Smoking Cessation

In 2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that of the 43.8 million smokers in the United States of America, 69% (26.28 million) attempted to quit.

As soon as you quit smoking your lungs begin to clean the tar and other toxins out of your system. However, depending on how lung you smoked, this process could take a long time. You can speed up the cleaning proccess and help your lungs with a simple lung cleaning procedure. Get all the details

Earth and water are the purifiers of corporeal beings.

By earth and water is made pure what ought to be made pure, a river by its current.

When Liars Lie they don't pull punches do they!

The Black Lung Lie

"Dr. Duane Carr - Professor of Surgery at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, said this: "Smoking does not discolor the lung."

Dr. Victor Buhler, Pathologist at St. Joseph Hospital in Kansas City: "I have examined thousands of lungs both grossly and microscopically. I cannot tell you from examining a lung whether or not its former host had smoked."

Dr. Sheldon , Pathologist and Director of Laboratories at Lenox Hill Hospital, in New York: "…it is not possible grossly or microscopically, or in any other way known to me, to distinguish between the lung of a smoker or a nonsmoker. Blackening of lungs is from carbon particles, and smoking tobacco does not introduce carbon particles into the lung."

Human lungs 'brush' themselves clean of contaminants

Friday, September 07, 2012 by: David Gutierrez, staff writer

Human lungs contain a tiny network of constantly moving "brushes" that flush contaminants out of the respiratory system, according to research conducted by scientists from the University of North Carolina and published in the journal Science.

Scientists have known for a long time that the respiratory system protects itself by means of a coating of mucus, which is sticky enough to trap pollutants and keep them from reaching the body's cells. When needed, the body can expel this mucus through a runny nose or a cough.

"The air we breathe isn't exactly clean, and we take in many dangerous elements with every breath," said lead researcher Michael Rubinstein.

"We need a mechanism to remove all the junk we breathe in, and the way it's done is with a very sticky gel, called mucus, that catches these particles and removes them with the help of tiny cilia. The cilia are constantly beating, even while we sleep.

"In a coordinated fashion, they push mucus, containing foreign objects, out of the lungs, and we either swallow it or spit it out. These cilia even beat for a few hours after we die. If they stopped, we'd be flooded with mucus that provides a fertile breeding ground for bacteria."

But until now, researchers have never understood why the mucus does not stick to or even infiltrate the respiratory cells themselves. The foremost theory, known as the "gel-on-liquid model," posited that an as-yet-undiscovered watery "periciliary" layer kept mucus and cilia separate. The problem with this theory was always that to the best of scientific knowledge, mucus should eventually dissolve into such a watery layer, not remain separate.

"We can't have a watery layer separating sticky mucus from our cells because there is an osmotic pressure in the mucus that causes it to expand in water," Rubinstein says. "So what is really keeping the mucus from sticking to our cells?"

"Gel-on-brush"

To get to the bottom of the mystery, the researchers used modern imaging techniques to examine the interior of the lungs. They found a dense network of brush-like structures that sit atop the cilia. These brushes are composed of protective molecules that keep both mucus and contaminants from getting to the respiratory cells beneath. These molecules also function as a second line of defense against viruses or bacteria that manage to penetrate the mucus.

Stephen Spiro of the British Lung Foundation said the findings could help significantly improve scientific understanding of lung function.

"Mucus has a complex biological make-up and forms a vital part of the lungs' defense mechanism," he said.

"Research such as this helps our understanding [of] how this system works, and of the complex mechanisms deep within our lungs which protect us from the atmosphere we breathe in."

Rubinstein and his fellow researchers noted that their findings may also explain previously mysterious lung disorders from asthma to cystic fibrosis (CF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These diseases may stem from a collapse of the protective brushes.

"We found that there is a specific condition, below which the brush is healthy and cells are happy," Rubinstein said. "But above this ideal condition, in diseases like CF or COPD, the brush becomes compressed and actually prevents the normal cilia beating and healthy flow of mucus."

In such conditions, the mucus would then stick directly to the lung's cells.

"The collapse of this brush is what can lead to immobile mucus and result in infection, inflammation and eventually the destruction of lung tissue and the loss of lung function," Rubinstein said. "But our new model should guide researchers to develop novel therapies to treat lung diseases and provide them with biomarkers to track the effectiveness of those therapies."

It is when they take out the voice box because of all the radiation.

The procedure is called tracheostomy.

The dangers of passive smoke are the same as that of a smoker. Generally speaking, you have the same chances, if not more, of getting cancer (mainly lung cancer, pancreatic cancer and throat cancer), heart attack, or a disease of the lungs called COPD. In pregnant women, the effects are devastating for the baby. The baby has a high chance of dying from SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

How I Quit Smoking was created on 1996-01-30.

