About.com Smoking Cessation

Quit Smoking Monday Messages

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:56:21 +0000

Gratitude Heals

Of all human emotions, gratitude is one of the most beneficial for our bodies and minds. A grateful heart knows no bounds, and for people who are recovering from nicotine addiction, gratitude plays an important role in the health of their quit programs.

With Thanksgiving just about upon us here in the U.S., it seems like a good time to take stock of the blessings in our lives. Members of the About.com Smoking Cessation support forum are quick to share those things they're most grateful for since quitting tobacco, and I've included a sampling of their thoughts below:

"I'm thankful for the chance to slow my COPD. If I were still smoking, I might be on O2 continually. The pride and thankfulness I feel by taking control are tremendous." ~Gaylene~

"I am so thankful to be free of cigarettes and to be a non-smoker. My life is so simple now compared to the way it was, always trying to find a place to smoke and hiding behind the smoke." ~AnotherLinda~

"I'm thankful to be able to laugh again without worrying if it will bring on my asthma symptoms; I am thankful that when I wake up in the morning, my chest doesn't hurt; I am thankful that within just a couple days of my quit, I have not had to use an inhaler or any asthma medication." ~Cap'n~

"I'm thankful for the feeling of freedom, peace and empowerment quitting tobacco has given me, and I know it is going to get better with time. I can breathe and have more energy, plus much more." ~Dar~

"I am thankful to be smoke-free today and to have the confidence to tackle my holiday jitters without depending on nicotine to be my substitute backbone. I have restored my dignity and boosted my self-esteem 1000% percent." ~Trish~

"I am thankful for today! I am here, healthy, alive and feeling strong. I am thankful for my family who have stood by me and encouraged me to quit smoking. I didn't think I had the courage to do it!" ~Sheba~

"I really like who I have become since I quit smoking. There's no more shame! I'm proud to be a healthy woman, wife and mother!" ~Carol~

"I am grateful for the inner strength that I have found to battle this addiction, which gives me power to battle so much more." ~Sue~

"I am grateful to my son who loved me enough to ask me to quit. I took a long hard look at that request and said to myself..."I can and I will do this for Daxie." ~Daxie~

"I am grateful for my good health, and for the awareness of how precious that really is." ~Terry~

If you've quit smoking, breathe deep and be grateful. If you want to quit but haven't done it yet, there is no time like the present to get started. Grab hold of our hands here at About.com Smoking Cessation -- we've got the tools and the support to help you put tobacco behind you...permanently.

Have a grateful, smoke-free Thanksgiving!

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Take The Quit Smoking Monday Pledge

Healthy Monday encourages us to think of for ourselves. If you're still smoking, put your cigarettes down and get started on your quit program today.

Quit Smoking Monday Messages Archive

We all have the ability to quit smoking successfully, and we all deserve a life that is free of addiction. Honor your life by choosing Monday as the day to start and reinforce your quit program.

You can quit smoking ... and we're here to help you, one simple Monday at a time.

_{Image © healthymonday.org}

Quit Smoking Monday Messages originally appeared on About.com Smoking Cessation on Monday, November 23rd, 2009 at 12:56:21.

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Around About.com

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:14:01 +0000

With nearly 800 topics covered on About.com these days, there is certainly no shortage of good reading material available at your fingertips. This week I've selected several articles from around About.com to inspire you as you move through recovery from nicotine addiction and beyond.

Top 10 Myths About Lung Cancer -- About.com Lung Cancer

Holiday Stress Relief - Why it Pays to Start Now -- About.com Stress

Six Weeks to a Healthier Diet -- About.com Nutrition

Around About.com originally appeared on About.com Smoking Cessation on Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 at 23:14:01.

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The Icky Threes

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:41:11 +0000

The icky threes refer to particular phases of a person's quit program that can be bumpy and uncomfortable. Learn what to expect ahead of time as you move through the first few months of smoking cessation, and you'll be better prepared to succeed

Related:

Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms

Deciphering the Urge to Smoke

There is No Substitute for Time

The Icky Threes originally appeared on About.com Smoking Cessation on Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 at 22:41:11.

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7 Tips to Help You Quit Smoking Successfully

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:12:50 +0000

You can abstain from smoking for years, but if you don't change the relationship you have with cigarettes, the chains of nicotine addiction will continue to hold you tight. Change the way you think and you can free yourself in an instant. You'll still have to do the work to undo the years of habit of course, but once you free your mind, you're on your way.

