Stop Smoking, You Can Do It! |
We all have our share of bad (you may read that as not-so-good) habits and deep down inside us there is a murky something from which all these base cravings and the tendency to cling on to them take birth. But even when it comes to habits like smoking, there is a ray of hope. Deep down inside us there is something that cries out in a very plaintive voice. And it is this something that makes us squirm and know that at some stage we will have to face the prospect of giving up and stop smoking. The moment somebody starts talking about stop smoking, we feel queasy. The fact is, we know that something has to be done about it and it is this feeling that makes us squirm. Most people know what is good for them and what is bad. Despite this, I think you’ll agree that KNOWING doesn’t always equate to DOING. This site is about getting you to take ACTION.
Congratulations
The essence of this site is to help you quit smoking.
But before we proceed any further, I would like to take a moment to congratulate you very warmly for reaching this site - you have already made the realization (either consciously or subconsciously) that smoking is a bad habit...and one you need to kick. In my opinion, that took bravery. I always admire brave people and that is why I said that I want to congratulate you. It requires a lot of courage and will power to accept that you have a habit that has to be changed. You ought to feel very good about yourself. It is no easy task to accept ones weaknesses. Sit Up and Take Notice Most of us know that smoking is indeed a habit that can have many serious implications on our health but there is a tendency to view the problem lightly. It’s important that every smoker be aware of the facts concerning smoking and so I have included certain facts and figures that I hope will serve as eye openers. The World Health Organization has been studying smoking trends and statistical patterns across the globe and has come up with the following statistics: · A good deal of variation exists from one part of the world to another. Many more women smoke in Eastern Europe than in East Asia and the Pacific Region. Eastern Europe itself has a particularly high rate of smoking, with up to 59 percent of adult males smoking. · As with other substances of abuse, such as alcohol and cocaine, the global frequency of tobacco use varies by social class, historical era, and culture. Historically, smoking had been a pastime of the rich. This trend has changed dramatically in recent decades. It appears that economically advantaged men in wealthier countries have been smoking less. The more years of education you've had, the less likely you are to be a smoker. · Most smokers begin early in life, before they are 25 years old. According to World Health Organization studies, the majority of smokers in affluent countries begin in their teens. A decline in the age of starting smoking has been observed worldwide. · As someone who would like to stop smoking, you're in excellent company. People all over the world are trying to quit and stay away from cigarettes. There appears to be a correlation between a country's standard of living, level of education, and income and the number of people who have quit smoking. The more and better-informed people are, the more likely they are to quit smoking. Current estimates are that over 1 billion people in the world smoke. (In other words, approximately one in three adults on the planet smokes.) The majority of these smokers reside in countries on the low end to the middle of the socioeconomic spectrum. Of this majority, about 80 percent live in low- and middle-income countries. The total number of smokers worldwide is expected to keep increasing.
But are things in the USA any better? Not really, as you can see for yourself in the figures of National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics.
In the United States, an estimated 25.6 million men (25.2 percent) and 22.6 million women (20.7 percent) are smokers. These people are at higher risk of heart attack and stroke. The latest estimates for persons age 18 and older show... · Among whites, 25.1 percent of men and 21.7 percent of women smoke · Among black or African Americans, 27.6 percent of men and 18.0 percent of women smoke · Among Hispanics/Latinos, 23.2 percent of men and 12.5 percent of women smoke · Among Asians (only), 21.3 percent of men and 6.9 percent of women smoke · Among American Indians/Alaska Natives (only), 32.0 percent of men and 36.9 percent of women smoke · Studies show that smoking prevalence is higher among those with 9-11 years of education (35.4 percent) compared with those with more than 16 years of education (11.6 percent). It's highest among persons living below the poverty level (33.3 percent). And These Figures Spell Death...
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