Delaware has it together where smoking cessation is concerned. The state recently appeared on the American Lung Association's "Helping Smoker's Quit: Tobacco Cessation Coverage 2011" report that analyzed cessation coverage in Medicaid plans, state employee health medical plans, standards for private insurance coverage, and the cost and availability of state-run quit lines. Continue Reading

Many smokers report having intense cravings for cigarettes following a meal.

Knowing how to circumvent these cravings can help with the quitting process.

As a former smoker converted to vaper, I remember the days when I would silently pine for the moment when I could sneak away from the dinner table to take a few draws off a cigarette outside a restaurant or outside my home. Those cravings became more intense as the minutes ticked by, leaving me to day dream about what I would feel as soon as I lit one up. I missed many great conversations and opportunities to connect with friends and family during those moments. Learning how to curb that pesky desire made a significant difference in my life and can help other smokers quitting tobacco sneak passed one more nearly inconsolable craving.

The first way I taught myself to go an extended period after dinner without a cigarette was to enjoy dessert. I savored every flavor that was carefully mixed together in cookies, cakes, pies, Continue Reading

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 43% of people over age 20 who suffer with depression are also smokers.

The smoking rates of those with depression are similar to the population as a whole, as reported in 1964 when the United States Surgeon General first reported on the dangers of smoking. Moreover, depressed smokers are less likely to quit smoking than those without depression.

Cigarettes provide a temporary mood boost to those with depression. The effect is similar as an anti-depressant. When the mood boost subsides, a depressed smoker will reach for another cigarette to again boost their mood. The more a person smokes, the more reliant upon the chemical reaction the body becomes. This makes eliminating nicotine (along side the thousands of other chemicals including radiation and cancer causing agents) from the body a more grueling process.

Additionally, smokers often lack confidence in their daily lives without factoring in the continuous adding of bans and snide Continue Reading

Zyban is a common prescription geared towards smoking cessation. Many smokers are quick to accept any medication that could potentially curb their addiction, without first considering the side effects of the prescription. Zyban has a lengthy list of effects that can, and do, occur in users. Some of those effects are reason to reconsider quit-smoking techniques.

Please note, this information is not to replace medical advice from a licensed physician. If you are currently taking Zyban and are experiencing any of the following effects, contact your physician to discuss what course of action you should take.

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Chantix lawsuits are rising around the country due to heart attack and stroke!

Pfizer's Chantix has spent much time in the news and in court. The black-box warning advises,

The drug side effects state that all patients must be monitored for neuropsychiatric symptoms including changes in behavior, hostility, agitation, depressed mood, suicide ideations and behaviors, and attempts at suicide. Those behaviors occurred in people with and without psychiatric conditions.

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One of the most common complaints from smokers and their family and friends during their quit attempts is a short temper. As the body is craving nicotine, a smokers' mood is altered. They can experience moments of anger, anxiety, and even depression. The nicotine addiction has been compared to heroine by [...]

No monkey business about it. It's time to quit, by force, if necessary.

Orlando is one step closer to infringing on smoker's rights to light up outdoors with a ban aimed at prohibiting smoking in all of their parks. Mayor Buddy Dyer said he would support the ban that has now gained momentum with city commissioners approving a resolution last Monday.

The prior draft included sidewalks and any public plazas, similar to the ban that recently went into effect in New York. Those suggestions for inclusion were removed with some feeling as though the scope of the ban would be too broad, however, many residents of Orlando feel otherwise and would happily support banning smoking in those areas. Continue Reading

Eight clinical trials were studied and reviewed in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, looking at smoking cessation with counseling for nearly 3,300 pregnant women.

Of the eight studies, four concluded no difference in smoking cessation rates between pregnant women who received counseling and those who did not. In the other half of the studies, a slightly higher quit rate was noted in women who did receive counseling.

Lead author, Dr. Kristian Filion noted that three out of four expectant mothers continued to smoke whether they received counseling to assist with quitting Continue Reading

Grandparents have a unique relationship with grandchildren that is founded on love, support, and respect. Seldom are grandparents in a disciplinary roll, which makes communication more fluid and focused, especially important when it comes to discussing poor choices and health effects of any given activity.

Grandparents are key influencers on a child's sense of identity. The intergenerational connection between grandparent and grandchild could provide the support and encouragement for one child to decline the offer to try tobacco products down the road. Celebrate Grandparent's Day by discussing the ill effects of smoking. Continue Reading