Related:

Patience with the Process

Will I Miss Smoking Forever?!

Nicotine Addiction: Myths vs. Facts

_{Image: Stockxpert}

7 Tips to Help You Quit Smoking Successfully originally appeared on About.com Smoking Cessation on Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 at 22:12:50.

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Quit Smoking Monday Messages

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:13:12 +0000

Prepare to Quit Smoking

This year, November 19th marks the annual celebration of the Great American Smokeout, a day when smokers are encouraged to quit smoking for one day. Sponsored by the American Cancer Society, the event has gained steam over the years with upwards of 45 percent of the 45.3 million smokers in the United States today using the Smokeout as a springboard for smoking cessation.

If you're planning to jump on the quit smoking wagon when the Great American Smokeout rolls around this year, use the next couple of days to prepare for the journey ahead by learning what you can expect when you quit smoking.

You can quit smoking!

Put quitting tobacco in the top slot of your priority list and keep it there for as long as it takes, and refuse to give up until you've gotten this killer habit off your back, once and for all. The resources below will help you get started.

Prepare to Quit Smoking - A Free Email Course

This free email newsletter course is designed to give you a head start by teaching you how to prepare for a successful quit program. You'll receive a newsletter daily in your mailbox for 6 days, covering topics such as how to develop the will to quit smoking, reviewing your reasons to quit, and looking at the benefits you can expect after you kick the habit.

Planning for Your Quit Day
From what to expect when you quit smoking, to ways to deal with recovery, education is a vital part of a successful quit program.

Gathering the Supplies to Help You Quit Smoking
The first several weeks of smoking cessation can be difficult. It's important to have things you can do to distract yourself in mind ahead of time...before the urge to smoke hits. A little preparation goes a long way.

A successful quit program doesn't happen by accident. Be proactive and make this the quit that lasts you a lifetime.

**************

Take The Quit Smoking Monday Pledge

Healthy Monday encourages us to think of for ourselves. If you're still smoking, put your cigarettes down and get started on your quit program today.

Quit Smoking Monday Messages Archive

We all have the ability to quit smoking successfully, and we all deserve a life that is free of addiction. Honor your life by choosing Monday as the day to start and reinforce your quit program.

You can quit smoking ... and we're here to help you, one simple Monday at a time.

_{Image © healthymonday.org}

Quit Smoking Monday Messages originally appeared on About.com Smoking Cessation on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 10:13:12.

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Success Stories!

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:56:50 +0000

Get Inspired to Quit Smoking!

One of the best teachers is experience, and here at About.com Smoking Cessation, we have a library full of personal accounts from those people who have quit smoking successfully. Settle in with a cup of hot tea or chocolate and do a little reading. You'll come away motivated to make smoking a thing of the past....your past.

Freedom After 40 Years
"I started smoking at the tender age of 15. That would have been about 1968, and people smoked everywhere at that time. There were cigarette ads on TV, in magazines, and on billboards. Characters smoked on TV and in the movies. People smoked in restaurants, stores, offices, and in their homes. Anyone, any age, could buy cigarettes from a machine for about 50 cents a pack."

Dar's Miracle Quit Story
"Please rejoice with me, because I am one of the lucky ones. I quit smoking and have been given a second chance. I smoked for 50 years. Here is my story -- why I quit and why I think I will make it this time. I want more than anything for my story to inspire all of you, your friends and your families."

Mary's Quit Story
"I grew up around smokers. It seemed natural, almost expected of me. My parents smoked. My maternal grandparents smoked. All my aunts and uncles smoked (and I come from a big Italian family, so we're talking about a lot of smokers!). My adult cousins smoked. My paternal grandfather smoked cigars. Our neighbors, friends and even our family doctor smoked. What chance did I have?"

Success Stories! originally appeared on About.com Smoking Cessation on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 09:56:50.

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Nicotine Vaccine Set to Enter Phase III Trial

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:28:35 +0000

Imagine being able to get a vaccine that would immunize you against nicotine addiction. After receiving a series of shots that encourage your body to build antibodies to nicotine, the vaccine would render the drug non-addictive. Imagine that.

