Cigarette

Enjoy Smoking without the Tar

January 26, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

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If you’ve ever tried to quit smoking you know exactly how difficult the process can be. For many that have smoked for years, getting off cigarettes can be much more difficult than stopping drinking or even quitting illegal drugs.

The commercials that tell people the dangers of smoking and paint a grim description of what’s going to happen to those that smoke are everywhere, yet many continue this unhealthy habit because they just can’t quit.

There may be some help, and it doesn’t involve chewing gum, wearing patches or going under hypnosis. Electronic cigarettes are becoming more popular as they give smokers the feeling of smoking while not ingesting nearly the harmful amount of chemicals they get from a regular cigarette. The active ingredient in cigarettes is nicotine, which helps with the addiction process. It’s not necessarily the nicotine that will kill you; it’s the harmful tar and chemicals that make cigarettes so deadly.

Electronic cigarettes still have nicotine, but they don’t have the same killer chemicals. They are available online and in many retail stores, so you can buy electronic cigarette products very easily. Plus, there are no flames with electronic cigarettes, so no more lighters and no more cigarette burns on the car seat. The smoke emitted from an e-cigarette is vapor, not smoke. It looks like smoke when it first comes out, but quickly fades as a burst of water vapor. There is no secondhand smoke, so kids are not subjected to your habit, yet the smoker still gets the satisfaction of having their cigarette and getting their nicotine.

If you’ve tried everything else, it’s time to try an electronic cigarette. There are so many advantages to smoking them: the effects are less dangerous, the pollution level is decreased, and your needs as a smoker are still being met with the habitual act of smoking.

Filed Under: Mental Health Guidance Tagged With: Cigarette, Electronic cigarette, Nicotine, Tobacco smoking

Smoking Your Skin

December 22, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Every time you take a drag of that cigarette, you are making yourself look older. Although this may seem like a minor side effect of smoking compared to lung and heart issues, perhaps society’s vanity will be moved to avoid smoking based on the external issues that arise from it.

Here’s the breakdown of what smoking does in the simplest terms possible. When you inhale smoke from a cigarette, carbon monoxide is absorbed in the hemoglobin in the blood. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless toxic gas that displaces the oxygen in the blood at an alarming rate. The blood carries the carbon monoxide to the organs instead of oxygen – thus poisoning the organs and withholding the badly needed oxygen. Skin in the largest organ of the body and requires nutrients and cleansing from the other functions of the body in order to maintain its healthy glow and youthful look.

In addition to carbon monoxide, cigarette smoke contains a variety of chemicals including cyanide and arsenic both of which are considered highly toxic poisons. When you smoke these chemicals, the liver works overtime to rid the body of the toxins so the normal functions of the liver are never performed.

The skin is the first place reduced liver function will become evident. In addition to the graying of the skin due to internal issues, the act of smoking itself also contributes to premature aging. A smoker will typically squint his eyes and purse her lips. These repetitious actions combined with the breakdown of collagen from the internal smoking issues leads directly to deep wrinkles.

If you don’t believe it, take a look at yourself in the mirror. Is your skin vibrant or do you have a dull pallor and deepening wrinkles around your eyes and mouth. It’s hard enough to fight aging so why would we do it intentionally?

Filed Under: Tips & Tricks Tagged With: Carbon monoxide, Cigarette, Smoking

Using Electric Cigarettes in Hospitals

December 9, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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There are so many places, most of them public places, where there are activities that are prohibited:

A shirt is required when dining in a restaurant.
No alcohol can be bought or sold on Sundays in some states.
There’s no smoking allowed in hospitals, on airplanes, or even in some restaurants.
Animals are not allowed in restaurants, stores, or coffee houses.

It’s unlikely that these places are going to change their rules, and if they do, there will probably be even stricter requirements in other areas if some allowances are made. These days, you have to think through your whole process of going somewhere when you plan a day out, especially to a public place, because there are so many rules you’ll have to follow.

There are alternatives that let you get around some of these strict rules, and some of these alternative are very accommodating and still allow you to enjoy the things that you like to do.

For instance, it’s a long-standing rule that you can’t smoke in a hospital. Everybody knows that doing so is a no-no, but they didn’t say you couldn’t use an electric cigarette! The neat thing about the device is that it’s odorless and virtually undetectable by sight, smell or sound, unless of course, someone is looking directly at you while you’re smoking it!