Cancer Control Examples across the Ottawa Charter Principles

Building Healthy Public Policy

Aim: To protect health across the population irrespective of SES, rurality, race etc

Regulation e.g. laws preventing minors under 18 yrs purchasing alcohol and tobacco

* Proposals recently developed by Food Standards Australia New Zealand

(FSANZ) for mandatory nutrition content of food labelling are aimed at enabling

consumers to make informed choices about the foods they purchase and

consume. (FSANZ is part of the Australian Government's Health and Ageing

portfolio).

* Legislating against junk-food advertising to children. This strategy is not about

restricting choice; as well targeted multimillion-dollar advertising campaigns

already create an imbalance in the choices that uninformed and often

disadvantaged families see as being available to them.

* Smoke free legislation (workplaces, pubs and clubs etc) to prevent and reduce

tobacco use and ensure workers are protected from second hand smoke

exposure in their place of employment

* National OH&S legislation to protect workers from exposure to occupational

carcinogens and UV exposure

Fiscal Measures e.g. Medicare reimbursement

* Yearly Medicare funded 'health checks' for people over 45 yrs

* Government subsidised cancer drugs and treatments

Taxation e.g. Tobacco, alcohol taxes

* Tobacco and alcohol taxation to reduce tobacco and alcohol use

Policy e.g. Vaccination / Screening programs

* National breast and cervical cancer screening policies and programs

* Healthy school canteen policies and associated resources

* National HPV, Hepatitis B vaccination policies and programs

Evidence Based Practice e.g. clinical care guidelines, continuing professional

development, cost effective interventions.

* Development, adherence to, and regular updating of, evidence based cancer

management guidelines and best practice policies for health professionals to

ensure the best care is provided on a consistent basis irrespective of the

patients age, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, geographical location etc Cancer Control Examples across the Ottawa Charter Principles

Create Supportive Environments

Aim: Generate living, playing and working conditions that support health and

safety

Infrastructure e.g. Women's health centres, walking paths, shade structures, libraries

* Vending machines with healthy food choices like low-fat milk, fruits and lowcalorie snacks

* Public workout areas, playing and sporting fields, and other exercise

opportunities

* Safe accessible pathways and cycle-ways that make the decision to walk or

cycle for transport easier

Technology e.g. Accessible and reliable Internet and broadband access

* Accessible specialist cancer diagnostic technology to allow early and accurate

cancer detection

Services e.g. Free phone quit (smoking) service, Cancer Helpline, Free cancer

telegroup counselling, interpreter and sign lang. services,

* Telegroup Counselling is a free and confidential service of the Cancer Council

NSW. This service offers emotional support and advice through talking with

others who are going through a similar experience. Unlike traditional support

groups, telegroups get together over the phone. Telegroup counselling

provides an option for people living in remote areas and for those who are

socially isolated.

* The Multicultural Cancer Information Service (MCIS) of the Cancer Council

NSW offers a free confidential telephone and information and support service in

a range of community languages for people with cancer and their carers on all

issues related to cancer - Arabic, Cantonese, Greek, Italian, Chinese, Mandarin

languages are available. The MCIS team also provides assistance to language

specific cancer support groups throughout NSW and support other Cancer

Council staff in program planning and pathways of implementation into the

Arabic, Chinese, Greek and Italian communities.

Training and Resources e.g. Community cancer education and information, OH&S

information & training

* Establishment of cancer support groups and relevant supportive resources

* Cancer support group leader training

* Free and available directories of community programs which improve wellbeing

and social connectedness including exercise, hobby, professional, volunteer

groups etc

Policy

* Policy against alcohol use during work hours

* Flexible employment practices (including carer leave), breaks from work, and

circulars to staff about cancer workplace.

The Cancer Council NSW 2Cancer Control Examples across the Ottawa Charter Principles

Strengthen Community Action

Aim: Empowering communities to increase control over preserving and improving

health

Community Development (Information, training and learning opportunities, resources)

e.g. volunteer recruitment and training, consumer advocacy training, information on

community health statistics and harmful environmental substances, cancer support

group resources, financial reimbursement for volunteer transport services, community

consultation etc etc….

* Collaboration in which information and decisions from all relevant community

organisations are shared

* The creation of a volunteer led cancer information and counselling centre

funded and operated by the community.

* Build capacity of community workers such as librarians, social support services

etc to provide accurate health information their constituents

* Provide support and resources to communities to identify gaps or potential

overlaps in local cancer treatment and supportive care services

* Flyers with translations of cancer information in different community languages.

* Alcohol free community events for young people

* Community meetings on key issues of concern, to drive and inform cancer

prevention related activities and services.

* Local training to raise awareness of available cancer programs and services for

community organisations.

* Support local projects such as market gardens

* Assist the community to develop a community policy on alcohol availability

* Observe whether the law that prohibits the selling of tobacco products to youth

under 18 years of age is being followed and report to the council and local

police if not

* Increase availability of local programs (such as walking groups) with specific

groups (aged).

