Why Do You Smoke? (And Why Don’t You Quit?)

There are many reasons why people smoke. Let’s look at a few. Smoking as meal replacement. Nicotine is a proven appetite suppressant, reducing a person’s desire for sweets and carbs. It may also speed up your metabolism. Some people are wired for addiction. In the case of nicotine, women (and girls) are more likely to become addicted quickly and stay dependant longer. Symptoms of dependence can develop in three weeks or less in girls; the average is more like twenty-six weeks in boys. The comfort factor. Satisfying that nicotine craving creates feelings of comfort or relaxation. It can be very … Continue reading →

Seven Hundred Dollars in Your Wallet

Are you a smoker? Quitting smoking means an extra seven hundred dollars — or more — in your wallet in the next year. The average American smoker spends more than seven hundred dollars each year on tobacco products according to a study from Ohio State University. That same study looked at smoking and wealth in people born between 1957 and 1964. Why? That is the first generation that was warned against smoking and tobacco use by the U.S. Surgeon General. Non-smokers had a much higher net worth — almost fifty percent higher — than people who smoke less than a … Continue reading →

March 28th is Kick Butts Day!

The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids is gearing up for Kick Butts Day on Wednesday, March 28th. Kick Butts Day is a chance for kids to stand up, speak out, and take control of the fight against tobacco. For eleven years, Kick Butts Day has united children of all ages in the fight against tobacco. How can you and your friends and family celebrate Kick Butts Day? Here are some ideas: Start at the Kick Butts Day website. Get some information about what tobacco does to your body and learn what events are going on in your area. If you’re … Continue reading →

The FDA May Get The Power To Regulate Tobacco

A bipartisan group led by Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts and U.S. Representatives Henry Waxman of California and Tom Davis of Virginia hope to give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the power to regulate tobacco. This joint effort from the House and Senate is supported by the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, and many more organizations around the country. If this legislation is approved, here’s some idea of what would change. The 1996 FDA Rule on youth access to tobacco and tobacco advertising would return. This rule bans tobacco … Continue reading →

How Close Are We To A Smoke-Free Workplace?

More and more places are banning smoking in public places. Twenty-eight states and territories in the United States have some sort of smoking ban in effect, but a recent report from the American Lung Association says that most states just aren’t spending enough money on smoking prevention and cessation programs. The American Lung Association’s “State of Tobacco Control Report Card” was released at the beginning of January. The report agrees that yes — banning smoking, putting high taxes on cigarettes, and offering tobacco prevention programs does work. However, they feel that the political will to make it all happen is … Continue reading →

It’s Time to Quit: Brain Damage a Key to Stop Smoking?

I’ve heard of lots of strange ways to quit smoking, but voluntarily damaging your brain? I don’t care what you say about smoking and I don’t care what you say about the health risks – the idea of voluntarily submitting yourself for brain damage to stop smoking? Well, I know some people who went through a shots treatment to stop smoking and after three miserable days, they didn’t stop – so who knows. Science Journal In the Science Journal this week, there was a report from a Dr. Antoine Bechara, a neuroscientist, who has discovered what he believes to be … Continue reading →

When Your Teen Wants To Smoke

Too many teens are tempted to try smoking for various reasons. Maybe they want to fit in with the rest of the smokers. Maybe they want to look older. Maybe they like the thrill of doing something they shouldn’t. If you want to guide your teen away from smoking, the following tips can be useful: Be open and honest about the dangers of smoking. There are plenty of places to find information about what smoking does to your body. Start here. Start talking to your children about smoking at a very young age. You don’t have to make it scary, … Continue reading →

It’s Time to Quit: Let’s Get Together

Are you a smoker? Do you want to quit? I know that may sound like a stupid question because I don’t know many smokers who don’t want to quit, but they avoid it because honestly it seems impossible. Who wants to go through the jitters, the frustration and the pacing? I’ve tried quitting before, in fact, just a couple of months ago, I made another attempt at quitting and actually made it a few weeks, but that’s not enough – what I need to do is to quit all together. I need to be a non-smoker. Not a former smoker. … Continue reading →

Break Down The Cost of Smoking

Have you ever sat down and figured out how much money you’re spending on cigarettes every week? Every month? Each year? It’s time to see how that nasty habit adds up. At the low end of the scale Missouri residents pay the lowest average price for a pack of cigarettes: $3.33 each. Smoke a pack a day? That’s $23.31 per week. And $93.24 every month. Every year, you’re spending $1118.88 on your smoking habit. At the high end of the scale, Maine residents pay an average of $6.46 for a pack of cigarettes — nearly double what the Missouri folks … Continue reading →

Financial Reasons to Quit Smoking

Maybe you don’t think your continued good health is a good enough reason to quit smoking. Let’s look at some of the financial costs that come with smoking! Job security. Some rather large companies are starting to think twice about hiring smokers. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, more than six thousand companies across the nation are refusing to hire smokers. Among the smoke free companies: Alaska Airlines and the Union Pacific. Higher insurance costs. Expect to pay at least twice as much as a non-smoker if you’re looking for life insurance. For health insurance, the difference isn’t as … Continue reading →