Quit smoking - only way out. Views of a chain smoker on smoking.

“Life's tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late” - A quote by Benjamin Franklin, though not intended for smokers, fits well if pros and cons of addiction to the bad habit are considered in-depth. It takes a long time to assess the physical and economic losses caused by smoking. Smokers get old sooner than non-smokers since wrinkles are caused due to loss of vitamins as a result of smoking and process of aging sets in earlier in smokers than their counterparts. Considerable harm to physical appearance, inner health and memory of chain smokers makes it irrecoverable by the time they come to understand the severity of the problem.

A ban has been placed on smoking in public places, in flights, on display of ads, in movies etc. by the governments of different countries. This is a welcome step. However, a complete ban on production of tobacco, manufacturing of cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco is unimaginable as it may result in a great loss of revenue to countries, manufacturers and will create unemployment also. I am not sure weather this loss could be compensated or not by money being spent on treatment of disease caused as a result of these bad habits. This is a question to all of us to find an answer to make a public opinion against the use of tobacco.

Now the question comes "Is it possible to quit smoking?, If yes, then how?

Several alternatives are there but all has merits and demerits of their applicability.

Question 1. Is it possible to quit smoking by reducing per day intake of cigarettes gradually?

Answer: No. this technique has failed in 99% cases. It is not possible for addicts to reduce per day consumption of tobacco.They may reduce the consumption up to 90% but there are more chances that consumtion will further increase to original level.

Question 2. Whether one can get rid of this habit if he determines to quit smoking at once?

Answer: Yes, if one considers its bad effects and costs he pays for it and he has strong will power, it is possible to quit it in a single attempt.In fact, there is no other way to quit smoking. People unable to get rid of habit in a single stroke are really very week mentally. Just ask yourself - Are you so weak that you are becoming slave of this habit even after knowing its bad effects ? Is its so tasty or your desire to smoke is so hunger ridden that you are risking your body to cancers, peptic ulcers, heart attack etc. Ask this question from yourselves. It also reflect your vulnerability to succumb to stress. It implies that you are not only mentally weak and can not adjust to adverse conditions. Whenever you have a desire, tell yourself, I have kept my desire under control till now because I love myself, my family, my kids I'll not become slave of smoking. You'll feel stronger with passing a day without smoking and do it for experimentation first for a day, then for a week, then for a month and then for ever. Never take a oath of quitting smoking and never do it under pressure. Do it willingly considering the fact that you are saving your life from a curse.

If you are not a slave, have strong will power then choose a ‘quit day’. Throw out everything that reminds you of cigarrettes. Desire to smoke will lessen with time.

(Remember, its more easy to quit if you decide to quit it volumtarily rather than forcibly. It should come from your iner side that this bad habit can take to you to a death trap like subjecting you to bypass surgery of your heart or put you on medication to get some relief from unending pain of lung or oral cancer.)

The following things can be helpful to support you if you decide to quit smoking:

Drink lot of water: to flush residual toxins out of your system, and beat back cravings to smoke.

Keep yourself busy: Occupy yourself with the tasks you are interested in. If you keep yourself busy with work, you will not feel a desire/craving to smoke.

Don't smoke in public places: Follow the rules and keep reminding yourself that majority of people don't like smokers.

Keep yourself telling: that smoking is killing you and reducing your social value index.

Don't shy away and read the following health hazards of smoking:

• Do you know how the smoking creates problem for your heart? The nicotine in cigarettes constricts the coronary arteries that raises the blood pressure and forces the heart to work harder.
• Smoking increases the heart ’s need for oxygen on one hand and restricts the amount of oxygen it receives on the other.
• Quitting smoking regularizes the blood pressure within few days and improves the blood flow and breathing within a year.
• Smokers know it very well that smoking is a bad habit. Even then I am listing here few dangerous things about it: Oral cancer, Skin cancer, Peptic ulcer, Lung cancer, heart attack. All these diseases are direct effect of smoking

• Do you know infertility is also caused by smoking?, well if you know this, consider few more side effects:

• Smoking is most dangerous enemy if you are beauty concious:

Results: Wrinkles on face, discolouration of lips and fingers, and tooth decay and blackening of tooth. If you don't believe I guarantee it if you quit smoking, you will be 10 years younger. At least try this for a month. Wrinkles of your face will disappear and colour of your lips will return back to pink from black colour.

Some homeopahic medicines that help smokers to quit smoking:

1. Tabacum 200: Smokers should take a dose of 10 globules in the morning and a dose of 10 globules in the evening till they get rid of the habit

2. Caladium 30: 10 globules thrice a day

3. Staphycegria 200 or 1M: a dose once in a week or fortnightly

Note: It's always good to take medicines in supervision of a medical practioner.

Medicines may help in getting rid but one can quit smoking if he has desire or will power to do so. Medicines indicated here may just help you in reducing your desire to smoke but you first should make a promise to yourself that you really wish to quit smoking.

Electronic Cigarette: These are believed to help people quit smoking.