Speaking at a rally on Friday at the auditorium of the Mahatma Gandhi Institute, Moka, in central Mauritius where a national programme to quit smoking was launc h ed, the Minister said the aim was to sensitise young people on the dangers of sm o king and the importance to remain tobacco-free for a lifetime."We want our students and youth to adopt behaviours that protect their health and well-being, for tobacco kills more than AIDS, illegal drugs, road accidents, murder and suicide taken together," he emphasised.Faugoo added that the problem of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, commonly known as second-hand smoke, needs to be given due consideration, for non-smokers exposed to tobacco smoke run similar risk as smokers of contracting tobacco-r e lated health problems.The Minister announced that his ministry is revising the existing tobacco regulations to make them compliant to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control."We aim at reducing both the supply and demand of tobacco products on the local market," he declared.Mauritius ratified the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2004 and a National Plan of Action on tobacco control for the period 2007-2011 has already been put in place. Port-Louis - 31/05/2008Pana < Préc .
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Sunday, November 8, 2009
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Quit Smoking - Prepare To Succeed
For many smokers the will to give up smoking is strong yet it appears irrespective of what they do, they just cannot seem to break this devastating habit. The incapability to give up smoking causes many to secretly belittle themselves and curse their appearing weakness. For others it appears they just wake up one morning and decide to give up smoking. What makes the difference in these people? Is someone that makes a decision to give up smoking like this a more robust person than the one that still has to become a non-smoker? Let's evaluate. First off, most of the people even smokers don't truly enjoy smoking. Nicotine is very addictive, and breaking this obsession by not smoking can be very trying and tricky. So, if you are one who has still to stop smoking don't criticize or belittle yourself. Yes, nicotine is addictive, but it is an obsession that may be damaged. All these helps do have merit.
One part is imperative if any of these helps are to work for the person which has formerly attempted to stop smoking and failed.
This part is your perspective. Before you even begin the process to give up smoking, you will likely need some adjustments in your angle. The way to start to prepare yourself is to come to certain realizations. You can not give up because your heavy other wants you to give up smoking. Most likely fear isn't a good incentive for you either. You have developed a powerful will to resume, although you criticize yourself for it.
So, for you the call to give up smoking must be accompanied by a will that's just as powerful, if not stronger than your current will to give up smoking. Most will tell you to set a quit date at least ten days out, and do not really quit smoking till your give up date. It is also suggested that cold turkey is the most successful give up trail. During those days before your actual give up smoking target date, you are mentally preparing yourself to be free from smoking. This has got to be a robust call that only you can make for yourself. To steer you to the strength you want to effectively stop smoking, you will have to guage yourself and the genuine reasons for why you're still smoking. This isn't a straightforward task for most but once they have listed all of the true reasons, and have adopted the psychological perspective to replace smoking with other items which will supply better benefits, the job of quitting becomes far easier. Once your give up smoking date arrives, you may wish to use some of the AIDS debated above to boost your success rate.
The point is that if you have correctly done your preparation previously your opportunity for success will be seriously improved. Remember, the body and mind prosper and accommodate whatever substance you give it. You can give up smoking.
One part is imperative if any of these helps are to work for the person which has formerly attempted to stop smoking and failed.
This part is your perspective. Before you even begin the process to give up smoking, you will likely need some adjustments in your angle. The way to start to prepare yourself is to come to certain realizations. You can not give up because your heavy other wants you to give up smoking. Most likely fear isn't a good incentive for you either. You have developed a powerful will to resume, although you criticize yourself for it.
So, for you the call to give up smoking must be accompanied by a will that's just as powerful, if not stronger than your current will to give up smoking. Most will tell you to set a quit date at least ten days out, and do not really quit smoking till your give up date. It is also suggested that cold turkey is the most successful give up trail. During those days before your actual give up smoking target date, you are mentally preparing yourself to be free from smoking. This has got to be a robust call that only you can make for yourself. To steer you to the strength you want to effectively stop smoking, you will have to guage yourself and the genuine reasons for why you're still smoking. This isn't a straightforward task for most but once they have listed all of the true reasons, and have adopted the psychological perspective to replace smoking with other items which will supply better benefits, the job of quitting becomes far easier. Once your give up smoking date arrives, you may wish to use some of the AIDS debated above to boost your success rate.
The point is that if you have correctly done your preparation previously your opportunity for success will be seriously improved. Remember, the body and mind prosper and accommodate whatever substance you give it. You can give up smoking.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Women’s heart risks decrease quickly after quitting smoking
There's good news for women who want to quit smoking. According to a new study published in JAMA, within just five years of giving up smoking entirely, womens' risk of death from heart disease or stroke starts to decrease significantly. In fact, after five smoke-free years, women reach 61% of their full potential to reduce risk of death from heart disease, and 42% of the full potential benefit in protecting against death from stroke.