Many people who are used to smoking find that it’s a great alternative for their habit, especially when they find themselves in certain uncomfortable situations and need to smoke. A hospital is one of those places, more so if the smoker has a loved one in there and they have to visit them often. Having a smoke takes the edge away, but smoking an electric cigarette satisfies those urges and keeps the hospital security from escorting you out the front door!

Filed Under: Mental Health Guidance Tagged With: Cigarette, Electronic cigarette, Regina Benjamin, Tobacco smoking

Smoking Alternatives for My Nervous Energy

December 3, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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What are your coping mechanisms for those stressful moments you experience? Do you cope by exercising, or watching your favorite television show? Or maybe you talk to a friend. Most times, when I have nervous energy I reach for a candy bar or gum, or I twiddle with the fabric at the end of my blouse. There are certain situations in which I often find myself where I am nervous and at a loss as to what to do or how to act. Years ago, I was a heavy smoker and would consume upwards of two to three packs a day because that was how I coped with those stressful moments.

Thankfully, those stressful times are behind me, and I don’t have that incessant need to smoke as I did in the past. Much of it is will power, much of it was the need to pursue a healthier lifestyle, and a lot of it was me understanding the long-term effects that smoking can have on my health.

A friend introduced me to the concept of smoking alternatives like the electronic cigarette and chewing gum to help me with my smoking habit. I had to get used to using the device, but over time, I came to enjoy it and even prefer it over the real deal. And there are the cost savings I enjoy as a result of the change. I also like the fact that I can still indulge in a “cigarette moment” in those places where there is “No Smoking Allowed.”

Today, I am free from traditional cigarettes and very glad about it! I always try to share the information with my friends who still smoke and show them ways that they can kick the stick too. So now that I’ve done this, all that’s left to figure out is how to stop chewing so much gum!

Filed Under: Tips & Tricks Tagged With: Cigarette, Electronic cigarette, Smoking, Tobacco

Effects of Cigarette Smoking on a Woman

October 16, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Though smoking can have an negative impact on anyone’s health, women who smoke are potentially at a greater risk for many different conditions specific for their gender. The hazards of a female smoking go beyond that of the normal factors, such as lung cancer and heart disease.

Women who smoke put themselves in a position where they are at risk for a number of cancers. Cervical cancer is a leading condition for females, and it is increase by the inhalation of cigarette smoke. Breast cancer risks are also increased. It has been known that a female smoker increases her risk of getting breast cancer by up to 75% just for having the addiction.

Menopause and menstruation is also affected by the hazardous chemicals of cigarettes. The smoke can reduce the amount of estrogen in the body, which is a hormone that is responsible for the normal cycle for a woman. Early menopause many experienced by those that begin smoking while they are still teenagers. Problems with ovulation and infertility are also more apparent in those that smoke.

Those who are pregnant and continue to smoke not only put their lives in jeopardy, but also the well being of their growing fetus. Smoking causes a lot of negative effects on an unborn baby, such as miscarriage, low birth weight, and lung problems.

Smoking cessation is really the only way to help a woman lower the chances of contracting a serious health condition. Smoking can affect the body in numerous ways. The amount of cigarettes used each day can also determine how at risk a female is at getting these ailments. No one has determined a “safe amount” of cigarettes a day, and it is highly unlikely that there is a number that is safe other than zero. For this reason, it is important that you quit smoking immediately.

Filed Under: Benefits Tagged With: Cancer, Cigarette, Health

Use Electronic Cigarettes to Kick an Unhealthy Habit

October 12, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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Smoking cigarettes is rude, unhealthy, and it’s getting harder to do all the time. Many restaurants, bars and other public places do not allow cigarette smoking. Cigarettes turn teeth yellow and reduce lung capacity. There is even evidence to suggest it may affect nearby secondhand smokers. Don’t hang on to a dirty, expensive habit. Purchase electronic cigarettes to kick the habit. Quitting is the healthy decision, and electronic cigarettes are a clean, safe alternative.

Electronic cigarettes look and feel like the real deal. Water vapor and nicotine are inside the electronic cigarette, but no carcinogens, tar or tobacco. None of the cancer-causing agents found in traditional cigarettes are present in the electronic version. Smokers will hold and puff their cigarette, as usual, but they won’t be endangering their lives by doing so. A small amount of nicotine provides the addictive substance that smokers crave.

