dangers of which drug addiction is one of the greatest. Doctor Dalal Akoury a veteran addiction expert and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center say that even though smoking is that dangerous, but nonetheless your decision to quit smoking will go a long way in protecting the people in your life something that you really owe them. Remember that smoking harms both you and the ones you love and this include any other person who in one way or the other will come into contact with the smoke from your habits. Doctor Akoury recommends that before you do anything, it is important for you to visualize the effects and also think about how quitting will make the people you care about happier and healthier. From the video in your mind you are able to see a healthier and happier family from that single act of quitting. This is one of the ways you can use to motivate yourself as you consider beginning your journey of quitting this unhealthy habit. Now to help you evaluate the benefits further, you may want to consider responding to the following concerns:

Protect your family from effects of smoking: How does my smoking impact others?

This is a worth concern since the effect of secondary smoke is equally dangerous for health. According to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, the major way through which smoking hurts non-smokers is by inhaling the secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke is the combination of smoke that comes from your cigarette and smoke you breathe out while smoking. Breathing in any amount of secondhand smoke is dangerous. Take for instance the dangers you are exposing your wife to by kissing, what about holding your three month old baby while smoking? Has it ever occurred to you of the magnitude of the problem you are bringing to your entire household by your smoking habits? Professionally doctor Akoury states categorically that the one and only best way to protect your family from secondhand smoke is to quit smoking.

Protect your family from effects of smoking: What are the health effects of secondhand smoke?

To the adults – being subjected to inhaling of secondhand smoke over a period time can cause a number of health problems for non-smokers. Such victims of secondhand smoke are likely to suffer from the following health complications:

Cancer
Heart disease
Breathing problems
A harder time getting pregnant
Colds and flu
Irritated eyes, nose, and throat

If this is what secondhand smoke victims will go through, the question that now begs for an answer would be, how much more will the direct smoker suffer if they don’t quite?

To the pregnant Women and Children – Secondhand smoke is especially dangerous for pregnant women, babies, and children. Pregnant women who breathe in secondhand smoke over time are more likely to:

Lose their babies
Give birth to smaller and under weight babies
Have their babies die prematurely due to the complications of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)
Have babies who are cranky‚ restless‚ and get sick more often
Have babies with both present and future learning problems

Besides the pregnant women, children who breathe in secondhand smoke over time are more likely to have:

More severe asthma attacks from time to time
Bronchitis, pneumonia, and other breathing problems
Coughing and wheezing
Ear and lung infections

Protect your family from effects of smoking: Other ways smoking impacts others

As a fun and an addict of smoking, you may not realize it, but the truth is that your smoking habits affect the people in your life in ways beyond their health. Remember that when you smoke, you may miss out on several things including:

Spending time with your family and friends owing to the frequency with which you light your cigarette
Having more money to spend on the people you love
Setting a good example for your children. Did you know that children who are raised by smokers are more likely to become smokers themselves? You are most likely if not definitely going to lose your position of being a good role model for your children.

Finally nothing will ever come out of smoking no matter how best you defend it. You owe your family the duty of care and the time of quitting is now and not tomorrow. If you are experiencing any challenges, then seek audience with doctor Dalal Akoury for further professional guidance.

Protect your family from effects of smoking: Tobacco use affects every body

What will you become after quitting smoking

September 4, 2015

What will you become after quitting smoking: A non-smoker or an ex-smoker?

What will you become after quitting smoking? You will certainly regain your health and become more resistant to some of these complications that are associated with smoking.

What will you become after quitting smoking is full of great expectations and many at times our expectations often fail to materialize and we feel disappointed. While some of these “disappointments” are expected since the journey of recovery is never a smooth one, it normally doesn’t erase those expectations we once had. Therefore for a better understanding of this topic of discussion, we employ the expert services of professionals from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. This is an addiction treatment facility that was founded by doctor Dalal Akoury (MD) a well-respected addiction experts of more than two decades now. Together with her team of experts, she is going to help us understand more about this for a couple of articles that we are going to be posting on this platform. Doctor Akoury says that in order to appreciate what you will become after quitting smoking, it is first very important that we understand how to handle withdrawal symptoms and trigger when one decides to quit smoking in its entirely. And to do that, let us progress into the discussion by responding to the following questions:

What will you become after quitting smoking: Withdrawal symptoms which are associated with quitting smoking?

