August « 2009 « Quit Smoking Now

August 18, 2009

Anti-Smoking Slogans

Filed under: Stop Smoking — Tags: Anti-Smoking, Slogans, Stop Smoking — admin @ 9:44 am

With so many campaigns going on now to discourage people from smoking, it is little wonder that everywhere you look there are anti-smoking slogans. These slogans range from cute, funny and polite, to downright rude and obnoxious. There is still a question as to just how effective these slogans can be when it comes to changing the smoking habits of people.

First of all, it may help to understand just what a slogan is. Basically, it is a sentence bearing a specific message that is used to promote an idea. Through the years slogans have been used as a way for different groups to get across their points of view. Slogans are used by advertisers, politicians, and just about anyone who has an idea they want others to subscribe to. Ironically enough, slogans were also used in the past to PROMOTE cigarette smoking, just as there are now anti-smoking slogans.

There are many slogans used to try to get people to stop smoking. People carrying signs with “Save your lungs! Save your life!” and “Breath healthily, Live happily!” are all over the place when there is a gathering to protest smoking. Another more sobering one is “If you can’t stop smoking, cancer will.” These anti-smoking slogans are all geared to scare you into putting down that cigarette and never picking up another one.
Some are a bit insulting but also quite funny. You may even have walked into a home or place of business that displayed a plaque reading “If you don’t smoke, I won’t fart!” While it is a bit off color, it still gets the point across. The person or persons in this home or business do NOT want you to smoke there.

Most die hard smokers are not really going to be affected by these slogans though. They may read them and turn up their noses, or laugh. Or they may totally ignore them. For the most part, these anti-smoking slogans don’t seem to make much of an impression on someone who is not going to stop smoking no matter what.
Whichever group you fall into, anti-smoking slogans will at least make for interesting conversation, whether they are serious or funny. You may want to be careful about who you get into a debate with over them though. This is a conversation that can quickly escalate into an all out war with some people, and that isn’t healthy for anyone.

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August 4, 2009

Quit Smoking Side Effects

Filed under: Stop Smoking — Tags: Quit Smoking, Side Effects — admin @ 8:27 am

The first week after quitting smoking is the most difficult, it gets easier and within eight to twelve weeks the comfort of the non-smoking lifestyle begins to take hold. Becoming an ex-smoker is not without side effects however. Nicotine is a highly addictive drug and the withdrawals can be intense. One can expect headaches, anxiety, nausea, and the worst, a craving for tobacco. It’s a chemical dependency, and without maintainance, the body reacts. The side effects are stressful and unpleasant, but they do fade away after just a few days and will be completely gone in just six months.

The first two weeks are critical, seek all the support from family and friends you can find. The side effects to quitting begin just four hours after your last cigarette, generally they peak at three to five days, and then fade out after two weeks. The symptoms are both physical and mental.

The physical side effects should be treated as you would treat any other symptom. The mental symptoms are almost intolerable the first week, you will survive. You may feel clumsy or awkward, even accident prone. You may even exhibit infantile behavior and have a temper tantrum or two. This is why it’s important to tell people you are quitting, they will be tolerant, for awhile.

Depression is also a common short term effect, you could actually find yourself mourning the loss of your cigarettes. Keep a card on hand listing your reasons for quitting, make them positive and uplifting. This same card will come in handy during the mood swings too. It’s important to keep yourself from boredom, it leads to the depression.

Other side effects you can expect are not limited to, insomnia, vagueness, irritability, constipation, gas, cough, dry throat, nasal drip, dizziness, vertigo, fatigue, frustration, restlessness, tightness of the chest, and weight gain. I know this all sounds terrible, but the good news is that it only last a few day, the withdrawal symptoms will go away and serve as a reminder to not smoke so you never have to go through that again. All these side effects are just the body purging itself of all the harmful chemicals.

Acknowledge it’s an addiction, understand the side effects you may experience after you quit smoking, be prepared to experience them and to treat the physical symptoms. Odds are you won’t experience all of them, but do expect to have a few of them. The more prepared you are the easier it will be.

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