By no means should electronic cigarettes be a lifelong alternative to kicking the smoking habit, but they can be a lifeline for those who want to quit. Often, smokers miss the motion of smoking and miss having something to hold in their hand. The electronic cigarette provides the addictive nicotine users need to help them get over the habit as well as the psychological comfort that comes with the smoking act. There is no patch to wear, no tasteless gum to chew, no tiny sensors to put onto the body…there is only a clean cigarette that won’t be an ugly health risk. Some electronic cigarettes are even customizable, so smokers can make their quitting tool look exactly like the brand of cigs they usually smoke. Sometimes, smokers need just a little help to quit. You can purchase electronic cigarette kits online and in some specialty stores.

Filed Under: Benefits Tagged With: Cigarette, Electronic cigarette, Health, Nicotine, Specific Substances, Substance abuse, Tobacco, Tobacco smoking

Quitting Smoking for Health

September 12, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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If you want to maintain a healthy lifestyle, quitting cigarette smoking is a necessary first step. There is no end to literature, charts, and lawsuits related to the topic of smoking as an unhealthy pastime. If you’re still a smoker despite all the warnings and public messages cautioning against this addiction, perhaps you need a refresher.

Some Unhealthy Side Effects of Cigarette Smoking

Smoking is directly linked to lung cancer. Smokers are at ten times more risk of contracting lung cancer than non-smokers. Causality? Not too hard to put together! It causes blood pressure and heart rate to rise, which overworks the heart, leading to eventual heart complications. Each puff introduces carbon monoxide into your body. Carbon monoxide is the stuff that comes out of automobile exhausts that suicidal people inhale to kill themselves. Is that really a route you want to travel alongside? Cigarette smoking blocks blood vessels over time, causing heart attacks. Frequent, heavy smokers suffer from nicotine staining of their skin, particularly around the fingertips which hold the cigarette. This presents itself as a yellowed, brownish color, which isn’t too sexy. These and numerous other negative health effects are the direct result of cigarette smoking.

Quitting smoking, as Mark Twain said, is easy. He did it all the time. It’s just that keeping up the “quitting” part was difficult. There are as many ways to successfully quit as there are ways to begin the habit. Each person needs to find their own reason, their own method, which works for them. Some people find that hypnotism works, while others complete the process by mere strength of will alone, dropping the habit cold turkey.

It takes years, but after quitting cigarette smoking, the lungs eventually rid themselves of accumulated toxins such as tar and nicotine. The cravings for a cigarette subside, then disappear. Lung capacity can return, although this is an almost painfully slow process which takes years. However, as each of these stages passes, health slowly returns to the body, and normal functioning of internal organs can begin again. It’s a worthy process if you desire health.

Filed Under: Benefits Tagged With: Cigarette, Health, Tobacco smoking

Staying Healthy: The E Cigarette Kit, Hygiene, and Laughter

August 18, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

When it comes to medical treatment and the spread of diseases, the world is definitely getting smaller. This is the era of medical tourism, with people from affluent countries traveling to developing countries for cheaper health care. If you don’t have health insurance, medical care in developed countries is prohibitively expensive. It becomes imperative to reduce patient care costs. Moreover, there have been outbreaks of multiple epidemics across America, Asia, and Africa over the last few years, from H1N1 to hepatitis to meningitis. There is also a concerted effort globally to work on preventive measures. With the world becoming the proverbial global village and with increased international travel, the chances of exposure to new strains of communicable diseases are high.

There is also increasing awareness among the public about staying healthy and having good hygiene. The Internet offers members of a global audience more information on how to take care of themselves. There are technological advancements that take into consideration the needs of the public at large. Take smoking, for example. Traditional cigarettes are being replaced with electronic cigarette kits. A buyer can choose lower levels of nicotine. These hi-tech cigarettes emit no smoke. Not only is an e cigarette kit better than traditional cigarettes, but it also reduces exposure to secondhand smoke, which contributes to cancer, asthma, and other illnesses.

Notwithstanding all these technological advancements, the onus is still on individuals to take care of their own health and to reduce their exposure to contagious diseases. It’s important to maintain good hygiene. Wash your hands frequently; if possible, carry hand sanitizer with you everywhere. Regular exercise boosts immunity and makes your body less susceptible to strain and injury. Avoid junk food and eat nutritious meals at proper times. Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated. Reduce stress-inducing factors in your life. And above all, laugh a lot. After all, laughter is the best medicine.

Filed Under: Benefits Tagged With: Cigarette, Exercise, Health

Are E-Cigarettes Really Safer?