* Plant trees to provide shade in local areas.

Healthy Kids Project

The "Healthy Kids" Project is targeted at increasing the health & well-being of

babies and children (under 5 years) of young women who are homeless, or at risk

of homelessness. The project will provide information to and increase the skills of

young women who are homeless in positively managing the health of their children.

The project will work with young women who are accommodated and/or supported

by accommodation agencies (ie. shelters) and will access these young women via

these services.

The Cancer Council NSW 3Cancer Control Examples across the Ottawa Charter Principles

Develop Personal Skills

Aim: Empowering individuals to increase control over and improve health

Personal Development (Information, training and learning opportunities, resources)

e.g. strengthen individual skills through free and readily available health information;

target functional literacy skills to enable individuals to interpret written and oral

information about health, conduct store tours to educate people about healthy foods,

thereby enabling them to make healthier food choices etc etc….

* Make available free public training in the use of technology such as searching

the Internet for reliable health information

* Develop free cancer information resources that are marketed and accessible by

the whole community

* Free on-line learning programs in smoking cessation, fitness and general

health

* Make available in all public libraries, information and other resources on cancer

prevention, cancer treatment and cancer support services. Including practical

advice, service directories and a list of credible websites designed to provide

accurate cancer information to the public.

* Widely distribute accurate information (via mass media - newspapers, TV etc

and family doctors) on warning signs and the early detection of cancer

Reorient Health Services

Aim: Shift the focus towards prevention in settings focused on providing clinical

and curative services.

Health Professional e.g. Educate paediatricians and family doctors about assessing

second hand smoke exposure in children and counselling in smoking cessation.

Organisational Change e.g. Training to support cross-cultural competence in health

care.

* Government commitment to resources (staff, dollars and infrastructure) to

disease prevention in health care services.

* Allocation of adequate resources for interpreters and multilingual information

* Educate health care providers about health literacy to support improvements in

communication with patients with low health literacy levels.

* Provide information and resources to health service providers on counselling

parents on how to advise their children on smoking, and how to directly

promote smoking prevention and cessation among children.

* Establish health promotion officer positions to develop and coordinate

preventive health activities such as promotion of childhood vaccination and

adult cancer screening, importance of avoiding UV exposure in children,

consequences to children's health of second hand smoke etc

The Cancer Council NSW 4

it is a secondary intervention

triple antibiotics like gentamycine,metriondazole and ceftazidin

Even if you smoked for only one year you can never be sure if or when you might get lung cancer. It also depends on how many cigarette's you smoked everyday, even before you quit.

reflection about the major community health problems

Smoking suppresses the ability of the lungs to remove foreign matter. It is normal to cough for several weeks after you stop smoking, while your body rids your lungs of the accumulated garbage you've been feeding them.

There aren't any. really. the effect of stopping smoking only improve your health, wealth and state of well being. This is completely true. i stopped smoking using Alan carr's easy way to stop smoking and it explains why most people believe that there are bad effects when you stop, but these are well versed myths and products of psychological confusion.

Yes; Prozac (fluexotine) should not interact with nicotine patches. Nicotine patches can cause increase in blood pressure and should be used cautiously in those with high blood pressure.

In some cases, Prozac is prescribed to help a person quit smoking by reducing the anxiety and depression associated with smoking cessation.

yes because smoking is a stimulant

People are addicted to smoking because they are addicted to the nicotine in the cigarettes. Nicotine gum helps you give up smoking because the gum contains nicotine. When you chew the gum, the nicotine is absorbed through your mouth. This gives you a nicotine fix that will help reduce withdrawal symptoms when you quit smoking.

I depends on how much you smoke. Let's say a person smokes 1 pack each day. A pack of cigarrettes cost about $3 (also depends on the brand). So 3 X 31 days = $93 save if that person stops smoking. That's $1116 per year and if a person smokes until they die (supposing they started smoking when they turned 18 and lived until the age of 60), they will have spend about $46,872.

WOW! That is enough money for a nice down payment on a house or 2 nice vehicles, or what a typical middle class person makes in 1 year.

Encourage all of your friends and family to quit smoking so they can live long enough to enjoy the savings.

It is difficult to quit smoking once one becomes addicted to nicotine.

One study demonstrated that inhaling the vapor from black pepper extract can reduce symptoms associated with smoking withdrawal. Other essential oils can be used for relieving the anxiety a smoker often experiences while quitting.

Because you have the bubblies

It can cause asthma and could kill you with lung cancer!

Smoking causes lung cancer and it can take years off your life :( it's not good to smoke not judging anyone who dose it's just unhealthy

It hasn't changed! It still damages your lungs! So don't smoke!

No. They will not cover any drug used for smoking cessation. They want you to quit but offer little help.

Get your doctor's permission, then start an exercise program that is appropriate for your weight and age. This will also help you avoid gaining weight when you stop. In the meantime, increasing the amount of walking you do will help.