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A national daily released a publication stating that a ban on smoking made “no significant difference” in the number of people who smoked after the law, which banned smoking, was adopted. A research compared the number of people smoking before six months of change in the law with people who smoked even after the law was introduced. The study revealed that men over the age of 35 had a tendency to smoke fewer cigarettes than they did before the ban. However, younger men started smoking more, once the ban was introduced.

The positive findings of this research were that more than 35% of the smokers smoked at home instead of going out for a smoke. This reduced the risk of developing cancers and other chronic conditions, which was caused because of second hand smoke. On the contrary, this also led to an increase in the number of children being exposed to second hand smoke.

Is the ban effective?
Smoke-free laws make public places better and more pleasant. This has a positive effect on thousands of people all over the world who are able to protect themselves from second-hand smoke. Preventing smoking in public has a major impact on preventing many health conditions including heart attacks. A ban in smoking can prevent heart attacks up to a third. More than one fifth of the deaths in people above the age of 35 were because of smoking.

While, it has been seen that a smoking ban can be effective in certain cases, it depends on how well the citizens abide by the law. Smoking in public places such as restaurants, hospitals, gardens, cinema halls and bars certainly increases the risk of smoking-related health conditions even for those who do not smoke. The risk of second hand smoke can be reduced by banning smoking in public places. It is high time that people learn to act more responsibly towards their environment as well as their fellow human beings. After all, ‘effective’ is what we make of it.

It is very normal for some people to quit smoking and then experience weight gain at a later time. This is quite common but is definitely avoidable. Weight gain post quitting smoking can be attributed to several reasons like metabolism changes, increased urge to eat etc.

Nicotine works as appetite suppressants for smokers and ex smokers experience symptoms like energy loss, headache if they have to wait long before taking meals. Cigarettes containing nicotine do suppress hunger and keep weight under control but at the cost of causing cancer, heart problems, and a hell lot of life taking health issues. Also, after smoking cessation, a person keeps on eating now and then whether he or she is hungry or not.

Among many alternatives to keep control on weight, one is to improve diet habits. It is about regulating your appetite and eating foods which burn more calories like carbohydrates (fruits, vegetables, rice, pasta, potatoes etc). Reduce the intake of sweets and go for sugar free solutions.
Another strategy to keep off the weight gain after you quit smoking is to start with a regular exercise program which will not only help to improve your appetite but will also reduce stress level which is often faced by many ex smokers.

Last but not the least, keep never say die spirit. Don’t let weight worries overtake the joy of quitting smoking. Quitting smoking not just help you have a better sense of well being but actually give you a key to control your life.

Smoking is as detrimental to the health of women, as it is to the health of men. The health risks for women remain similar to that of men, but with a few differences.

The risk of suffering from cancer
All women who smoke put themselves at the risk of suffering from lung cancer. The cancer of the lung has left breast cancer far behind as the leading cause of death related to cancer. A large percentage of the lung cancer deaths are a result of smoking. Women are not just at risk of suffering from lung cancer, but may also suffer from cancer of the mouth, lips, oesophagus, bladder, stomach, cervix, throat, voice box and kidney. All these cancers may result from smoking.

The risk of suffering from heart disease and lung damage
A woman, who smokes, increases her chances of suffering from heart disease. The risk of suffering from heart disease is directly proportional to the amount of cigarettes smoked, throughout the duration of her life as a smoker. There is also no doubt that the lungs are damaged as a result of smoking. The smoke that you inhale has a number of toxic substances that all come together to wreak havoc on the airways and small air sacs that are a part of the lungs.

Smoking affects the reproductive health of a woman
A woman who is addicted to smoking might not be able to get pregnant. She may also face serious problems during her pregnancy. The problems include growth of placenta near the uterine opening, early separation of placenta from the uterus and membrane ruptures. Other problems include premature delivery and bleeding.

Smoking can also affect the baby
It’s not just the mothers who are affected by the negative effects of smoking. Even their baby’s health can be affected by smoking. Women who smoke throughout the duration of their pregnancy are at the risk of delivering their child prematurely, which can result in infant death. Babies are also at risk of suffering from what is known a Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

You can see that women who smoke not only put themselves at risk but their infants as well.

