CHAPTER 1
Quitting is Hard But Possible (VIDEO)
Most smokers, more than 70 percent, do not want to keep smoking. They simply feel powerless against their habit. Nicotine is highly addictive, which makes quitting cigarettes difficult—but it is possible. There are now 45 million smokers, but 47 million successful quitters! Clearly, there is reason for hope. Certainly, there are many reasons to quit. Smoking harms every process in your body. Your breath, your heartbeat, your ability to reproduce and heal and see. Nearly 450,000 Americans die from smoking related illnesses each year. That's more than all deaths from HIV/AIDS, illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries suicides and murders combined. Learn how every aspect of your health is thrown into chaos when you make a habit of lighting up, and how to quit forever.
In this wellness center, you will see visualizations showing the effects of tobacco smoking on real human lungs, blood vessels, brains, eyes, and other organs. You will see how nicotine travels to unique receptors in the brain and elsewhere, and learn how a smoking habit can become an addiction. Use these special features to get the most out this center:
- The chapter listing at the left shows the range of subtopics that we will explore in this health center.
- The key visualizations from each chapter appear in our carousel of small pictures, above. Clicking on each one will enlarge it so you can view the content for the related chapter.
- On the main images, buttons may launch short videos, graphics and interactive features.
- A feature called “Take Three Steps” in some chapters gives you three simple actions to take in order to begin improving your well-being right away.
- Also, rolling over the red arrows on the images reveals more interactive content.
- Finally, the photos, graphics and icons in the text labeled “Read More” link to additional content and interactive experiences. Click away!
We hope you find all of “The 9 Visual Rules of Wellness” to be informative and compelling.
Quitting Is Hard, But You Can Do It!
Former smokers have overcome one of the toughest habits that humans can form. Many try and fail to quit many times before finally kicking cigarettes for good. Those people usually have a strong commitment to improving their health, as well as support from friends, family and medical professionals. Some use medications that help them manage their feelings of withdrawal or depression as they break the nicotine habit. Nearly all establish a non-smoking home and try to avoid spending too much time with smokers. Our experts will show you the best ways to tackle a smoking habit and break it for good.
NEVER SMOKE... VIDEOS
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CHAPTER 1 (currently viewing)Quitting is Hard, But You Can Do It!Successful quitters have support, motivation, and a clear vision of life without cigarettes.VIEW VIDEO |
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CHAPTER 4Are Light Cigarettes Better for You?Don't kid yourself! Light cigarettes carry heavy risks.VIEW VIDEO |
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CHAPTER 8Smoking & Your LungsYour respiratory system takes a direct hit from smoke and its toxins.VIEW VIDEO |
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CHAPTER 14Why Quitting Is HardNicotine addiction and behavioral cues keep smokers smoking.VIEW VIDEO |
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CHAPTER 17Smoking is DeadlyWhen you quit smoking, you begin to take control of your health and life.VIEW VIDEO |
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theVisualMD Wishes to Thank our Scientific Collaborators:
- Jeremy Geffen, MD
- Neal Benowitz, MD
- Jodi Prochaska, PhD, MPH
Behavioral Psychologist University of California San Francisco - Barry Make, MD
Pulmonologist, National Jewish Health University of Colorado Denver - Candace Pert, PhD
Neuroscientist and author - Steven Schroeder, M.D., Director of the Smoking Cessation Leadership Center
University of California San Francisco - Michael D. Stein, M.D., Chief Medical Director at The Visual MD.com
Professor of Medicine and Community Health Brown University
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