Decades ago smoking was a habit that was restricted only to men, but now the criterion has changed to the core. The days have become modernized. Even women folk have started to smoke cigars and other things. The days have not become bad, but instead women have started gaining the power and are trying to be equally in par with the men folk too. This is not a bad fact instead a good one to know that women are gaining their equal rights in all the fields. But then too when seen in other aspects it is sad fact that women are trying to be equally in par with the men even in reasons like smoking and other things. These are actually considered to be very much bad for the health.

Smoking is considered to be injurious to health and there are awareness being created in many areas. Now, when the women folk also start smoking they are also easily affected by it. Let us just have fast and short over view on smoking and health issues that are caused due to smoking. One can write pages on the health issues that are caused in the human body due to smoking factors. Not only to the smoker but it has also affected the people who are near by the smoker. This is because the smoke that is let out after smoking is let out into the air. This smoke that is let out contains many harmful gases like the carbon di oxide, nitrous-di-oxide and so many gases. These gases are all very harmful one. These gases when gets mixed with the normal air in the atmosphere it pollutes the air. Thus it has also resulted in the pollution of the air in the atmosphere.

Now, after this smoke is let out, knowing or unknowingly if the person near by the smoker inhales the smoke, then this affects the health of the inhaler. Thus smoking indirectly affects the near by person too. It also affects many parts of the body. Let us just have an over view on the effects of smoking on each part of the body. It affects the hair; the hair of the smoker becomes very dry and gets stained due to smoking. Smoking may also affect the brain, as it may stop the passage of the blood to the brain cells thus affecting it. This occurs only at the later stages of the life. Smoking may also result in the eye degeneration; the ciliary muscles of eyes become weak and thus affect the eye sight. It affects the sense organs like the nose and tongue. Yes, the smoking affects sense organs. The taste and the smell of the smoker are lost due to the deposition of the nicotine on the taste bud and the smell cells of the smoker. Just think! Are these problems necessary? Not only are these but there even vital cases where it has resulted in the death of the people due to cancer and emphysema that was induced due to smoking.

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Smoking has been tagged the number one preventable cause of death in the U.S. It contributes to many health problems -lung cancer, stroke, heartburn, loss of sense of taste, cosmetic problems, infertility, and many others. Even among non-smokers, exposure to burning cigarettes and exhaled smoke (referred to as passive smoking) increases the risk of having these health problems.

If you decide to quit smoking however, there is good news for you as some of the damage caused by your smoking habits can be undone. Your risk the major health problems such as cancer is diminished.

If you are really serious about quitting your smoking habits, you should understand that it takes a lot of determination. Quitting is tough but achievable. In fact, studies show that smoking is one of the most difficult addictions to break, even harder than heroin. The good news for you is that, there are many strategies that have been applied that have given tremendous success.

Here are a few things you can do to increase your chances of quitting smoking successfully and not relapsing during the crucial first few weeks:

1. Monitor Your Progress: in doing this you should first of all set a deadline up to three weeks away from the last time you smoke. But in the meantime, log each cigarette you smoke- where you smoke and under what conditions or circumstances (Don R. Powell, PhD). This will help you identify situations that cause you to smoke and then find alternative behaviors other than smoking cigarette.

2. Delay the Desire to Smoke: Quitting is supposed to be gradual and it is recommended that each time you have the urge to smoke, you should hold off lighting the cigarette for up to five minutes. Extend this time to ten minutes after some days, fifteen minutes for the next few days also, and so on. As time goes on you will find out that you are able to hold on for longer periods of time, and finally quitting.

3. Drink a Lot of Orange Juice: For those who want to quit cold turkey, getting through the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal is the hardest part. These withdrawal symptoms usually last about two weeks. Drinking a lot of orange juice during these two weeks will help you get over the irritability, anxiety, confusion, lack of concentration and troubled sleep that come with nicotine withdrawal.

Orange juice makes your urine more acidic and this clears nicotine from your body faster (Thomas Cooper, D.D.S). The citrus taste in your mouth will make the thought of smoking disgusting. For those who are quitting with the aid of doctor-prescribed nicotine gum or patches, avoid orange juice and other acidic drinks because these products keep nicotine in your system.

4. Picture it in Your Mind That You Have Flu: Many experts say that nicotine withdrawal symptoms are similar to the symptoms of flu- you have trouble concentrating, your energy levels are depleted, you get headaches, and so on. There is little you can do about the flu other than letting it run its course. You will certainly get over it. The withdrawal symptoms will cease in about two weeks if you don’t relapse and have a cigarette.

5. Stay Away From Bars: Several studies have shown that the greatest chances of relapsing occur in bars. According to Dr. Jorenby, for many people, having a drink in one hand means having cigarette in the other. It is therefore recommended that that you stay away from bars (or drinking at home) for a few weeks after you stop smoking. You can visit other places instead, like museums, cinemas, and other public places where smoking is prohibited.

6. Seek Support and Professional Advice: Whatever the quitting method you wish to employ, you have greater chances of success if you seek support from your family and friends. They will offer you a great deal of encouragement. Your doctor or counselor can also offer expert advice on the best way to go about it.

All these strategies can help you quit your smoking habit faster than you think. But remember that you need to put in a lot of effort and determination.

Source:ezinearticles.com