Second hand smoking is also known as passive smoking. It’s the kind of smoking, wherein you don’t smoke but breathe in other peoples smoke. This could be cigarette smoke or even environmental tobacco smoke. If you think that second hand smoking is not detrimental to your health, you are dead wrong. And ‘dead’ is the right word here, as second hand smoking poses serious health risks to your body also.

Second hand smoking can harm you

Causes cancer
Second hand smoke is a cancer causing agent. It’s estimated that there are over 4000 compounds that are a part of tobacco smoke and around 60 of them are carcinogens. Cancer, as a result of smoking or passive smoking, is one of the leading causes of death across the world.

Smoking harms the newborn
Mothers are asked not to smoke as the foetus or the new born infant is affected by her smoking. This is the kind of passive smoking that leads to birth defects in the baby. The infant passively takes in the cigarette smoke from the mother, leading to serous health risks.

Other health problems
You are not just at risk for cancer because of second hand smoke. Your body becomes susceptible to heart disease, lung infections like pneumonia and bronchitis. There are increased cases of children who suffer from asthma as a result of passive smoking.

Avoiding second hand smoke
Because of its harmful effects it becomes very important that you avoid passive smoking. But, is it really possible for you to avoid passive smoking? Let’s just say that it’s difficult. The best thing you can do is to avoid smokers and not frequent places that are frequented by smokers. And whenever possible make a non-smoker out of a smoker.

Second hand smoke has first rate harmful effects. You will do well to stay away from it as far as possible.

When a person has decided to quit smoking, he/she will try anything under the sun to achieve this goal with minimal effort and side effects. Champix tablets are quite a popular smoking cessation medication that can be bought on a prescription only. An electronic cigarette, on the other hand, works as a nicotine replacement therapy that provides your body with the essential nicotine but without the other harmful additives of cigarette smoke.

Electronic cigarettes are being touted as a safer alternative to conventional tobacco products, such as cigarettes; in addition, they are being marketed as a tool to help you break free from smoking addiction. But mind you, e-cigarettes do contain tobacco and give you an instant nicotine hit that is 10 times faster than gum or patches. On the other hand Champix is completely free from nicotine. It works as a nicotinic receptor partial agonist; this theoretically means that it both stimulates and blocks nicotine receptors to reduce withdrawal symptoms as well as cigarette cravings.

While proponents of electronic cigarettes say that smoking tobacco subjects the users to up to 4,000 different toxins that are released through combustion, electronic cigarettes deliver only nicotine. In fact, a recent U.S. Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) test for carcinogens in e-cigarettes has validated the fact that two of the most popular brands of electronic cigarettes contain toxic chemicals – diethylene glycol, nitrosamines as well as other carcinogens – which indicate the probability of long term harm. Where as, Champix contains none of these harmful materials; in fact you are evaluated by a medical doctor before you are given the liberty to use Champix.

There are many other concerns raised by health experts which include:

• Electronic cigarettes could cause nicotine poisoning; Champix is free from nicotine.
• Marketing practices, such as adding chocolate or mint flavourings to the vapour, seem to target teens and children; Champix is strictly a prescription drug and is not recommended for use by children.
• People who do not smoke tobacco may become nicotine-dependent after using these ‘safer’ cigarettes; where as Champix is only prescribed to people who are looking to quit smoking successfully.
• E-cigarettes are a largely unregulated product and therefore do not carry product health warnings; where as Champix is FDA regulated and comes marked with all the essential precautionary guidelines.
• No studies exist to validate the claim that e-cigarette works for smoking cessation; while Champix was approved for use after sizable clinical trials were conducted.
• While e-cigarette is additive, Champix takes you away from nicotine addiction.

Therefore, for the best chances of achieving smoking cessation successfully, you need to combine medication with counselling or support group participation.

