Are You Really Ready to Are You Really Ready to Stop Smoking?Stop Smoking?

Yes, I know, those little cigarettes that you could crush Yes, I know, those little cigarettes that you could crush so easily are actually a lot stronger than you think… but so easily are actually a lot stronger than you think… but

they’re not stronger than you…they’re not stronger than you…

Don’t you sometimes feel like Don’t you sometimes feel like you’re the one who is trapped in you’re the one who is trapped in

a box?a box?

Ok, admit it… you know it’s Ok, admit it… you know it’s true…true…

Quitting smoking is easy. No really, it is!!! Quitting smoking is easy. No really, it is!!! All the smoker has to do to stop smoking is All the smoker has to do to stop smoking is to realize that they are addicted to a rubbish to realize that they are addicted to a rubbish drug that does nothing. Smoking cigarettes drug that does nothing. Smoking cigarettes does not help the smoker in any way at all. does not help the smoker in any way at all. Smokers create hundreds of reasons why Smokers create hundreds of reasons why they smoke other than the only real reason they smoke other than the only real reason — that they are simply addicted to nicotine. — that they are simply addicted to nicotine. They talk about relieving stress, about They talk about relieving stress, about something to do with their hands, about something to do with their hands, about keeping them slim, about being sociable. All keeping them slim, about being sociable. All of these reasons are absolute nonsense. The of these reasons are absolute nonsense. The one and only reason why anybody smokes is one and only reason why anybody smokes is because they are addicted to a drug that because they are addicted to a drug that they have to take in order to feel normal. they have to take in order to feel normal.

Ok, Here’s a reality checkOk, Here’s a reality check

What kind of person are we What kind of person are we really deep inside? really deep inside?

Let’s look at the plain naked Let’s look at the plain naked truth.truth.

The chest cavity is opened at The chest cavity is opened at autopsy to reveal numerous large autopsy to reveal numerous large bullae apparent on the surface of the bullae apparent on the surface of the lungs in a patient dying with lungs in a patient dying with

emphysema.emphysema.

On cut section of the lung, the dilated On cut section of the lung, the dilated airspaces with emphysema are seen. airspaces with emphysema are seen. Although there tends to be some scarring Although there tends to be some scarring with time because of superimposed with time because of superimposed infections, the emphysematous process infections, the emphysematous process is one of loss of lung parenchyma, not is one of loss of lung parenchyma, not

fibrosis.fibrosis.

Getting the point?Getting the point?

Seen in the pulmonary Seen in the pulmonary

artery to the left lung artery to the left lung

on cut section is a large on cut section is a large

pulmonary pulmonary

thromboembolus.thromboembolus.

CarcinomaCarcinoma

This is a squamous cell This is a squamous cell carcinoma of the lung carcinoma of the lung that is arising centrallythat is arising centrally in the lung (as most in the lung (as most squamous cell carcinomas squamous cell carcinomas do). It is obstructing the right do). It is obstructing the right main bronchus. The neoplasmmain bronchus. The neoplasm is very firm and has a pale white is very firm and has a pale white to tan cut surface. to tan cut surface.

This is another sqamous cell carcinoma that extends This is another sqamous cell carcinoma that extends from hilum to pleura. The black areas represent from hilum to pleura. The black areas represent

anthracotic pigment trapped in the tumor.anthracotic pigment trapped in the tumor.

1. Get scribbling1. Get scribbling

Make a list of all the pros of giving up Make a list of all the pros of giving up smoking, plus what you personally smoking, plus what you personally want to achieve from the exercise. want to achieve from the exercise. Stick it somewhere prominently as a Stick it somewhere prominently as a boost for whenever temptation rears boost for whenever temptation rears its ugly head. its ugly head.

2. Give yourself goals2. Give yourself goals

Make the process an active Make the process an active one, complete with rewards. one, complete with rewards. Give up for a week and treat Give up for a week and treat yourself to a bar of chocolate; yourself to a bar of chocolate; a month, a new CD; a year, a a month, a new CD; a year, a weekend away. Give yourself weekend away. Give yourself a pat on the back whenever a pat on the back whenever you reach these milestones you reach these milestones and you'll be happily looking and you'll be happily looking

to the future.to the future.

3. Don't go solo3. Don't go solo

Get as much help as Get as much help as possible from possible from organizations such as organizations such as Ash and Quit. They have Ash and Quit. They have helped millions of helped millions of smokers give up each smokers give up each year and have year and have invaluable advice. invaluable advice. National No Smoking National No Smoking Day, every March, is a Day, every March, is a good time to pick for a good time to pick for a collective giving-up. collective giving-up.

4. With a little help from my 4. With a little help from my friendsfriends

It's so much easier to It's so much easier to stick to something if you stick to something if you work in tandem. Enlist a work in tandem. Enlist a fellow fagger and have a fellow fagger and have a bit of fun in the process. bit of fun in the process. Give each other forfeits Give each other forfeits if you fail, rewards if you if you fail, rewards if you succeed and a shoulder succeed and a shoulder to cry on when it all gets to cry on when it all gets too tough. too tough.