For the study, researchers assessed the smoking habits of, and cause of death for, 12,483 women. They found that 64% of the deaths in actively smoking women were directly connected to cigarette smoking compared to only 28% of the deaths in former smokers.
The researchers also found that the risk of death from heart disease or stroke reduced much faster than that from lung disease or cancer.
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Sunday, October 25, 2009
Disappointed at disregard for smoking ban
Although my husband smokes he is very much supportive of the smoking ban here in Illinois. I quit smoking nearly four years ago and since then find it offensive to be in an enclosed area when there is smoking, whether it's a restaurant or a bar.
We arrived at the night club in Fort Wayne only to learn from the door man that they do not "enforce" the smoking ban. Once the band's lead singer lit up his first cigarette the crowd started to light up, as well. My husband asked a few groups surrounding us to kindly put them out, but that didn't stop nearly the entire crowd from lighting up.
I asked one of the security guards if he noticed or cared to enforced the smoking ban. With a sarcastic grin, his response was, "I don't see anyone smoking." As the night proceeded it was clear that the ban was not a law but a joke in Fort Wayne.
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Sunday, October 18, 2009
Woman kicks the habit for more than just health
Bailey starting smoking at age 12. "Back then it was cool." By 14, she was smoking a pack of Kools daily. The divorced mother of three quit during her pregnancies in the 1980s. After her first child was born, "I had an ashtray sent to my room," she says. "You could still smoke in the hospital then." She quit for a few years after the last kid, then pretty much smoked nonstop in the 20 years since. "Always menthol. The kind that crystalizes your lungs," she says. "When I've tried to quit in the past, I drove everybody else crazy. My kids would say. ‘Go buy yourself a pack.'" She'd obey. Still, she didn't want to end up like her mom, who smoked for 60 years and died of lung cancer two years ago. "Mom's death had a huge impact on me, watching her die. I held her hand while she died." She tried to quit after that.
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Saturday, October 17, 2009
Give up smoking for the holidays? Ironically, this may be your best opportunity to quit for good!
There are plenty of smokers, just like you, who have a desire to quit this bad habit. When it comes time that you decide to give up smoking, there's always that element of timing. You're going on vacation next week. You're going back to school to train for a new career. You've invited guests for the weekend. You're too stressed out at your job. You know the drill. It seems that there's always some reason that makes this a bad time to try to give up smoking. While you might genuinely want to quit smoking, it's far easier to rationalize that 'this just isn't the time' and put the whole idea on the back burner. The usual result? You put it off for a 'better time'. Here we've got a novel idea that turns that rationalization on its head – and works!
When people make an attempt to quit smoking, one of the major obstacles involves keeping your hands busy and your mind distracted from cigarettes. You may do a little housework, then give yourself a break – hey, why not have a smoke and a cup of coffee? Smokers all have 'triggers' that put a cigarette at the front of their consciousness. Coffee, tasks which require focus and concentration, the famous after-meal smoke ... these are common triggers to light up. Becoming aware of all of your triggers is helpful in any attempt to give up smoking.
Now, during the holiday season, most of us don't have time on our hands. In fact, we find our plates full of tasks to ready our homes for the holiday season, including decorating, menu planning, shopping and gift wrapping. Many of us also get the urge to clean up accumulated clutter, straighten up linen closets, lest visitors should inadvertently see such un-festive touches and think you're a poor housekeeper. Notice what all of these holiday preparations have in common: your hands are busy and your mind is sufficiently occupied to keep those thoughts of a smoke at bay. When you consider a 'right time' to give up smoking, the holidays may, paradoxically, be the perfect time.
When you want to – successfully - give up smoking, it's really not quite as simple as the 'mind over matter' concept. You've got to use a few psychological tricks on yourself to help you along. If your morning cup of Joe is the usual partner for a smoke, try switching drinks. Have a cup of tea, juice or a smoothie instead. Changing rituals is an important component. How about that 'inevitable' after-meal cigarette? Why not plan an alternate activity that immediately follows the meal. The holidays are perfect for playing board games, checkers, chess or card games. Have the game table ready to go, serving a beverage that isn't one of your triggers.
Following a rigorous housecleaning session, relax in the bath with a magazine or book. Bubble bath or herbal bath sachets help you to relax and remind you that these scents are far more attractive than a burning cigarette. Besides, it's kind of hard to smoke with wet hands!