Source: The Best Smoking Cessation Method - Electronic Cigarettes vs. Champix

The smoking statistics in the UK for 2009 as revealed by the NHS for the Health and Social Care Information Centre is quite encouraging. The report shows hopeful trends in the behaviour and attitudes of people towards smoking following the smoking ban in public places. According to the 2008/09 statistics, amongst the 16 year olds and over in Great Britain, 67% of the current smokers want to give up smoking, while 75% have even tried to give up smoking at some point in the past. Around 69% of adults report that they do not allow smoking at all in their home. This figure shows an increase of 61% as reported in 2006. The majority of people, 81% agree with the smoking ban in public places. However, there was a drop in the number of smokers who want to quit smoking in 2008/2009 to 67% from 74% in 2007. These trends show growing awareness amongst people about the harmful effects of smoking. It indicates that people are more than willing to quit smoking. A little encouragement and support can help them to become ex-smokers.

One of the biggest challenges that people face while trying to stop smoking is their addiction to nicotine. Just after a few hours of quitting, you may experience nicotine withdrawal symptoms that will weaken your determination to quit and you’ll be tempted to go back to smoking again. Nicotine withdrawal symptoms are one of the key reasons why many people fail to quit via the cold turkey method.

How to break the nicotine habit?
These days, a lot of quit smoking aids are available that can help you break nicotine addiction and stop smoking forever. For instance, you may make use of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) based lozenges, chewing gum, inhalators or patches to break your nicotine addiction. This therapy aims at providing nicotine to your body externally so that the craving for nicotine is taken care of and you can work on breaking the psychological habit of smoking. Besides, you can take help from quit smoking medications such as Champix (varenicline). Developed by Pfizer pharmaceuticals, Champix is by far the most popular quit smoking aid. It not only helps you break your nicotine addiction, but it also makes cigarette smoking less pleasurable for you so that you are not tempted to smoke again. Studies show that Champix quadruples your odds of quitting as compared to quitting via the cold turkey method.

“I have been trying to quit, but to no avail.”

Even the strongest of men feel would feel helpless when it comes to managing nicotine cravings and to cope without his/her daily dose of nicotine. For those who smoke, it has affected almost every aspect of your life. It not just leads to cardiovascular diseases and cancer but with increase in age, it also leads to loss of physical activity and decrease in self sufficiency.

Smoking dangers are known to everyone today but cigarettes still remain popular equally among men as well as women. Are you one of those who want to quit smoking but find it really hard to give up smoking habit? If however, you want to and are determined to quit smoking, don’t worry! Help is at hand.

Champix Varenicline is a proven treatment for smoking cessation but it won’t take you too far if you don’t have strong will power and determination to quit smoking! To start treatment with Champix tomorrow, you have to make a firm decision today.

While on treatment with Champix Varenicline, try to avoid being with habitual smokers, exercise regularly, eat healthy and ask for the support from your family and friends.

Apart from Champix Varenicline, there are some other methods as well that are used by smokers who wish to stop smoking which includes nicotine patches, nicotine gums, nicotine nasal sprays, inhalers. Champix excels over these methods; it is latest technology which gifts a smoke free life to you and your family!

Smoking is a tough habit to break and most people try in vain for years. Some start by cutting down the number of cigarettes they smoke while some stop smoking at once. Different methods work differently for different people. Quitting smoking cold turkey is not easy, which is why many people look for smoking cessation aids. Some of the aids for smoking cessation are nicotine replacement therapies, hypnotherapy and behaviour modification counselling.

Champix
Champix is the latest aid for smoking cessation treatment. It’s clinically tested and proven to have a higher success rate as compared to other methods and treatments. The active ingredient in Champix is varenicline and it is available on prescription only. Champix is a safe and effective stop smoking drug but is not meant for everyone.

Champix is not to be taken with certain medications that are prescribed for asthma and diabetes. Champix should also not be taken if you take vitamin or herbal tablets or blood thinners. The active ingredients in Champix can react with these medications and cause certain side effects or alter the way these drugs work.

Warnings with Champix
People who are pregnant, nursing, having kidney and liver problems or suffer from depression and suicidal tendencies should not use Champix. It should also be used only if you are above the age of 18 years or below 65 years. Also if you are allergic to varenicline or any other ingredient in Champix, you must not take it for smoking cessation treatment.

