Kicking The Habit - Smoking

Smoking-related diseases remain the biggest killers all over the world. If you're a smoker, here are just a few of the many benefits of giving up:

1. You smell better - your clothes and your home will be far better for it – you'll be a thousand times more attractive to your partners (or potential partners).

2. You'll have more energy - smoking increases carbon monoxide levels in your blood, reducing oxygen delivery to your body. No wonder your energy levels are low!

3. Reduced blood pressure - after a cigarette your blood pressure surges for at least 20 minutes, placing a strain on your heart.

4. Improved breathing - smoking causes the walls of the lung tubes (bronchi) to constrict, reducing air entry.

5. Better concentration - within a day or two of kicking the weed you'll discover your ability to concentrate is greatly improved. Your mind will be clearer and you'll be much better able to cope with those tedious jobs.

Having cleared in your mind the many reasons for giving up smoking the next step is preparing yourself for the day when you become a non-smoker.

1. Set The Day: Mark your day with a red pen on a calendar. This focuses your intention. Remind yourself of the date regularly. Choose a day when you are unlikely to be stressed and can have time to yourself.

2. Stop With A Friend Or Relative: convince another smoker to give up with you. Stop on the same day and support each other regularly – ring each other daily. Discuss how you feel and those things which will make giving up easier.

3. The Night Before: smoke your last cigarette before retiring for the night. As you do so remind yourself of all your reasons for giving up. Think of how much healthier you will feel, how much more attractive, how much richer. Throw away your ashtrays, lighters, packets of cigarettes – they're history now. Time for the new you.

4. Collect: old dog ends in a jar and seal the lid. You will use this in the future to further remind yourself of the disgusting habit you have successfully given up.

5. Compile A Smoker's Diary: find a notebook and label it "My Log Of Non-Smoking Success". You will use this to keep a history of your giving up.

6. Cash Jar: take a jar and on it stick a label with the words "Cash Not Ash". You will be putting the money into this jar you have saved from not buying cigarettes and smoking accessories. Beware: you might be shocked how quickly you fill the jar up.

© HealthChat 2000

Dr Sims is the Medical Director of FitStop, the UK's foremost group of health and fitness centers, and an expert on matters relating to fitness of body and mind. Having trained as a GP, he now works full-time in health promotion and has written extensively on the subject, including a monthly medical column in Mensa magazine with the TV psychiatrist, Dr Raj Persaud. Dr Sims was the original Virgin.Net online doctor.

Article courtesy of MediaPeak.com