Group family activities, such as decorating the tree, hanging lights and gift wrapping for friends and relatives helps keep you occupied – and honest.
The busier you are, occupied with activities you enjoy, the less likely it is that your mind will drift to that smoke! When you decide to give up smoking, make the first several days packed with non-stop activities. If you can resist smoking for just three days, you're over the worst. You'll find that you sleep better, breathe easier and think less and less of smoking. After three weeks, you're 'clean'.
Choosing to give up smoking during the holidays may, ironically, be the magic bullet you've been looking for all these years! As for your New Year's resolutions, that list will be one item shorter. See if this upside-down strategy doesn't work for you!
When people make an attempt to quit smoking, one of the major obstacles involves keeping your hands busy and your mind distracted from cigarettes. You may do a little housework, then give yourself a break – hey, why not have a smoke and a cup of coffee? Smokers all have 'triggers' that put a cigarette at the front of their consciousness. Coffee, tasks which require focus and concentration, the famous after-meal smoke ... these are common triggers to light up. Becoming aware of all of your triggers is helpful in any attempt to give up smoking.
Now, during the holiday season, most of us don't have time on our hands. In fact, we find our plates full of tasks to ready our homes for the holiday season, including decorating, menu planning, shopping and gift wrapping. Many of us also get the urge to clean up accumulated clutter, straighten up linen closets, lest visitors should inadvertently see such un-festive touches and think you're a poor housekeeper. Notice what all of these holiday preparations have in common: your hands are busy and your mind is sufficiently occupied to keep those thoughts of a smoke at bay. When you consider a 'right time' to give up smoking, the holidays may, paradoxically, be the perfect time.
When you want to – successfully - give up smoking, it's really not quite as simple as the 'mind over matter' concept. You've got to use a few psychological tricks on yourself to help you along. If your morning cup of Joe is the usual partner for a smoke, try switching drinks. Have a cup of tea, juice or a smoothie instead. Changing rituals is an important component. How about that 'inevitable' after-meal cigarette? Why not plan an alternate activity that immediately follows the meal. The holidays are perfect for playing board games, checkers, chess or card games. Have the game table ready to go, serving a beverage that isn't one of your triggers.
Following a rigorous housecleaning session, relax in the bath with a magazine or book. Bubble bath or herbal bath sachets help you to relax and remind you that these scents are far more attractive than a burning cigarette. Besides, it's kind of hard to smoke with wet hands!
Group family activities, such as decorating the tree, hanging lights and gift wrapping for friends and relatives helps keep you occupied – and honest.
The busier you are, occupied with activities you enjoy, the less likely it is that your mind will drift to that smoke! When you decide to give up smoking, make the first several days packed with non-stop activities. If you can resist smoking for just three days, you're over the worst. You'll find that you sleep better, breathe easier and think less and less of smoking. After three weeks, you're 'clean'.
Choosing to give up smoking during the holidays may, ironically, be the magic bullet you've been looking for all these years! As for your New Year's resolutions, that list will be one item shorter. See if this upside-down strategy doesn't work for you!
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Red FM Quit Smoking Express hits the streets - RED FM to spread
Red FM has joined hands with Pfizer, Salaam Bombay, and BMC to organize a Quit Smoking Express, which will spread awareness about the hazards of smoking amongst the youth. Starting from May 25th, this campaign comprising of on air and on ground elements will culminate on May 31st in the cities of Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad. .
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Want to quit smoking for good? Motivation and a good support system is the answer
Smoking is a bad habit. It's an invitation to dire health problems down the road, unattractive and expensive. Cigarette companies have done their darndest to encourage sales and continuation of this nasty habit, despite being legally barred from advertising in the magazine and television ads of the past. Cigarette smoking is a generational problem.
Not until the early 1970s was cigarette smoking revealed to be the culprit behind lung cancer, emphysema and COPD. By this time, there were hundreds of millions of cigarette addicts, now looking for a way out of this life-sapping addiction. Children learn by example. Many of the cigarette smoker's children took up the habit as a result. They got hooked too. Even when their parents quit smoking for good, their kids did not. “Hey, my Mom smoked for thirty years and she's doing just fine. It can't be that bad!”
No matter what generation you belong to, if you're still smoking, it will catch up to you in some very unpleasant health consequences, in the future. If you want to quit smoking for good, and make an airtight case for your kids and grandkids to do the same, you need to be motivated, educated and have a good support system to make it happen.
