What are the stages of change ?

Everyone who decides to quit smoking has different reasons; different concerns and hopes about quitting; and different quitting skills. It is now well accepted that people don't quit "all-of-a-sudden". Rather, quitting involves moving through a series of stages, and each of these stages presents different challenges and opportunities. It can be very helpful to know how these stages relate to you and which stage you are at.

People go through five stages on their way to quitting and in each of the stages a person is ready to make new changes. The stages of change are:

• Pre-contemplation 

• Contemplation 

• Preparation

• Action

• Maintenance 

• Relapse

What changes when you stop smoking ?

Within twenty minutes : if you have a craving, brush your teeth, have a drink of water or do some deep breathing.  Reward yourself.

• Blood pressure drops to normal 

• Pulse rates drop to normal 

• Body temperature of hands and feet increases to normal 

Within eight hours : you may feel restless - - find something else to do with your hands - - play with a pen, a large coin or a strand of beads.  Reward yourself !

• Carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal 

• Oxygen level in blood increase to normal 

Within twenty four hours : you may find yourself irritable and quick to anger - - it could be your sleep habits.  Try daily exercise and go to bed and get up at routine times each day.

• Already, your chance of having a heart attack decreases !

Within forty eight hours : you may experience intense cravings.  Remember your support and coping strategies.  Use the Buddy System and drink glasses of water.  Review your reasons for quitting.  Reward yourself !

• Never ending start to re-grow

• Ability to smell and taste is enhanced 

Within seventy two hours : you may find yourself tense and nervous.  Put time aside to relax and practice deep breathing exercises.

• Bronchial tubes relax, making breathing easier 

• Lung capacity increases - - that means you will be able to do physical activities easier.

Two weeks - three months : if you are concerned about weight gain, select food lower in fat, sugar and salt.  Go for a 10 minutes walk a few times each week.

• Circulation improves 

• Walking become easier 

• Lung function increases up to thirty percent 

One to nine months : you still may have craving at this point.  Maintain your exercise program.  Review your reasons for quitting and maintain your motivation.  Reward yourself for your success!

• Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, shortness of breath decrease 

• Body's overall energy level increase 

• Cilia re-grow in the lungs, increasing ability to handle mucus, clean lungs, reduce infection.

At Five years : you may still experience craving - remember you are a non smoker and take pride in your progress.

• Lung Cancer death rate drops 

At Ten years : you may still have craving after this length of time.

• Lung cancer death rate for average smokers drops to 12 death per 100,000 -- almost the rate of non smoker 

• Pre cancerous cells are replaced 

• Other cancers such as those of the mouth 

• Larynx, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas decrease 

• There are 30 chemicals in tobacco smoke that cause cancer

Celebrate Your Success !!!

Source : Arizona Lungs Association 

STOP NOW ! WE WILL SHOW YOU HOW !!

DON'T WAIT TILL IT'S TOO LATE !!

Are you spending several hundred dollars a month on cigarettes ?  What would you do if somebody said to you, 'why don't you take the money that you would have spent this month on smoking and spent it on becoming a non-smoker ?  'Because then you do be saving several hundred dollars every month from this point on.'

What if they said, 'It only takes an hour of your time, relaxing in a chair to get you on the way to being a non-smoker'?  Immediately you would say, 'Who do I phone? How soon can I do it ?  Because not only could one hour of relaxation add several thousand dollars to your income every year for the rest of your life but it could also add an extra ten years of healthy living with which to enjoy the money you have saved.

As a smoker, your next question would be 'How much does it cost ?'.  The answer is $250 and you would be rushed to get into the appointment book as soon as possible.

But event better than that if you bring one person you will get 25% off, bring two people and get 50% off, bring 3 people and get your session absolutely free!

Cigarettes and second hand cigarette smoke are dangerous.  If you smoke, please quit now - - before you are diagnosed with a smoking related diseases.

Dare to forge the future . . . make the difference.

 

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