Smoking cessation is a lifestyle choice that can offer many health benefits. According to the National Cancer Institute, smoking harms nearly every organ in the body. Smoking also is a leading cause of cancer and death from cancer. However,...
Smoking causes 90 percent of lung cancer deaths and at least 80 percent of deaths from emphysema and chronic bronchitis, according to the American Lung Association. It also increases the risk of developing heart disease and a number of other...
Quitting smoking will improve your health and reduce your risk of developing lung cancer and emphysema -- unfortunately, it may also cause you to gain weight. Smoking suppresses the appetite and may also speed up the metabolism. After quitting...
It's never easy to quit smoking. Smoking is not only a physical addition, but the actual act of smoking can have significant social, emotional, mental and habitual components as well. With all these factors contributing to the need to smoke, many...
There are two schools of thought when it comes to quitting smoking. One encourages the use of nicotine replacement therapy or medications. The other advocates quitting cold turkey, which means taking an all-or-nothing approach. Proponents of this...
The American Cancer Society reports that one in five persons in the United States smokes. If you are considering quitting smoking, you should look at the positive effects it will have on your life. Need something to convince you? There are health...
Smoking is one of the hardest addictions to break, according to the American Heart Association. Cigarettes cause an immediate reaction in the body that stimulates certain chemicals in the brain, increasing the possibility of an addiction to...
People who quit smoking get rewarded immediately. Their heart rate and blood pressure begin to return to normal, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) reports. Carbon monoxide levels in the blood begin to decline within hours. Carbon monoxide, found...
Quitting smoking for good has many advantages. If you have children, you can become a good example for them by giving up smoking completely. Quitting will also save you money and improve your health. Quitting is difficult and, according to the...
Four out of five smokers who quit gain weight, according to "Smoke Free," a publication funded by the American Cancer Society. Although the health benefits of quitting smoking far outnumber the risk of weight gain, the fear of adding inches to...
HDL, so-called good cholesterol, is important to help prevent heart disease. Ideally, you should aim for 60 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl) or greater of HDL cholesterol. Although there are several things you can do to improve your good...
Cigarette smoking is one of the toughest addictions to break. Many smokers took up the habit in their early teenage years, and when they decide they no longer want to smoke, they find that the compulsion for nicotine and a desire to put a...
Most people are well aware of the dangers associated with smoking, including increased risk of heart disease, stroke and cancer. Although millions of Americans smoke, the American Heart Association reports that the vast majority -- about 80...
Exercise can help with the battle to give up smoking, but continuing to smoke hinders performance. Smoking is harmful to overall health. It subjects the body to several ailments, including cancer. Smoking decreases lung capacity and increases the...
If you're trying to quit smoking, two of your major challenges will be anxiety and cravings. A number of herbs can help you get through those feelings as you're trying to quit. Not all herbs have been properly studied, so there's a chance some of...
Smoking while pregnant can lead to a number of health problems for both the mother and the baby. Nicotine and carbon monoxide, by-products of cigarette smoke, are especially harmful to the baby, as they reduce oxygen flow through the umbilical...
Choosing to quit smoking can be a difficult decision. While you may understand that smoking is bad for your health and social life, it can be hard to actually take the first step to stop smoking. Finding a few good reasons to give up smoking can...
The American Lung Association estimates that every minute 4,800 teens will take their first drag of a cigarette. Studies show that girls are twice as likely as boys to take up the habit. The second National Health Morbidity and Mortality Survey...
The text "The Neurobiology of Addiction" explains that tobacco is obtained from the plant Nicotiana tabacum. The leaves are dried and smoked, snuffed or chewed. The addictive substance in tobacco is a drug called nicotine. Nicotine has a...
Nicotine gum is an over-the-counter smoking cessation aid. It helps people to give up cigarettes or other tobacco products by providing relief from nicotine withdrawal symptoms. According to PubMed Health, nicotine gum use should be tapered for...
Cholesterol is a type of fat produced in the liver naturally. Your body needs it for cell formation and the release of various hormones. High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, is one half of the total cholesterol ratio, and this is your good kind of...
HDL stands for high-density lipoprotein, which is the healthy portion of your total cholesterol ratio. The other part is LDL, which stands for low density lipoprotein. Your HDL level is the number that you want to be high, and your LDL should be...
Giving up smoking can be very tough, and you may find that you put on weight after quitting. This can be due to a number of reasons, including the fact that nicotine acts as an appetite-suppressant and can speed up your metabolism, making you burn...
Hypercholesterolemia is the medical term used to define high cholesterol. If this condition is left untreated, plaque can form in the arteries and increase your risk for heart attack, stroke, circulation problems and even death, according to...
Cholesterol is a substance that flows through the body and is released naturally in the liver. Its main functions are to produce cells and release various hormones. Elevated cholesterol levels can lead to the formation of arterial plaque. The end...
Wrinkles are unavoidable. According to the New Zealand Dermatological Society Incorporated website, skin loses elasticity and hydration as you age, causing wrinkles to appear. Changes in the way you treat your skin, however, can slow down their...
In recent years, the detrimental effects of smoking cigarettes on the human body have become more apparent. More smokers are giving up their smoking habit. Approximately 1 percent of the U.S. adult population gave up smoking in 2007, reports the...
Quitting smoking involves a lot of willpower, a strong resolution and the willingness to get through the first few weeks without giving in. Because most people quit several times before they can make it a permanent thing, you shouldn't be deterred...
People with addictive personalities are more likely to become smokers. For example, heavy smokers are more likely to become heavy drinkers, according to a 2007 report, "Alcohol and Tobacco," published by the federal National Institute on Alcohol...