Motivation is perhaps the easiest step in your journey to quit smoking for good. Try a Google image search of 'lung cancer effects', 'emphysema' and 'COPD breathing'. This five minute exercise ought to knock your socks off. If you're also desirous of spreading the news, print out a few of the choicest images and share them with family members you hope to inspire to also quit smoking for good. It's a good idea to create a file folder, on your PC and in hard copy format. It's enough to turn your stomach. Share the results with your currently smoking loved ones.
If this is not sufficient motivation, use Google to collect information on the scientific facts and consequences of smoking.
Now that you're motivated, check out some of the quit smoking forums and discussion groups. You'll find thousands of people, who have been smoking for decades. You'll hear horror stories of the 'based on a true story' type that will surely bolster your motivation to quit smoking for good. You'll also discover success stories in people who managed to quit smoking before it was too late. You'll learn tricks and tips from former smokers that may help you overcome the smoking habit. Smoking forums, message groups and other smoking information venues can provide plenty of support. You'll find people just like you, still smoking, but desiring to quit smoking for good. You know that you can use all the help you can get!
When you've found several forums, message boards and quit smoking informational articles, copy and paste the most relevant remarks in your PC folder. Print it all out. Tape your motivational quotes, scientific studies and pictures of smoking members of your family on the frig, or prominently displayed around your desk.
If you want to quit smoking for good, this ought to do it! If you absolutely need to substitute food for smokes, do it! If you gain a few pounds in the process of quitting cigarettes, that's a far easier task than quitting smoking.
Quit smoking for good and take a few loved ones with you!
Not until the early 1970s was cigarette smoking revealed to be the culprit behind lung cancer, emphysema and COPD. By this time, there were hundreds of millions of cigarette addicts, now looking for a way out of this life-sapping addiction. Children learn by example. Many of the cigarette smoker's children took up the habit as a result. They got hooked too. Even when their parents quit smoking for good, their kids did not. “Hey, my Mom smoked for thirty years and she's doing just fine. It can't be that bad!”
No matter what generation you belong to, if you're still smoking, it will catch up to you in some very unpleasant health consequences, in the future. If you want to quit smoking for good, and make an airtight case for your kids and grandkids to do the same, you need to be motivated, educated and have a good support system to make it happen.
Motivation is perhaps the easiest step in your journey to quit smoking for good. Try a Google image search of 'lung cancer effects', 'emphysema' and 'COPD breathing'. This five minute exercise ought to knock your socks off. If you're also desirous of spreading the news, print out a few of the choicest images and share them with family members you hope to inspire to also quit smoking for good. It's a good idea to create a file folder, on your PC and in hard copy format. It's enough to turn your stomach. Share the results with your currently smoking loved ones.
If this is not sufficient motivation, use Google to collect information on the scientific facts and consequences of smoking.
Now that you're motivated, check out some of the quit smoking forums and discussion groups. You'll find thousands of people, who have been smoking for decades. You'll hear horror stories of the 'based on a true story' type that will surely bolster your motivation to quit smoking for good. You'll also discover success stories in people who managed to quit smoking before it was too late. You'll learn tricks and tips from former smokers that may help you overcome the smoking habit. Smoking forums, message groups and other smoking information venues can provide plenty of support. You'll find people just like you, still smoking, but desiring to quit smoking for good. You know that you can use all the help you can get!
When you've found several forums, message boards and quit smoking informational articles, copy and paste the most relevant remarks in your PC folder. Print it all out. Tape your motivational quotes, scientific studies and pictures of smoking members of your family on the frig, or prominently displayed around your desk.
If you want to quit smoking for good, this ought to do it! If you absolutely need to substitute food for smokes, do it! If you gain a few pounds in the process of quitting cigarettes, that's a far easier task than quitting smoking.
Quit smoking for good and take a few loved ones with you!
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Smell's back no ifs, no butts
Mrs McLaren-Salter, a Wairarapa Hospital orthopaedic nurse specialist, quit smoking just four weeks ago, and is emphatic she will never smoke again in her life.
"I've tried more than 10 times to give up, and briefly succeeded several times before getting sucked back in," she said.
"This time it's different. I read Alan Carr's book The Easy Way to Stop Smoking and it's completely changed the way I think about cigarettes.
Trying to ditch the smoking habit? Quit smoking helplines are awesome sources of compassionate and practical support!
Anyone who has ever smoked for more than a year can tell you that quitting smoking is anything but easy. Most smokers acquired the habit while it was considered to be cool, in their peer group.
Before you blow the trumpet, declaring, “I'm quitting!”, you must know why you want to quit. What's your personal motivation? Give this a good deal of thought. Make a list of all the reasons that matter to you. Remember, once you've publicly advertised, to friends, family and co-workers, your commitment to quit, all eyes will be upon you.