Tell your healthcare professional or doctor about all your present and previous health conditions and the medications before you buy Champix. Do not attempt to hide anything from your doctor, as this might hinder your doctor’s judgment which will result in an incorrect diagnosis. This might lead to serious consequences and affect your health adversely.

Every regular smoker generally finds it difficult to quit smoking easily after smoking for a long period of time. He or she may struggle with strong nicotine cravings and withdrawal effects, especially if they decide to quit smoking cold turkey style. With the help of some quit smoking aids, it can be possible to increase their chances of quitting smoking successfully. Smoking cessation or quitting smoking may be a difficult thing to achieve for many but certainly not impossible. It can be done successfully with the help of any effective quit smoking aid.

Various methods for smoking cessation or quitting smoking
There are many methods and techniques that help smokers quit smoking successfully. Some of these methods include cold turkey, nicotine replacement therapies and anti-depressants such as Zyban. The success rates of quitting with the help of these methods may vary from person to person. Moreover, smokers have one more quit smoking aid in the form of Champix, which is an oral prescription drug.

Champix is a quit smoking drug, which helps to reduce nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms that occur naturally after you quit smoking. Champix contains an active ingredient, Varenicline tartrate and other inactive ingredients. Before buying Champix, you need to ensure you aren’t allergic to active or inactive ingredients of this smoking cessation drug.

Champix is a proven treatment for smoking cessation and is generally prescribed for a period of 12 weeks. If you are unable to quit smoking successfully during this period, then the doctor may ask you to repeat the treatment after a thorough medical check up again.

Why Champix excels over other methods of quitting?
Although there are many methods for smoking cessation, Champix is considered as the most effective help for quitting smoking, providing you are eligible to take it. Champix works efficiently to reduce the strong cravings for nicotine as well as withdrawal effects without actually providing any dose of nicotine to the body. Champix doesn’t contain any traces of nicotine in its ingredients which is what differentiates it from most other treatments that require injecting small doses of nicotine in one way or the other.

Smoking is one of the most harmful activities a person can adopt. It affects all aspects of a person’s life such as health, fitness, social status and even family relations. Excessive smoking over long period of time can even kill you due to a smoking related disease.

There are more than 4,000 chemicals in the human body including tobacco, tar, carbon monoxide, metals, nitrogen oxides, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide and radioactive compounds. Smoking may cause you life threatening diseases such as various types of cancers, lung diseases and heart ailment. Pregnant women who smoke are likely to deliver low birth weight or even still born babies.

Further, smoking affects your kids and other family members as second hand smoking is considered equally bad. For this reason your friends and family members may also avoid you. Smoking makes you get tired easily and may also cause erectile dysfunction. Besides smoking affects your taste buds and makes your breath and clothes smell bad.

Smoking Cessation Treatment
Smoking is easier to start but very hard to quit as it is an addictive habit. Nicotine starts controlling your brain, so that if you do not get the used to dose of nicotine your brain starts giving you painful nicotine withdrawal symptoms. For this reason many smokers are scared to even make an attempt to quit and many who do dare to quit cold turkey often fail in their smoking cessation attempt.

To help people get rid of their smoking habit successfully, a number of smoking cessation treatment methods are available. Some popular smoking cessation treatment methods include –

• Use of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) – These attempt to provide the body with nicotine minus other harmful products in the cigarette through nicotine patches, nicotine gums etc. Since NRT contains nicotine a certain risk of re-addiction is involved.
• Use of nicotine–free Quit Smoking Medication – These are the novel and most effective smoking cessation treatment method. These do not contain nicotine and hence are not addictive. Popular quit smoking medications include Champix (Varenicline) and Zyban (Buproprion).

Champix to quit smoking
Developed by Pfizer, Champix is the newest and most successful smoking cessation treatment medication. The reason why Champix is rated better than other smoking cessation treatment medication is that it offers two-way actions to help smokers quit smoking. Its active ingredient Varenicline provides relief from nicotine withdrawal symptoms and also makes smoking less pleasurable. Research has shown that Champix quadruples your odds of quitting as compared to a placebo.