It’s amazing in this day and age that it’s still legal for big business to offer the public a product, that, if used according to the manufacturer’s instructions, will kill one in three users and cause untold harm, misery and discomfort to those who survive.
In the West, perceptions of smoking are becoming negative and it’s illegal to advertise cigarettes. Thus the strategy now is to promote smoking in Third World or developing nations, and to target younger and younger candidates.
Cigarettes contain up to 400 potent and harmful chemicals, and it has been proven that manufacturers also routinely include additives to strengthen the addictive qualities of their products. It has been said that nicotine is more addictive than heroin!
On the plus side, medically-speaking, the nicotine addiction lasts only days. It is the associated triggers that make it so hard to quit, like the routine of a smoke with a drink, when starting the car, and so on. This is where the mind conditioning and positive affirmation and rationalisation exercises in the guide come in, and why the Beyond Nicotine Programme is so successful.
Some sobering facts:
Around the world, someone dies from tobacco use every eight seconds. Ten million cigarettes are sold every minute. Smokers suffer a much higher chance than non-smokers of many diseases, including: coronary disease, several types of cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (lung problems), atherosclerosis (build-up of fatty substances in the arteries), high blood pressure, raised cholesterol and so on.
These illnesses are often partially hidden in the early stages, unless you develop emphysema, in which case your rattling coughing and wheezing are apparent to everyone around you. More visual symptoms are yellow teeth, bad breath, sallow or yellow skin, visible ageing, stained hands and smelly clothing and homes.
As a successful quitter, you’ll be amazed at your new perception of smokers: it’s an ugly habit. We’re well into the 2000’s, not the 1950’s – nobody smokes anymore.
Heavy stuff?
Well, yes it is. On the positive side, the body is an amazing machine, recovery starts almost immediately.
- Twenty minutes after quitting, blood pressure decreases measurably, pulse rate drops and the temperature of your feet and hands increases.
- Eight hours after quitting, nicotine levels remaining in your bloodstream will have dropped to around 7% of normal peak daily levels, a 93% reduction. Crave levels will be high.
- Ten hours after quitting, the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal and life-giving oxygen level increases.
- By 24 hours, risk of heart attack is considerably lower! Crave levels are dangerous.
- After 48 hours, there is regrowth of nerve endings, and you’ll find your sense of smell and taste begins to normalise. Slightly lessened or more manageable cravings will be experienced.
- At 72 hours, your body will test entirely nicotine free! Over 90% of nicotine metabolites will have passed from your body via your urine. The symptoms of chemical withdrawal will already have peaked, and the restlessness will ease from this point on.
- After two weeks, your breathing will be a lot easier, lung function increases and exercising and regular walking becomes easier. The number of crave episodes on a daily level will be just a handful, and these will be trigger related, i.e. mental rather than physical!
- After 15 days, you are physically past the main danger of smoking again. To support this, note the many benefits, which include a healthier complexion (you’ll notice the difference in the mirror), whiter teeth, fresher breath, a younger appearance, a new vitality, and clearer, sparkling eyes. You’ll have less stress, more free time and more money in your pocket (or cash-tray). Your addiction is no longer dominant, although the old habits and patterns must still be kept in check. Moreover, the sense of achievement with