Political correctness is certainly a two-edged sword! Once upon a time, the tobacco lobbyists were in their heyday, gaining favors via low taxation, and freely advertising their poisonous products via magazine and TV ads. The FDA looked the other way as cigarette manufacturers loaded their product with more dangerous and addictive chemicals than you might ever imagine. All included to really get you on the hook.
Then we began to hear of the link between smoking and lung cancer. It wasn't long before smoking became a social stigma issue. People who hadn't taken up the habit now had a PC social edge over these ignorant smokers, adopting the holier-than-thou attitude. This social divide only served to alienate the smoker. Some people chose to continue smoking as a simple act of social rebellion.
Fortunately, for wannabee quitters, quit smoking helplines, with a mission to actually help people quit without being judgmental, began springing up everywhere. The quit smoking helplines are a terrific front line of defense. Unlike your sister, brother or a friend, the staff on the quit smoking helplines won't tire of your calls, whining – sure, it happens – about how much you want a smoke now, at 3am! Any smoker or successful quitter knows that major troubles usually arise first thing in the morning, after meals, or in the wee hours. Like Pavlov's dog, you're conditioned to expect to give a particular response to a certain trigger.
The quit smoking helplines are designed to be like a 'buddy' system, a sort of smoker's 9-1-1, when you are biting your nails, pulling your hair and more than ready to go out to the all night mini mart for some smokes. It's funny to realize that the people who don't even know you can offer superior support. The vast majority of quit smoking helpline staff are former smokers, so they know what you're going through. They're not going to dish you lectures. They've been there, done that. They are familiar with all the pitfalls and obstacles which stand in your way and can offer practical advice and strategies to help you through a crises moment.
In addition to the quit smoking helplines, forums and message boards are another 24/7 option to help keep you 'on the wagon'. Believe me, the tree-huggers aren't going to help. You need to be in touch with people who are also victims of the cigarette scam. They know all the tricks, all of the psychological trips you face.
As an ex-smoker, here's my best advice: seek help from those who know. The quit smoking helplines can make your goal a success! To freedom from smoke!
Before you blow the trumpet, declaring, “I'm quitting!”, you must know why you want to quit. What's your personal motivation? Give this a good deal of thought. Make a list of all the reasons that matter to you. Remember, once you've publicly advertised, to friends, family and co-workers, your commitment to quit, all eyes will be upon you.
Political correctness is certainly a two-edged sword! Once upon a time, the tobacco lobbyists were in their heyday, gaining favors via low taxation, and freely advertising their poisonous products via magazine and TV ads. The FDA looked the other way as cigarette manufacturers loaded their product with more dangerous and addictive chemicals than you might ever imagine. All included to really get you on the hook.
Then we began to hear of the link between smoking and lung cancer. It wasn't long before smoking became a social stigma issue. People who hadn't taken up the habit now had a PC social edge over these ignorant smokers, adopting the holier-than-thou attitude. This social divide only served to alienate the smoker. Some people chose to continue smoking as a simple act of social rebellion.
Fortunately, for wannabee quitters, quit smoking helplines, with a mission to actually help people quit without being judgmental, began springing up everywhere. The quit smoking helplines are a terrific front line of defense. Unlike your sister, brother or a friend, the staff on the quit smoking helplines won't tire of your calls, whining – sure, it happens – about how much you want a smoke now, at 3am! Any smoker or successful quitter knows that major troubles usually arise first thing in the morning, after meals, or in the wee hours. Like Pavlov's dog, you're conditioned to expect to give a particular response to a certain trigger.
The quit smoking helplines are designed to be like a 'buddy' system, a sort of smoker's 9-1-1, when you are biting your nails, pulling your hair and more than ready to go out to the all night mini mart for some smokes. It's funny to realize that the people who don't even know you can offer superior support. The vast majority of quit smoking helpline staff are former smokers, so they know what you're going through. They're not going to dish you lectures. They've been there, done that. They are familiar with all the pitfalls and obstacles which stand in your way and can offer practical advice and strategies to help you through a crises moment.
In addition to the quit smoking helplines, forums and message boards are another 24/7 option to help keep you 'on the wagon'. Believe me, the tree-huggers aren't going to help. You need to be in touch with people who are also victims of the cigarette scam. They know all the tricks, all of the psychological trips you face.
As an ex-smoker, here's my best advice: seek help from those who know. The quit smoking helplines can make your goal a success! To freedom from smoke!
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