Like I had mentioned before, when one desires to start the journey of quitting smoking, such a person must be very committed, dedicated and make certain sacrifices because it will not be a smooth sailing. Being addictive the challenges will be many and difficult depending on the intensity and duration of usage. Therefore doctor Akoury registers that quitting smoking may cause certain short-term problems, especially for those who have smoked heavily for many years. These temporary changes can result in withdrawal symptoms and the following are some of the common withdrawal symptoms which are associated with quitting cigarette smoking:

Nicotine cravings (nicotine is the substance in tobacco that causes addiction).
Anger, frustration, and irritability.
Anxiety
Depression
Weight gain.

Cigarette and smoking of other substance is something which has been under serious and intensive studies for a very long time now. From the various studies conducted professionally, it has been established that about half of the population of smokers report experiencing at least four withdrawal symptoms (such as anger, anxiety, or depression) when they quit. Besides these, other people have also reported other symptoms like dizziness, increased dreaming, and headaches. These are just but a few of the challenges that you are likely to meet from time to time. However doctor Akoury says that the good news is that there is much one can do to reduce cravings and manage common withdrawal symptoms. She adds that in the process of recovery even without medication, it is important to note that the withdrawal symptoms and other problems will often subside over time. It may also help to know that withdrawal symptoms are usually worst during the first week after quitting. From that point on, the intensity usually drops over the few weeks. However having said that, it is also very important to appreciate the diversity of people in responding to treatment, for sure everyone is different and unique meaning that some people may have withdrawal symptoms for several months after quitting and not just for a few weeks.

What will you become after quitting smoking: What are some of the triggers for smoking?

In addition to nicotine cravings, reminders in your daily life of times when you used to smoke may trigger you to smoke. Triggers many include different elements including the moods, feelings, places, or things you do in your daily life that turn on your desire to smoke. The following is a sample of some triggers that you need to be careful about:

Being around and hung out with smokers.
Starting the day.
Feeling stressed.
Being in a car.
Drinking coffee or tea.
Enjoying a meal.
Drinking an alcoholic beverage.
Feeling bored.

Knowing your triggers helps you stay in control because you can choose to avoid them or keep your mind distracted and busy when you cannot avoid them.

What will you become after quitting smoking: What can I do about nicotine cravings?

As a smoker, you get used to having a certain level of nicotine in your body. You can bring to control that level of nicotine by how much quantity of cigarette you smoke, how deeply you inhale the smoke, and the kind (or brand) of tobacco you use. Therefore when you quit, cravings develop the moment your body begins demanding for the missing units of nicotine since the body system is no longer getting the supply as it used to. Ordinarily this will take some time to break free from nicotine addiction and during this duration, a lot of determination and patient will be highly required of you. Also, when you see people smoking or are around other triggers, you may get nicotine cravings. Cravings are real. They are not just in your imagination. At the same time, your mood may change, and your heart rate and blood pressure may go up as well.

The urge to smoke will come and go. Cravings usually last only a very brief period of time. Cravings usually begin within an hour or two after you have your last cigarette, peak for several days, and may last several weeks. As the days pass, the cravings will get farther apart. Occasional mild cravings may last for 6 months. Finally the following are some tips you can apply in the management of cravings:

Always remind yourself that they will pass.
Keep distance and avoid situations and activities that you used to associate with smoking.
As a substitute for smoking, try chewing on carrots, pickles, apples, celery, sugarless gum, or hard candy. Keeping your mouth busy may stop the psychological need to smoke.
Try taking simple exercises like for instance you may take a deep breath through your nose and blow out slowly through your mouth. Do this repeated at least 10 times daily or whenever you crave for the stick.
Always consult with your doctor about nicotine replacement products or other medications. This is very important because in order to defeat all these challenges, professional input from the doctors will be very necessary and if you have no one to consult you can schedule foe an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today and she will be of great help to you.

What will you become after quitting smoking: A non-smoker or an ex-smoker?

The aftermath of smoking risks after recovery

September 2, 2015

The aftermath of smoking risks after recovery: What next after smoking cessation?

The aftermath of smoking risks after recovery can be felt even up to one year latter after quitting. the heart is the most vulnerable of all the organs.

