Continue reading »]]> What are the side effects from quitting smoking cold turkey …

I know the number 1 thing is nicotine withdrawal, but are there other things like … Medically there is withdrawal syndrome but I've done cold turkey to quit smoking …
answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid…

Increased risk of cardiovascular side effects with varenicline for …

It's great when we hear about a drug which seems to work but we also need to know whether it might cause us harm. 'Adverse events' or ill effects from a drug …
www.thelifestyleelf.net/increased-risk-of-cardiovascular-side-e…

How To Overcome Side Effects of Quitting Smoking – YouTube

http://side-effects-of-quitting-smoking.com/ – Side effects of quitting smoking are several … www.youtube.com/watch?v=JydMV1m8kBs

Continue reading »]]> Mobile Commons Partners with National Cancer Institute to Help Teens Quit …

Mobile Commons announced today it has partnered with the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, to use text messaging to help teens and young adults quit smoking. Developed by smoking cessation experts, …
See all stories on this topic »

Calling on tobacco users: A successful quit attempt could be a phone call away

Quitlines provide telephone support from trained responders who can help users develop a personal quit plan, answer any questions about quitting and help locate quit smoking services in their community. They can also offer information and resources to …
See all stories on this topic »

QuitSmoking.com Announces The Quit Smoking Tips Challenge

QuitSmoking.com™ today announced the launch of The Quit Smoking Tips Challenge. The goal of this Facebook contest is to gather the most effective quit smoking tips from smokers who have successfully stopped smoking. Contest judges are looking for tips …
See all stories on this topic »

Continue reading »]]> Doctors Need Training to Help Smokers Quit

By David Pittman, Contributing Writer Health care professionals do a better job helping people quit smoking when they are trained in smoking cessation techniques, a new Cochrane Library review finds. Smoking cessation training helped health care … See all stories on this topic »

Health Behavior News Service

Pink quit smoking to breastfeed

Party-loving Pink put a limit on her alcohol intake and quit smoking last year so she could breastfeed her baby girl. The “So What” hitmaker gave up her wild child ways when she became a first-time mom to daughter Willow Sage a year ago – and she made … See all stories on this topic »

San Francisco Chronicle (blog)

Zayn Malik Challenged by ForgetTobacco to Quit Smoking Cigarettes

One Direction's Zayn Malik can usually be seen taking a puff or three. Of the members in 1D, Zayn is the only one who has a serious smoking habit, as icky as that may be. He's been photographed several times with a lit cigarette between his fingers.
See all stories on this topic »

Continue reading »]]> Deprived from birth

The findings, from a study of nearly 2500 US kids, add to evidence that prenatal smoking may affect children's future health. There are already plenty of reasons for women to quit smoking during, and ideally before, pregnancy, said lead researcher Sam …
See all stories on this topic »

Fremont Area Medical Center shares the benefits of quitting smoking

*Smoking cessation by women during their reproductive years reduces the risk for infertility. Women who stop smoking during pregnancy also reduce their risk of having a low birth weight baby. Among current US adult smokers, 68.8 percent report that …
See all stories on this topic »

Official Urges Pregnant Women To Quit Smoking

She says women who smoke can celebrate Mother's Day by quitting. Smoking while pregnant the child's risk for problems such as abnormal blood pressure, cleft palates, leukemia, colic, respiratory disorders and eye problems. She says the mortality rate … See all stories on this topic »

KDLT News

SD official urges pregnant women to quit smoking

PIERRE, SD (AP) — A state Health Department official says that nearly 20 percent of South Dakota's expectant mothers smoked during their pregnancies in 2010. Colleen Winter, state director of health and medical services, used the numbers to help to …
See all stories on this topic »

1 out of 5 white women smoke while pregnant, study reveals

(CBS News) Despite all the risks, about one in five white women still smoke cigarettes while pregnant, according to a new study. The study, conducted by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), showed that 21.8 percent of … See all stories on this topic »

CBS News

Marijuana and Pregnancy in KS

You definitely need more than four weeks to clear it out. As a previous poster already stated (was it phathui?) you need to stop smoking by at least 28 weeks. This is because it is in the BABY'S system, and if you keep smoking past that point, …
See all stories on this topic »

Continue reading »]]> Different Types of Nicotine Test Kits

Nicotine is an addictive substance found in tobacco products – cigarettes, cigars, etc. It badly affects the central nervous system of the user. Consumption of nicotine not only impacts a person’s health but also the performance with regard to his day-to-day chores. All these issues necessitate nicotine testing at various places including schools, workplaces and homes.

At home: You can conduct a nicotine test to identify the nicotine abuse in your kid, spouse or anyone else at home. The advantage of testing at home is that, you can perform the test on yourself or your loved ones confidentially. Besides, drug testing kits also enable easy collection of samples and give quick and accurate results.

At school: These days some schools are insisting on student drug testing. If you suspect tobacco use among students, you can confirm the same using nicotine test kits.

This also helps in preventing tobacco initiation among students.

