It is not easy to quit smoking, though many people want to. To achieve this goal takes a large degree of hard work, commitment, and determination. One of the greatest motivations is health. Figures from the World Health Organization show that on an annual basis there are 4 million deaths associated with smoking, and smoking related diseases have caused a shorter lifespan in nearly ten per cent of the global population.

When we truly comprehend the health risks that are associated with smoking it can really give us the kick we need to break the habit. The positive side is that millions of smokers do manage to quit every year. It doesn't have to be a lifetime habit.

Every single cigarette that is consumed contains not only addictive amounts of nicotine but numerous other toxic substances. The moment you light up a cigarette, nicotine is immediately absorbed into the bloodstream and reaches the brain in a matter of seconds. It may feel good as it causes an increase in the amount of dopamine that that is being circulated around the body. But this hormone will decrease when you do not smoke, causing feelings of anxiety and irritability.

Tar is another poison that is present in tobacco smoke. It can cause cancer as it contains carcinogenic chemicals. Another toxin that is present is carbon monoxide. This compound attaches itself to red blood cells which lower their capacity to carry oxygen around the body. There are many other toxic substances also present in cigarette smoke. These can cause thickening of the blood and clotting in the arteries.

Due to public health campaigns and warnings that come with all tobacco products, every smoker is aware of the risks to a certain degree. On average a person that smokes their whole life will live ten years less than an average non-smoker. The number of ailments that are caused by smoking are vast. Lung cancer is just one form of cancer that has been shown to be caused through the consumption of cigarettes, other forms include: stomach, kidney, pancreas, throat, bladder, and also a type of leukemia.

It is also well known that smoking causes damage to the respiratory system. Pneumonia can be a result of smoking as can COPD. Both of these sicknesses cause an inflammation in the lungs. Heart disease is often the result of inhaling tobacco smoke. It occurs due to damage to the arteries. Other ailments and sicknesses that are increased by smoking include impotence, infertility, angina, and osteoporosis.

Quitting smoking can drastically improve you health and life expectancy. If you stop earlier enough, your body can make a complete recovery. Today there are many different treatments and methods open to smokers that want to stop.

Your first point of call should be your family doctor. They can offer you advice and medication that will lessen the withdrawal symptoms you are likely to experience. Possible treatments may include: nicotine replacement therapy (which comes in various forms), bupropion (a tablet), varenicline (also a tablet).

If you are serious about quitting smoking, then you can achieve your wish. There is plenty of help out there from people who understand exactly how you feel.

Stop smoking naturally using herbal smoking patches.

by Jamie Harris

It's no secret that there are some obvious differences in the safety of electronic cigarettes as reported by the media when compared to the facts presented by distributors of the product. So who's right? Would you believe both of them? If we break the argument of both sides down to the nuts and bolts of the disagreement, we will see that they are both correct and are actually comparing apples to oranges.

Distributors say, "Yes, electronic cigarettes are safer for you than traditional tobacco cigarettes." But when the media reports on the topic, they say, "The FDA has not approved these devices and may be hazardous to your health." See the problem yet?

This is a classic case of "lost in translation". Both sources are simply reporting from their stance of "safety". Reporters give the news from a non-smoking stance while distributors sell to smokers who are comparing the product to an already existing tobacco smoking habit. It may not be safer than not smoking at all, but that is yet to be proven.

Combustion is at the heart of the toxins in cigarette smoke. Or perhaps to be more clear, the creation of the smoke itself. When a flame hits the tobacco and ignites, it is in that moment that the 4,000 chemical agents come to life as a health hazard. And they can be created by lighting almost any organic product. The tobacco isn't the biggest culprit in the health risk of smoking, it is the combustion process.

So if we take the ignition out of the combustion process, we are in essence also removing thousands of killer chemicals as well. And you know the carcinogens (cancer causing agents) you're always warned about? They're gone too. Now compare the electronic cigarette which is combustion free to a traditional cigarette and you're suddenly viewing from a different angle. There is only one unproven ingredient in the liquid used by electronic cigarettes that is causing all of this fuss, but the fact still remains that these devices are combustion free.

While the media continues to report their "non-FDA approved" hoopla, smokers are taking well to this new alternative as the internet continues to get flooded with positive reviews from electronic cigarette users. Thousands of people have reported drastic improvements in their senses of taste and smell as well as their overall health after making the move away from tobacco products.

While the distributors seem rightly biased for them, the media will likely continue to carry a bias against them, at least until the FDA gets around to working something out. In the mean time, smokers will continue to have the freedom to make an educated decision for themselves and consult their doctors about the new smoke-free alternative popping up across the globe.

About the Author:

Jamie Harris says, "Not every electronic cigarette is created equal. Find the most effective e-cigarette on the market at TheSafeCig.com."

Nobody ever said it would be easy how to quit smoking, but if you are reading this, then at least you have made the first step and have started thinking about it. Many smokers have no intention of giving up, often because they do not have the willpower and they do not have the belief that it is actually possible.

Another thing that you want to avoid is making unrealistic ambitions. If you really are finding it difficult to smoke, set yourself a realistic date to quit. This can be in two to three weeks from now for example. Perhaps it could be a specific date that means something to you, such as the day after your birthday or something like that or perhaps the tenth year anniversary started smoking, if you can remember.

Another good source of motivation is to have other people close by are also quitting. If you can do it together, then you have a lot more motivation and be far more likely to succeed. In the meantime, you will need to try to avoid people who are smoking as this only needs to temptation. For example, stay away from smoky establishments until you have thoroughly given up and you are not likely to be tempted again.

Going hand in hand with the previous point, try to avoid any triggers that make you smoke if you can. One of the most common triggers, is when people are smoking around you. Others are straight after a meal or when you are stressed. Figure out something else that you can do when you feel a craving for a cigarette coming on.

When you have the craving, go out for a walk or do something different. Try to get over it. This is an opportunity to try to keep your mind off it and do something else.

Next, find out about how to stop smoking cigarettes easily and get more articles to help you quit smoking