5. Body overhaul5. Body overhaul

Go the whole hog Go the whole hog (instead of being the (instead of being the hog) and start an hog) and start an exercise regime and exercise regime and diet at the same time. It diet at the same time. It may initially feel like may initially feel like hell, radically changing hell, radically changing your lifestyle, but you'll your lifestyle, but you'll see and feel the see and feel the benefits in no time - benefits in no time - and also avoid piling on and also avoid piling on those notorious giving-those notorious giving-up smoking pounds! up smoking pounds!

6. Beat the blues6. Beat the blues

Most smokers smoke out of boredom, as well as habit. Take up a Most smokers smoke out of boredom, as well as habit. Take up a new hobby to keep yourself occupied. You'll already be feeling fitter new hobby to keep yourself occupied. You'll already be feeling fitter and more alert - plus you'll have the extra cash to buy those swanky and more alert - plus you'll have the extra cash to buy those swanky

new golf clubs or French conversation tapes.new golf clubs or French conversation tapes.

7. Watch and learnThose anti-smoking TV commercials are supposed to give you the willies! Instead of flicking channels when they come on, confront the reality of what smoking can do to you and

use it to heighten your resolve to quit.

8. Face facts

Visit a beautician to see the long-term damage smoking does to your skin. You'll be shocked by the premature ageing smoking can cause, worse even than exposure to the sun. You might have smoked as a teenager to give an air of maturity and sophistication but do you really want to look 10 years older than you are now? No, thought not.

9. Look into my eyes

Hypnosis and other alternative methods such as acupuncture and reflexology can be highly successful. Ask your GP for qualified practitioners.

10. Show me the money

If all else fails, add up the cold hard cash you'll be saving by giving up.

If you are a long term smoker, and have been If you are a long term smoker, and have been experiencing shortness of breath, coughing spells, lower- experiencing shortness of breath, coughing spells, lower-

or mid-chest pains, your lungs may now be looking or mid-chest pains, your lungs may now be looking

somewhat similar to these.somewhat similar to these. These first two pictures contrast healthy lungs against a These first two pictures contrast healthy lungs against a

cancerous pair. cancerous pair.

On the left is a fairly normal pair. The large, pink item in On the left is a fairly normal pair. The large, pink item in the lower center between them is the heart. the lower center between them is the heart.

The areas of the cancerous pair that isn't black, but The areas of the cancerous pair that isn't black, but yellowish gray, is the cancer. The bulbous knobby yellowish gray, is the cancer. The bulbous knobby tissue are tumors.tissue are tumors.

Okay, I see the urgency now… But Okay, I see the urgency now… But the losses take so long to restore, the losses take so long to restore,

what’s the point?what’s the point?

20 MINUTES AFTER QUITTING20 MINUTES AFTER QUITTINGBlood pressure decreases Blood pressure decreases Pulse rate drops Pulse rate drops Body temperature of hands and feet Body temperature of hands and feet

increases increases

24 HOURSChance of a heart attack decreases

8 HOURS8 HOURSOxygen level in blood increases to Oxygen level in blood increases to

normal normal Carbon monoxide level in blood Carbon monoxide level in blood

drops to normal drops to normal

48 HOURS48 HOURSAbility to smell and taste is enhanced Ability to smell and taste is enhanced

2 WEEKS TO 9 MONTHS2 WEEKS TO 9 MONTHSYour breathing capacity improves Your breathing capacity improves Cilia begin working again in the Cilia begin working again in the

bronchial tubes, increasing ability to bronchial tubes, increasing ability to handle mucus, clean lungs, and reduce handle mucus, clean lungs, and reduce infection infection

1 to 9 MONTHS1 to 9 MONTHSCoughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue,

shortness of breath decreases shortness of breath decreases

And the benefits keep And the benefits keep coming…coming…

1 YEAR1 YEAR Excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a Excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a

smoker smoker

5 YEARS5 YEARS Lung cancer death rate for average former smoker ( 1 pack Lung cancer death rate for average former smoker ( 1 pack

a day) decreases by almost half a day) decreases by almost half

10 YEARS10 YEARS Lung cancer death rate similar to that of a nonsmoker Lung cancer death rate similar to that of a nonsmoker Pre-cancerous cells are replaced Pre-cancerous cells are replaced

15 YEARS15 YEARS Risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker Risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker Stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker 5-15 years Stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker 5-15 years

after quittingafter quitting

Don’t you want to keep Don’t you want to keep smiling?smiling?

Quitting Smoking Quitting Smoking Helps Heal Chronic Helps Heal Chronic Gum DiseaseGum Disease

Create a plan that seems right Create a plan that seems right for youfor you

Hypnosis may not ease the pain of quitting….

Matter of fact, you

may just have to

feel a little pain…

But isn’t a little

Pain now better

than a whole lot

later?

Now, who is stronger?Now, who is stronger?

Crush thoseCrush those

Damn things!Damn things!

You can do it!You can do it!

Stop now… soon you won’t Stop now… soon you won’t be able to smoke anywhere be able to smoke anywhere

anywayanyway