Why you smoke...and how you can stop

Most long-term smokers would agree that from morning to night, smoking impacts each and every activity in their daily lives. Many would say they have a love/hate relationship with cigarettes.

With a quick google search it’s not hard to find the negatives to smoking. They’re everywhere. Addiction, carcinogens, cancer, lung disease, bad breath, secondhand smoke…the list goes on. However, if there wasn’t some pleasure derived from smoking, it would be very easy to quit. And, as any smoker knows, giving up cigarettes is NO easy feat. 

Why people smoke: 

• Nicotine high: nicotine stimulates our brain’s reward centres and causes a release of dopamine. It feels good, which is why it’s so easy to become addicted. 
• It provides a sense of community: many people began smoking with peers, classmates, co-workers etc.
• Reduce stress/anxiety: smoking can eliminate withdrawal symptoms (stress/anxiety) giving the illusion of a calming effect. 
• Weight loss: nicotine increases the basal metabolic rate and can decrease appetite, causing an individual to burn more calories while consuming less food. 

Making a personalized pro-con list is a powerful exercise that can help lift the smoke screen that nicotine addiction allows smokers to hide behind.

January 15-21st is National Non-Smoking Week (NNSW) in Canada. 

Established in 1977 it has been observed during the 3rd week of January for 40 years. Research shows that just a 3-minute conversation with a healthcare provider can increase the odds of quitting by 30%.

If you’re ready to put down that cigarette and finally butt-out, talk to your favourite Lifemark health care provider. We’re here to help you! 

Here are some great NNSW resources: 

First week challenge: you could win $500! http://convio.cancer.ca/site/TR?fr_id=21409&pg=entry#.WHPMKVUrLcs

Smoker’s helpline: http://www.smokershelpline.ca/

Break it off: http://breakitoff.ca/

National Non-Smoking Week official:http://nnsw.ca/