While it may seem far fetched, such a vaccine is under current development by researchers at NABI Biopharmaceuticals. The goal of the nicotine vaccine, called NicVAX® (Nicotine Conjugate Vaccine) is twofold: to help people quit using tobacco and to eliminate the threat of a relapse by helping the body produce antibodies to nicotine.

Thanks to a $10-million grant just awarded them by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, part of the National Institutes on Health, NABI is now preparing to send NicVAX into its first phase III trial, an important step toward the final approval it needs from the Food and Drug Administration.

How The Nicotine Vaccine Works

Nicotine molecules are tiny and move easily through the blood-brain barrier, where they bind with nicotine receptors that activate the same reward pathways in the brain that other drugs of abuse such as cocaine or amphetamines do, although to a lesser degree. Research has shown that nicotine increases the level of dopamine in the brain, a neurotransmitter that is responsible for feelings of pleasure and well-being...and dependence.

When NicVAX enters the bloodstream via a shot in the arm, it helps the body's immune system generate antibodies to nicotine. Once this happens, these antibodies "capture" nicotine molecules by binding with them. And because the antibodies are too large to breach the blood/brain barrier, nicotine is unable to travel on to the brain where it can cause addiction.

"Nicotine addiction causes nearly a half million deaths annually in the United States alone. Finding effective treatments that can help people stay off cigarettes has been a real challenge," said NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins. "This Phase III trial of a nicotine vaccine offers tremendous hope towards solving this immense public health problem."

Federal Stimulus Grant Supports Crucial Study of Anti-Nicotine Vaccine -- NIH News

The nicotine vaccine, once approved, will be a valuable addition to the variety of quit aids available today. With a human life being lost to tobacco-related disease every 8 seconds somewhere on the planet, smokers need as many choices as possible to help them beat nicotine addiction before it beats them.

Quit Help:

Your Quit Smoking Toolbox

Smoking Cessation Support Forum

Nicotine Vaccine Set to Enter Phase III Trial originally appeared on About.com Smoking Cessation on Friday, November 13th, 2009 at 21:28:35.

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November is National Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:15:15 +0000

According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in American men and women today. It's also the most preventable form of cancer, with upwards of 87 percent of lung cancer cases attributable to tobacco use.

It's estimated that 219,440 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. before years end, and 159,390 precious lives will be lost.

If you're still smoking, I urge you to make the commitment to quit now. There is no time like the present to begin work on the changes you dream of making to improve your life.

Related:

All About Lung Cancer

Gaylene's Lung Cancer Journal

Diagnosed with Small Cell Lung Cancer - Cheryl's Story

_{Image courtesy of A.D.A.M.}

November is National Lung Cancer Awareness Month originally appeared on About.com Smoking Cessation on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 06:15:15.

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Quit Smoking Monday Messages

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:55:32 +0000

Reader Stories

Have you quit smoking successfully - perhaps after a smoking relapse or two? Have tips to share about nicotine withdrawal? There is no better medicine than hearing from those who have been there and done that, especially when it comes to quitting tobacco.

Here at About.com Smoking Cessation we have a new feature that allows all of you, dear readers, to share your stories and tips. Follow the links below to read what others have had to say and add your voice to the mix if you're willing.

Reader Stories:

Why I Quit Smoking

How I Lived Through Nicotine Withdrawal

My Relapse Story

**************

Take The Quit Smoking Monday Pledge

Healthy Monday encourages us to think of for ourselves. If you're still smoking, put your cigarettes down and get started on your quit program today.

Quit Smoking Monday Messages Archive

We all have the ability to quit smoking successfully, and we all deserve a life that is free of addiction. Honor your life by choosing Monday as the day to start and reinforce your quit program.

You can quit smoking ... and we're here to help you, one simple Monday at a time.

Quit Smoking Monday Messages originally appeared on About.com Smoking Cessation on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 07:55:32.

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Am I at Risk for Lung Cancer?

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:25:30 +0000

Do you worry about getting lung cancer? Most smokers do.

If you're a smoker (or ex-smoker) who is concerned about what the years of tobacco smoking have done to your lungs, consider this: by quitting, your risk of a wide variety of smoking-related illnesses decreases dramatically, as well as the risk of lung cancer.

Related:

How Smoking Harms Us: From Head to Toe

Smoking Cessation May Reduce Some Lung Damage

Am I at Risk for Lung Cancer? originally appeared on About.com Smoking Cessation on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 06:25:30.

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