To quit smoking is one of the best things one can do for themselves, 
as it has immediate and long term benefits. In this day and age, we are increasingly aware of the risks involved with using tobacco products, particularly cigarettes and “chew”. Because part of our philosophy at Professional Counseling Services is to promote good physical and psychological health, we want to share a few facts with you from the Center for Disease Control:
- Did you know that the risk of developing lung cancer is about 23 times higher among men who smoke cigarettes and about 13 times higher among women who smoke cigarettes compared to those who have never smoked?
- Did you know that cigarette smoking increases the risk of many types of cancer, including cancers of the lip, oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, pancreas, larynx, lung, uterine, cervix, urinary bladder and kidney?
- Did you know that cigarette smoking causes coronary heart disease, the leading cause of death in the US
- Did you know that cigarette smokers are two to four times more likely to develop coronary heart disease than non-smokers?
- Cigarette smoking approximately doubles a person’s risk for stroke.
- Cigarette smoking causes reduced circulation by narrowing the blood vessels.
- People who smoke have a much greater risk of developing peripheral vascular disease than non smokers.
- Smoking can cause abdominal aortic aneurysm.
- Cigarette smoking is associated with a ten fold increase in the risk of dying from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. About 90% of these deaths are attributed to cigarette smoking.
- Smoking damages air ways of the lung eventually leading to COPD.
- Smoking during pregnancy causes health problems for both mother and baby such as pregnancy complications, premature birth, low birth weight, stillbirth and sudden infant death syndrome.
- 600 ingredients go into a cigarette including Ammonia (a household cleaner), Arsenic (used in rat poison), Benzene (found in rubber cement), Butane (used in lighter fluid), Formaldehyde (embalming fluid), Nicotine (used as insecticide) and Tar (material for paving roads). When burned, there are 4000 chemicals in the cigarette smoke. Few people know that multiple additives go into a cigarette to increase their addictiveness.
Second hand or “Passive Smoking”
Obviously when you smoke, you are placing yourself at risk, but second-hand smoke effects those around you and also places them at risk. Some of the effects of second hand smoke include:
- There is no risk free level of exposure to second hand smoke.
- Second hand smoke is toxic and poisonous.
- Exposure to second hand smoke causes heart disease and lung cancer in non smoking adults.
- Non smokers exposed to second hand smoke at home or work increase their heart disease risk by 25-30% and lung cancer risk by 20-30%.
- Breathing second hand smoke has immediate effects on the cardio-vascular system.
These facts are serious. Smoking is life threatening. The good news is we are here to help you conquer your tobacco habit and be able to proclaim “I Quit for Life”. You deserve to be healthy and tobacco free, and so does your family, your friends and even your employer.
Benefits of Quitting
The US Surgeon General’s report on the benefits of quitting smoking are VERY encouraging. The benefits of stopping are almost immediate. Health risks continue to decrease up to 15 years after a person has stopped smoking. When you make the decision and commitment to stop smoking, you will enjoy many benefits including:
- You, your car, your house, your clothes and belongings won’t smell like a cigarette!
- No more messy, dirty butts to clean up.
- You will enjoy an average of an extra $250 a month in your pocket.
- Food will taste better.
- Productivity at home and work increases as you are no longer taking “smoke” breaks.
- You physical appearance will improve-no more yellow teeth and fingers, your dry skin and “smoker’s wrinkles” will diminish.
- Your self esteem improves as you take charge of your life!
People who smoke have several over the counter treatments available to help them stop smoking. If you are like many people, you do not want to use medications to stop smoking due to possible side effects including anxiety, depression and even suicide. Medications can help someone stop smoking, however, it does not address the psychological and behavioral components that greatly increase a person’s likelihood to stop smoking for life.
Our smoking/tobacco cessation program, “I Quit for Life” is designed to give you proven, effective tools and support, that if utilized as recommended, can give you a life free of tobacco. Hypnosis is another effective strategy used with habit control, addiction and stress management, and may or may not be utilized with our program, but is available if the client is interested. When you are ready to make the commitment to stop using tobacco, call us and we will get you started on your journey to good health. You deserve it!