Its a filthy disgusting habit, and if my parents knew they'd probably shoot me. I'm a....geez this is hard.
OK. I'm a....smoker.
I can hear you cringe. Sidle away slowly and give me *the look*. The one that says "I'm judging you for your poor life choices." That incomprehensible why?
I get. I'm a nurse (in training) and I know all the health risks. I have cancer in my family, so why am I acting like a moron?
HE DOES NOT APPROVE OF MY LIFE CHOICES
The thing is, and I'm not trying to excuse my behaviour except that I totally am but its never on a frequent basis that I indulge. I promise. I'm infrequently a disgusting human being, and I don't even smoke real cigarettes, I smoke cloves of all things.
The last time I had a cigarette was when I was in Germany, where you stand out if you're not sucking on a tar stick. Heck to them, the more tar the better; to Europeans, a black lung is a good lung.
Until yesterday that is. I'm introverted, so I spend a lot of in my own head. Recently, I've been spending just a little too much time there, and I needed to just escape. Instead of a healthy outlet like I usually utilize, like going to the gym or beating the bejeezus out of a punching bag, or talking to someone, I indulged in my dirty little secret.
Now you need to know this: I hated every second of it. Before, during, and after.
I could still taste my weakness, long after I'd discarded the spent butt, brushed my teeth, and showered the lingering stench away.
But, this is a health blog! So, here's some information about smoking:
1. Tobacco kills about 45,000 Canadians a year. That's more than the total number of deaths from AIDS, car accidents, suicide, murder, fires and accidental poisonings combined.
2. There are over 4,000 dangerous chemicals in cigarettes, cigars and pipes smoke. Many of these chemicals are cancer-causing (carcinogen).
3. Smokers are at very high risk for many diseases:Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis), Lung cancer, Cancer of the mouth, lip, throat and voice box, Cancer of the pancreas, Breast cancer, Cervical cancer, Stomach cancer, Liver cancer, Kidney cancer, Bladder cancer, Leukemia, Coronary heart disease (e.g., heart attacks), Circulatory problems, High blood pressure, High cholesterol (LDL), Pneumonia, Influenza (the "flu"), The common cold, Peptic ulcers, Tooth decay (cavities), Gum disease, Osteoporosis, Sleep problems, and Cataracts.
Cheerful, huh?
As I'm in my maternity rotation I can also tell you that second hand smoke is extremely harmful to children, and an important factor contributing towards SIDs (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)
Luckily for you, dear reader, society is determined to wipe out this dirty habit, and has been heavily legislating smokers. Alberta's newest distracted driving bylaw means that you can get a $172 ticket for smoking while driving, and you can't smoke in restaurants, near doors, pretty much anywhere.
Got the message Uncle Sam
Also luckily for you, there are tons of resources and programs out there that want to help YOU quit smoking! And if you quit, there's a noticable difference in hours. Seriously, that quickly. For instance:
Within 8 hours:
carbon monoxide level drops in your body, oxygen level in your blood increases to normal.
Within 48 hours:
your chances of having a heart attack start to go down, your sense of smell and taste begin to improve.
Within 72 hours:
your bronchial tubes relax and make breathing easieryour lung capacity increases
Within 2 weeks to 3 months:
your blood circulation improvesyour lung functioning increases up to 30 percent
Within 6 months:
your coughing, stuffy nose, tiredness and shortness of breath improve
Crazy, amIright? Of course, none of this would have happened if you hadn't started smoking in the first place, but I'm certainly not one to judge.
Also, you'd be saving tons of $$$$. With a minimum of $10/pack and tobacco taxes only going up, imagine all the money you'd save once you finally quit! You could buy that thing you always wanted but could never quite afford. Besides, who doesn't like having more money?
Ok, so the best way to quit smoking is NOT to quit cold turkey. I mean, it works for some people, maybe it might work for you, depending on just how addicted you are, and your willpower. However, you should know that this would send your body into withdrawl and shock which is NOT GOOD. Also not good? Mood swings. Yeah, that part is going to suck.
So,
1. Pick a quit day
Choose a date within the next two weeks to quit. Don't wait for the "perfect" day – just pick a date and work with it. Put it in your calendar.
2. Choose two or more proven quit-smoking methods
-Join a support group for people trying to quit. Research shows that people in quit-smoking support groups are more likely to quit for good. (Find out about quit smoking support groups in your area)
-Get individual counseling in person or by phone. You can get counseling in person or over the phone, through a free smoker’s quitline. Both are proven to help people quit. There are free quitlines across Canada - find out about the one in your area. If you prefer to see someone in person, ask your doctor or quitline staff to recommend a counselor. The cost of counseling may be covered by your workplace or extended health plan, if you've got one.
-Take nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). The nicotine patch, gum, lozenge or inhaler replaces some of the nicotine you usually get from cigarettes. This can make nicotine withdrawal easier to manage
IMPORTANT: If you slip up, don’t give up. Try again, and again... keep trying until you've quit for good.
3. On your quit date, butt out completely.
-Don’t smoke, not even a little. Toss out your cigarettes, other tobacco, and ashtrays.
Avoid people and situations where you will be tempted to smoke.
If you usually smoke in a certain chair, don’t sit in that chair.
If you usually smoke at a nightclub, avoid that nightclub for a while.
Change your usual routine, so your new routine doesn’t include smoking.
Go for a walk instead of a smoke.
Be positive. Believe in yourself and your plan.
Remember that nicotine withdrawal symptoms only last a short time.
Take it one day at a time. Remind yourself that once the withdrawal is over, you’ll feel better than you have in years. You deserve to feel better…. You’re almost there!
Celebrate your success and give yourself credit! Tell people how long you’ve been quit. It's a major achievement and you should be proud.
So, good luck to ya.
