KICK BUTT!

That's right, today is the Great American Smoke Out, a fantastic time to assess the cost of cigarettes in your life.

 It isn't necessary for me to go into all the research that has been done connecting cigarettes and various forms of cancer, emphasema and heart disease.  Not to mention what fun in the chemistry lab one could have analyzing all the chemicals in cigarettes.  Let me list just a few:ammonia, carbon monoxide, nicotine, nitric oxide, hydrogen cyanide, mercury, tar and toxic trace metals (nickel, lead, cadmium, chromium, arsenic and selenium).  Of course men (in their 30s and 40s) should be particularly interested in the fact that smoking increases risk of impotency by 50%!

 Enough of old news, however.   There is another reason to quit.  Cigarettes are expensive.  Not just the per pack cost at the store, but the per pack cost overall.  Increased health risks will result in increased visits to the doctor and medications.  Insurance companies are aware of this and therefore have an increase in the premium costs of medical coverage (not to mention homeowners insurance).   Life insurance surges as well with smokers. 

The extra dental bills, cleaning and whitening your teeth is more frequent with smoke dulling and coating your mouth.  The extra breath mints a smoker buys to keep "kissing" sweet adds up.

Employers are saying no to smokers now.  According to recent surveys, because of the increased cost of production with smokers, 5% of employers prefer to hire nonsmokers and 1% will not hire smokers.  Some employers have gone as far as to levy a penalty to employees with smoking spouses!

Dry cleaning bills are higher with smokers because of the lingering smell left by cigarettes.  Homes that smell of smoke don't sell as easily, so if you want top dollar on your home, you have addtional painting and cleaning costs before placing it on the market.

 Here are a few tips I offer my clients on the practical side to help with smoke cessation. 

1. Drink 2 - 3 glasses of orange juice or tomato juice daily or eat several oranges a day.  Oranges are great as they have vitamin C and keep your hands busy.  Tomaote juice is great for the vitamin C.  It is a member of the nightshade family, as is tobacco. 
2. Walk 30 minutes daily.
3. Brush your teeth when you have a craving, cigarettes are slightly sweet and this allows for a sweet taste as well as keeping your mouth busy without eating!
4. Shower, exercise or change activities if a craving should occur.
5. Realize that what you feel as your body is releasing all those toxins is the movement of your body towards health!

Use affirmations such as "I am taking control of a part of my life that once controlled me!"  "This moment of discomfort is worth the freedom I am gaining!"

Hypnosis helps with smoke cessation, according to  a study presented at CHEST 2007, the 73rd annual international scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), hospitalized patients who smoke may be more likely to quit smoking through the use of hypnotherapy than patients using other smoking cessation methods.  Results showed that hypnotherapy resulted in higher quit rates compared with NRT alone,” said Faysal Hasan, MD, FCCP, North Shore Medical Center, Salem, MA. “Hypnotherapy appears to be quite effective and a good modality to incorporate into a smoking cessation program after hospital discharge.”  What's more, the IRS let's you claim hypnosis for smoke cessation, but not the cost of cigarettes!