At workplace: Though some people think that testing for nicotine violates the privacy of individuals, some organizations insist on this as a matter of routine activity at the entry-level, or once a candidate gets into the organization. Also, certain State and Federal laws made it mandatory to conduct workplace drug testing including nicotine testing.

There are different sorts of test kits available in the market. These kits help you conduct the test as per your convenience without having to see a medical professional.

Different types:
There are different types of nicotine test kits based on the sample they require to detect nicotine abuse – urine, saliva, hair and blood tests.

Detection of nicotine using urine tests involves detection of cotinine, a metabolite of nicotine. Nicotine gets converted into cotinine in the body and is eliminated through urine. Cotinine stays up to 2-4 days in the body after consumption. Hence, it is advised to conduct the test within this period. The advantage of urine test is that it is quick, accurate, and inexpensive.

Saliva tests use saliva sample to detect nicotine abuse. These tests can detect nicotine up to 2 to 4 days in saliva. Saliva drug testing is best suited for shorter detection periods. It is bit expensive than urine testing, but cheaper than hair testing method. The sample collection for this test is easy.

Hair test kits are very effective in detecting nicotine in a person’s body. Hair sample allows detection of nicotine even after several months of the use. Although it is fast and accurate, it is the costliest method of detecting nicotine use.

Blood test can detect the presence of nicotine in one’s body up to 7 days after use. But these tests are not that effective as nicotine gets converted into cotinine very quickly and is continuously eliminated through urine, thus leaving slight traces in blood. Moreover, the blood tests have to be performed only under medical supervision.

With latest advancements in medical field, many accurate and easy to use kits are available in the market today. You can choose from the various options available as per your needs. Despite so many effective methods of nicotine testing, it is important to ensure that the person who is put to test is honest in offering the test samples.

www.testmyteen.com Instructional video for using home test kits to detect the use of tobacco and teen smoking. These home drug tests can tell you if your teen is smoking cigarettes.

Continue reading »]]> How to Quit Smoking While Pregnant

Article by Joe White

Society considers a mother who smokes while pregnant to be repulsive. But I have sympathy for these mothers because there is a lot more than meets the eye when it comes to smoking. Find out more in this article.

We all know that cigarettes are harmful to our health. This is no longer the days of the 50s and 60s when society was ignorant of the dangers. And yet, despite smoking bans, there are still some innocents affected by smoking against their wishes including unborn children. Yet is this treatment of smoking mothers fair?

The Damage That Can Be Done

The most well known fact about how smoking affects the unborn child is in the eventual birth weight. We all know that birth weight is a good barometer of a person’s future health and smoking during pregnancy is often associated with low birth weight. What you may also not have heard is that smoking can make miscarriage more likely, by as much as 50%.

Addiction

Let’s not forget that cigarette smoking is an addiction. Very few people are able to quit using willpower alone, for more than a few days. Expecting anyone to quit for 9 months using willpower methods is almost ridiculous.

A lot of people will counter that if a woman is expecting a child then she “should” have more willpower and “should” stop smoking.

The people who say this are ill-informed and do not understand addiction. They do not understand how the chips are stacked against you if you are an addict.

So, what can a mother do if she is expecting and wants to try and stop?

The Man Should Stop Smoking

First of all, the man should stop smoking. There is simply no excuse for the partner to not attempt to quit smoking. This will lend great moral support to the mother. It will also mean that the household is smoke free and less temptations will be in the household, such as a pack of cigarettes lying around.

Alternatives To Willpower Based Methods

Most people quit using willpower based methods. If you are a mother-to-be and a smoker, then I seriously suggest to you that you research all forms of smoking cessation. There are many different methods out there such as hypnosis and others which may give you a much higher chance than willpower alone. There are even some methods that are based on cognitive behavioural therapy that do not rely on willpower alone.

I understand how difficult it can be to break addiction but at the very least, explore all the methods available to you. You owe your child that much and anything less would be irresponsible.

It is crucial to stop smoking quickly while pregnant or when planning to become pregnant, as there are many birth defects connected to smoking. Try quitting naturally for a healthier baby with help from a smoking cessation specialist in this free video on ways to quit smoking. Expert: Michela Christensen Contact: www.breathecalifornia.org/ Bio: Michela Christensen is a tobacco cessation counselor working for Breathe California. Her class has helped hundreds of smokers stop smoking. Filmmaker: Bing Hugh

Continue reading »]]> Can a patch really help you quit smoking?

Article by Jason Clarke

So you’ve seen all of the television ads about Nicoderm but you’re not sure about how it can help you to quit smoking. You are not alone. Many people want to quit smoking but aren’t sure of the best way to do so. While there are many ways and products out there to assist you to quit smoking, one of the most popular and very effective products out there is Nicoderm CQ.

Most cold turkey methods don’t work and the reason why is because the body is still craving the nicotine that a cigarette gives you. What Nicoderm does is supply the body with enough nicotine to allow the body to slowly wean itself off of the lost nicotine and therefore the need for cigarettes is gone.