August 15, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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The tar and other chemicals, along with all the carcinogens, are eliminated with an e-cigarette. There is an argument, of course, that inhaling nicotine vapor itself isn’t good for you – and that makes sense. Given the choice between inhaling only nicotine and inhaling nicotine along with all the other chemicals in a cigarette, the straight nicotine would appear to be the least dangerous. The best choice, of course, is to simply quit smoking, but that’s not quite as easy as it sounds. Cigarette smoking has been called more addictive than heroin, and some people simply can’t make themselves quit, no matter how hard they try. They see that it’s ruining their health, but yet they continue to smoke.

The patches and gums that are offered to smokers haven’t met with a great deal of success for most people. The prescription options can have nasty side effects, and some people just simply aren’t willing to use them. For people who’re running out of options, the e-cigarette can be a good alternative. It can help people move toward quitting their cigarette habit for good, or at least cut down on the amount of dangerous chemicals that they’re inhaling. Both of these options are better than simply continuing to smoke standard cigarettes.

Smoking is a leading cause of disease, but many smokers find it very hard to quit. Some of them just don’t want to stop smoking, but others have tried and failed so many times that they just aren’t sure they can try again. For smokers who want to quit, and for those who want to cut down on how much they’re spending on cigarettes, there’s the electronic cigarette. E-cigarettes have gained a lot of popularity recently because they can be used even in areas where there are ‘no smoking’ signs. They don’t actually put off any smoke at all, only water vapor. That lowers the risk to people around them, but are they really safe? It would seem as though they’re safer than standard cigarettes, because the only thing the smoker is inhaling is nicotine.
The tar and other chemicals, along with all the carcinogens, are eliminated with an e-cigarette. There is an argument, of course, that inhaling nicotine vapor itself isn’t good for you – and that makes sense. Given the choice between inhaling only nicotine and inhaling nicotine along with all the other chemicals in a cigarette, the straight nicotine would appear to be the least dangerous. The best choice, of course, is to simply quit smoking, but that’s not quite as easy as it sounds. Cigarette smoking has been called more addictive than heroin, and some people simply can’t make themselves quit, no matter how hard they try. They see that it’s ruining their health, but yet they continue to smoke.
The patches and gums that are offered to smokers haven’t met with a great deal of success for most people. The prescription options can have nasty side effects, and some people just simply aren’t willing to use them. For people who’re running out of options, the e-cigarette can be a good alternative. It can help people move toward quitting their cigarette habit for good, or at least cut down on the amount of dangerous chemicals that they’re inhaling. Both of these options are better than simply continuing to smoke standard cigarettes.

Filed Under: Benefits Tagged With: Cigarette, Nicotine, Smoking cessation, Tobacco smoking

E Cigarettes Address Psychological as Well as Physical Addictions

July 11, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

There is no doubting that nicotine is a physically addictive substance. Some organizations have even stated that nicotine addiction is as difficult to overcome as addictions to substances such as heroin and cocaine. Nicotine replacement therapies, therefore, seem like a smart alternative to smoking cigarettes. Sure, the nicotine itself isn’t good for your body, but nicotine gum and other products don’t carry the large number of carcinogens present in tobacco smoke. These products, however, often fail to help addicts quit smoking because they fail to address the role that psychological addiction plays in smoking cigarettes. E cigarettes provide a substitute that satisfies the psychological craving as well as the physical craving.

When a person becomes addicted to smoking tobacco, his or her brain begins to associate certain actions with pleasurable sensations. The very act of bringing the cigarette to one’s lips can cause the brain’s pleasure centers to light up in anticipation of the upcoming nicotine reward. The brain can also learn to associate the physical act of smoking with other pleasurable psychological states. If one commonly smokes cigarettes while drinking, then the physical act of smoking becomes closely associated with the pleasure obtained by ingesting alcohol. If one regularly smokes during work breaks, then the brain begins to link relaxation with the act of smoking.

E cigarettes satisfy the psychological craving by giving smokers a fake cigarette to inhale. The E cigarette looks and taste like a tobacco cigarette, so it tricks the brain into believing that you are actually smoking. Some companies even manufacture e cigarettes that replicate the appearance and flavor of certain types of cigarettes.

Over time, you can start to decrease the amount of nicotine that you use in the e cigarettes. You can also start to alter your mental associations by using e cigarettes less throughout the day. This approach helps you overcome addiction with much less suffering.

Filed Under: Mental Health Guidance Tagged With: Cigarette, Tobacco smoking