There is no doubt that up on quitting smoking health improvement takes place almost immediately and for sure people who quit cigarette smoking at whatever age or stage of life are expected to feel significant and remarkable benefits within a few minutes, hours, days and weeks from their last puff of cigarette. However, it is equally important to note that even though the benefits will be realized almost immediately, the effects of smoking can still be felt even after one year of smoking cessation. Doctor Dalal Akoury (MD) and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, says that, with smoking the vein health may still not return to normalcy thereby increasing the possibility of a failed heart bypass surgery and that is why we want to focus our discussion on the aftermath of smoking risks after recovery. It will interest you to note that according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, coronary artery bypass grafting surgery is the most common type of open-heart surgery performed globally. Professionally this is primarily done to patients who have severe heart problems, or those whose major arteries have been blocked and damaged making them susceptible to heart problems. This procedure involves connecting (or grafting) a blocked artery to a healthy one so the blood can bypass the damaged artery and flow freely through the other one. Success rates of coronary artery bypass goes beyond grafting surgery which are considered high among non-smokers.

Experts are working round the clock to reduce the aftermath of smoking risk after recovery and according to a study published in the journal The Annals of Thoracic Surgery it was established that the damage caused by tobacco use to the veins may not be fully reversed even after one full year of smoking cessation. It therefore means that smoking has very long term effect on your health that even after quitting you will still be at certain risk according to the study. And like we had mentioned previously, heart disease is the number one killer in the world and it is strongly facilitated by smoking and the nicotine in the tobacco smoke. Along with improper diet, obesity, high cholesterol and inactivity, smoking is still a major risk factor for cardiovascular problems. From the discussion so far it is becoming clear that even though quitting smoking now is the best thing to do since doing can reverse many of the side effects of tobacco use, it is equally important to appreciate the fact that it will take some time before the other damages can be reversed completely. Doctor Dalal Akoury is reaffirming that since no one really knows when he or she will be in need of coronary artery bypass surgery; therefore, the best approach to this problem/habit is to stop immediately and preferably in your youthful age. This is very important because the heart problems and complications often deteriorate and get more obvious in old age says doctor Akoury. For better understanding of the magnitude of this problem, let us consider the following smoking risks on other medical procedures as follows:

The aftermath of smoking risks after recovery: Smoking poses health risks to any kind of surgery

While all smokers are urged to quit, doctor Akoury is of the opinion that individual smokers who are scheduled for surgery must be highly encouraged to quit as soon as possible if they want to escape the scathing consequences of the problem at hand. The contents of cigarettes which include among other things nicotine and carbon monoxide are so destructive and will impact negatively by blocking the smooth blood flow to different parts of the body thereby impairing the healing process.

The aftermath of smoking risks after recovery: Smoking increases risk after colorectal procedures

According to the findings of a given study published last September in the Annals of Surgery journal revealed that smoking boosts the risk of infection, pneumonia, blood clots and kidney failure after colorectal procedures.

The aftermath of smoking risks after recovery: Smoking makes cancer treatments less effective

Cancer is one of the most frustrating illness and cancer patients will confirm to you the agony they go through during treatment. Cigarette smoking is a serious threat to cancer treatment for varies many reasons and therefore all cancer patients are highly discouraged to desist from smoking because it hinders their body from effectively cooperating with the treatment. It is also important to note that besides lowering their immune responses, experts have establish that smoking can increase the risk of risk of heart and lung complications including problems related to general anesthesia.

The aftermath of smoking risks after recovery: Smoking impacts the body even during less invasive surgeries

The best way of avoiding all these complications is not just stopping but choosing not to be lured into smoking in the first place. Those who do not smoke at all have less risk considering all the health complications that are associated with smoking. Doctor Akoury advices that if you are schedule for any surgery regardless of whether it’s a major or minor surgery, the professional advice from experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center is that patients must endeavor to stop smoking way before the scheduled date of their procedure to ensure success of the treatment. There is no two way about it any patient schedule for surgery must quit smoking.

The aftermath of smoking risks after recovery: Continuing to smoke after surgery causes serious complications.

Finally in one of the studies, more than half of patients who continued to smoke after surgery developed complications compared with less than 20 percent of those who quit. Lighting up also increases the risk of death after surgery. Doctor Akoury parting short is that there’s no way in which tobacco use will help in easing the process of any medical treatment or procedure. With that in mind smokers who have health problems or are undergoing treatments MUST make the decision of quitting a priority. Otherwise, they could be facing serious, long-term consequences.

The aftermath of smoking risks after recovery: What next after smoking cessation?

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