To StopSmoking, And Many Are Successful At Becoming A Non-Smoker.
Findings About Women And Smoking
Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and disease among women, according to a new report from
the U.S. Surgeon General. Dr. David Satcher released the report on March 27, 2001. It was developed by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC).
Tobacco smoke increases the risk for many medical problems, including heart disease,
stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lung cancer. Even non-smokers who are exposed to tobacco smoke are
at increased risk for these health threats. For women, however, smoking poses unique threats, and the trends in smoking and
smoking-related illnesses among women are alarming.
After declining from the mid-1970s
to the mid-1990s, smoking has increased among women over the last few years. According to the report, more than 22 percent
of women smoked cigarettes in 1998 and 165,000 U.S. women died prematurely from smoking-related diseases in 1999. An estimated
three million have died since 1980.
Dr. Satcher called the increase in lung cancer
among women an "epidemic" - a word he acknowledged can be misused to sensationalize health problems. However, he
said, "There is no better word to describe the 600 percent increase since 1950 in women's death rates for lung cancer,
a disease primarily caused by cigarette smoking. Clearly, smoking-related disease among women is a full-blown epidemic."
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women, accounting for one out
of every four cancer-related deaths. It is estimated that 68,000 U.S. women will die of lung cancer this year, compared with
41,000 deaths due to breast cancer. In addition, smoking accounts for 90 percent of deaths from COPD - the fourth leading
cause of death in the United States.
The report also highlighted smoking-related problems
that are unique to women. For example, while smoking during pregnancy is a known cause of many pregnancy problems, including
premature birth and low birth weight, even second-hand tobacco smoke can increase the risk of pregnancy related problems.
Post-menopausal women who smoke have lower bone density than non-smokers, which makes them more likely to suffer broken bones.
The report also noted that smoking can cause problems with menstruation and increases the risk for cervical cancer.
The report encourages women of all ages to stop smoking because quitting smoking can produce
health benefits rapidly. For example, the risk of coronary heart disease is substantially reduced within one or two years
of becoming a non-smoker. The report stresses the importance of getting the word out to young girls before they begin experimenting
with cigarettes.
Smoking Risky For Any Age
Being young offers
no protection against the risks of smoking cigarettes. According to an analysis of World Health Organization data from 21
countries, smokers under the age of 40 are five times as likely to suffer a heart attack as their non-smoking peers. About
80% of all people who have had heart attacks ages 35 to 39 were smokers according to a study published in Tobacco Control.
Choosing a good time to become a non-smoker-
Many unsuccessful attempts to quit smoking result from picking a bad time. If your life is in overdrive, you may feel there
will never be a good time to quit. If that is the case, pick a time to quit, and do what you can to make your life less stressful
or busy than it usually is. Be aware that if you wait for a "perfect" time to quit, you may end up delaying the
decision for a long time.
Any time that is less stressful than usual, when you can focus your energy and attention
on your goal of becoming a non-smoker, is a good time to quit. Also, certain days may be good choices for your first smoke-free
day. (Use your judgment, remember, you are the expert about what is going on in your life) Consider quitting:
On
New Year's Day
On a long holiday weekend
On the American Cancer Society's "Great American Smoke-out"
on the Thursday before Thanksgiving.
On your birthday.
On a special day that has meaning to a friend
or family member who wants you to quit.
When you are ill or having a troublesome smoking-related symptom.
On the first day of a vacation.
Some bad times to quit smoking may be-
High-stress times.
Times when you feel low or depressed.
Periods in which you have limited contact
with friends or family. Though keep in mind, if those friends or family members are smokers, or if you are usually around
smokers, a period of time when you are away from them, could be easier.
Just before a holiday. (Holidays require
a lot of energy and may provide more temptations than other times of the year. For this reason, the "Great American Smoke-out,"
which is near Thanksgiving and Christmas, may not be a good day for some people.)
Right after a serious loss or
difficult life change (the death of someone close, a stressful move).
Thank You Long Island!
Hypnosis Can Help You To Become A Non-Smoker
Hypnotherapy is one technique that is a natural way to help you teach your subconscious what your conscious mind already
knows-- that using tobacco is harmful. Hypnotic intervention helps you to recognize the benefits of being a non-smoker, and return to the non-smoker you were born to be. You may learn new ways to cope with stress. During private sessions, your
personal issues are addressed. We realize that people want to be smoke free for different reasons. For some, the reason for
becoming a non-smoker is health concerns, while for others the concern is social acceptance. Some smokers are fed up with
the rising cost of cigarettes, and others are angry about the apparent lies put forth by the tobacco industry itself. If you
have tried other methods for quitting, but failed, private hypnotherapy may be right for you.
Tobacco use causes more deaths each year than does alcohol,
heroin, cocaine, HIV, homicides, suicides, fires and accidents combined. (Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention)
Advanced Hypnotherapy
And Counseling Office 1000 Main Street Port Jefferson, NY 11777