For Nicoderm to be effective you need to have an honest assessment of how much you smoke. If you smoke 10 or more cigarettes a day then you should use the 21 mg dosage. Less than 10 cigarettes mean you should use the 14 mg dosage. Nicoderm is usually purchased as a 3 step process. Step 1 takes up to 3 weeks and contains the highest dosage of nicotine. The goal of Nicoderm’s three step process is to gradually lower the amount of Nicoderm with each step until you no longer need them.

To use Nicoderm you need to apply the patch, once a day on dry, clean skin. As with most medications, Nicoderm carries a risk of side effects. The first kind of side effect is due to the adhesive. Some people experience a skin irritation. The skin may become red, itch or even become inflamed. If these conditions don’t subside, please consult your doctor.

If you decide to try to quit smoking with Nicoderm you should also consider enrolling in a quit smoking program at the same time. Studies have found that a person’s success rate goes up considerably if you use the Nicoderm patch along with a program that helps you mentally and emotionally. There are plenty of local, neighborhood programs.

ALMOST 2 MONTHS, 12-03-2009. IT IS BY THE GRACE OF GOD I HAVE MADE IT THIS FAR! ALL I DID WAS TAKE THE STEP! I JUST FINALLY TOOK THE STEP, THREW ON A PATCH AND PRAYED TO GOD…AND HERE I SIT TODAY WITH VICTORY! CAUTION: Regarding generic nicotine patches coming off, and were not fully adhiesive when I went to replace them. If your are or going to use the Nicotine Patch, USE: NICODERM, it will make all the difference in the world. Plus I have backed down to only 1 zyban (wellbutrin) a day, because it creating to much anxiety. TODAY ( 2 MONTHS ) I GOT A NEW PERSCRIPTION FOR A LOWER DOSE OF THE ZYBAN (100mg WELLBUTRIN SR) and WORKS SO MUCH BETTER! I NEVER REALIZED HOW MUCH TIME SMOKING TAKES OUT OF EACH DAY! – That habitual reaching for a cigarette, driving and even thinking about smoking IS DIMINISHING RAPIDLY. I did not think that coming up on 3 weeks, that I would feel this good, along with many of the habitual triggers getting less and less. Places that smokers have been smoking, smells like a old stail wet ash tray…and does not smell good at all. TO ALL: NO ONE IS WEAK FOR USING STOP SMOKING AIDS! DO NOT FEEL GUILTY IF YOU FAILED COLD TURKEY. Anti-smoking products are NOT a cructh, but a blessing and a HUGE advantage for you.
Video Rating: 5 / 5

Continue reading »]]> What is Cotinine and Cotinine Testing

Article by Aaron Robert

Cotinine is actually a metabolic of nicotine, used to determine the level of tobacco smoking. Well said fact is this “Almost all of the damages or injuries which a person undergoes are generally man-made “. Many times we ourselves great such things which ultimately becomes a source of pain for us. A well known example of this is alcohol or drug addiction. We start with something for getting social as an occasional habit, but soon it takes the shape of an addiction and converts into pain and sufferings which at worst level leads to even death. Nicotine addiction is amongst those habits.Cotinine test makes it possible to detect smoke level in one’s body and this level of smoke is described by cotinine level.

Effects of Cotinine

Impact of Cotinine is identical to any adulterous drug use. Cotinine is smoked in cigarettes, chewed, and sniffed. When nicotine is metabolized, it slowly but surely develops the degree of cotinine within the body of chronic smokers. This drug is actually favourite among youngsters since it is to be found in colorful packages along with taste alternatives to abuse. Cotinine itself is not dangerous however nicotine hurts, along with numerous adverse reactions on the health and fitness.

It is universally known that tobacco use turns into many life destroying diseases such as carcinoma of the lung, cerebrovascular accident, coronary disease, respiratory complications such as asthma, blood clot formation and many more hazardous diseases. With women who are pregnant, smoking can be extremely bad for the infant causing either retard critical development or result in reduced birth weight babies. It is also very dangerous for those who do not smoke themselves but inhale the smoke being in the company of smokers. Passive smoking is much more dangerous.

Cotinine Testing

Of course smoking is not one such habit which anyone should be proud of and it is not easy leave such habit of smoking as the nicotine level within the body raises to enormous levels which create a kind of hindrance for people who try to quit. But this is something which is not impossible. Cotinine effects are found in body for 20 hours from the time of consumption. Cotinine levels can be detected using various immunoassay technologies like gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Cotinine can be detected from days to one week after tobacco abuse. It retains in the blood for long period after consumption through smoking. Cigarette choices, menthol, puff size, etc are some factors influence the detection period of cotinine. Different persons have different levels of cotinine.

Cotinine testing is carried out to differentiate smokers from non smokers who possess a good amount of nicotine in their body, from those who have been exposed to environmental tobacco smoke. One of the chosen way is urine drug testing. Cotinine testing via saliva drug testing is difficult both regards to accumulating the sample along with drug detection. Using testing packages, cotinine testing is simple and easy carry out at home without much hassle for people who are trying to quit the habit. And obviously easiest way to decrease the cotinine levels is to stop smoking.

www.testmyteen.com Instructional video for using home test kits to detect the use of tobacco and teen smoking. These home drug tests can tell you if your teen is smoking cigarettes.