Author: Dr. David Busby

Key takeaways Quitting smoking challenges: failure, addiction, and habits. Emotional factors and lack of support hinder success. Fear of failure and past methods contribute challenges. Customized cessation plans and support are essential. The silver lining: failures as learning opportunities. As they say, failure is a part of life, but it can be the best teacher. However, it can also be far easier to get discouraged by failure than to treat it as a springboard toward success.Failure might either make or break a motivated smoker trying to quit. About 50% of people who make a quit attempt succeed on the first…

Key takeaways Consult GP before intense post-smoking workouts. Start slow, gradually increase exercise intensity. Cardio exercises improve heart, lung health. Strength training enhances mobility, bone density. Choose enjoyable activities to sustain routine. You’re already struggling with nicotine withdrawal after you decided to quit smoking, so why suffer further from strenuous physical exercise?It might sound odd to cause stress to the lungs after being weakened by years of smoking, but it does have many health benefits. Exercise lets you build good habits, release endorphins in your system to feel good, and make you much more athletic.You might think it’s impossible to…

Key takeaways Breathing Struggles: Post-Smoking Shortness, A Temporary Hurdle Quitting Causes Increased Lung Sensitivity and Cilia Healing Progress Withdrawal Anxiety, Stress Trigger Shortness of Breath Phlegm Cleanup Explains Breathing Discomfort Further Tips for Quicker Post-Smoking Recovery Have you made the monumental decision to put down the cigarettes, expecting newfound health and vitality, only to find yourself struggling and wondering, “Why is my breathing worse after quitting smoking?”This paradox can be alarming and frustrating for many who take the brave step to quit. But why does this happen? In this article, we’ll explore the reasons behind worsening breath after quitting smoking,…

Key takeaways Youth and poverty push towards dangerous alternatives. Budget impact fuels motivation to quit smoking. Price hikes reduce retailers, but illicit sales persist. Corporate absorption, ‘bite-size’ packs hinder tax impact. High-income earners less affected, addiction may trump price. Cigarette smoking claims plenty of lives, accounting for over 8 million preventable deaths per year. Even more unfortunate is the fact that secondhand smoke claims the lives of around 1.2 million non-smokers yearly.To urge smokers to start thinking about quitting ciggies, many governments worldwide, including ours, have raised tobacco prices through taxes. This explains why a pack of 20s in the…

Key takeaways Financial Struggle Fuels Smoking Addiction Cycles Limited Growth Opportunities Create Stress and Smoking Habits Tobacco Accessibility Persists in Impoverished Communities Cultural Influences in Poverty: Smoking as Norms Smoking Cessation Improves Health and Breaks Addictions If you ask any person who smokes why they keep lighting up, you’ll receive a raft of responses like ‘I enjoy it’, ‘I’ve always smoked’, or ‘it’s a great stress reliever’. But, the only real reason is nicotine addiction. Indeed, tobacco companies want smokers to remain hooked on their products even after knowing the dangers of smoking.Aside from the strong pull of nicotine, poverty is…

Key takeaways Cigarette smoke directly affects a smoker’s emotions Nicotine hijacks dopamine, altering other pleasurable activities. Smoking as a coping tool for stress and anxiety. Depression’s link to smoking and its temporary relief. Smoking’s impact on self-esteem, body image, and peer pressure. Back in high school and college, if you were smoking, you were a ‘cool’ kid. Most people admired risk-takers and passionate students, and smokers looked charismatic back then.As we age, people become health-conscious, heavily degrading the image of smoking. But for some, smoking still recreates a special time or feeling for them. A cigarette lifted their spirits when they…

Key takeaways Athletes smoking and performing peak physical performance. Smoking affects cardiovascular health, endurance, lung function. It impairs muscle recovery, mental focus, motivation. Quitting smoking improves health, muscle recovery. Consult GP, use NRTs, vaping for help. You’ve seen it many times in movies and real life – a cigarette smoker running a marathon or biking uphill. It’s quite a spectacle because these two contradictions – a strong athlete and a health-destroying habit – create such an odd combo.But is it truly possible to continue smoking while attaining peak physical performance? If so, is it a sustainable practice? In today’s post, we’ll…

Key takeaways Smoking harms digestion, causing GERD and heartburn. Peptic ulcers result from stomach lining damage. Smoking increases risks of liver diseases. Prolonged smoking raises Crohn’s disease risk. Gallstones can form due to smoking effects. We know how smoking is dangerous to your lungs, skin, and wallet. But smoking’s effects on your digestive system are rarely discussed.Aside from your lungs, cigarette smoke enters your digestive system, causing irritation and potential damage to your stomach lining, intestines, and beyond. If your throat’s feeling a little acidic lately, it could be due to the cigarette you recently lit. There’s no doubt that smoking…

Key takeaways Smoking hinders post-surgery healing, delays recovery. Chemicals in cigarettes impairs blood vessels. Weaker immune system invites infections Smoking post-surgery raises mortality risk Quitting weeks before surgery reduces anesthesia-related problems A surgical operation involves creating a huge laceration or gash on your body to fix an issue with one of your organs, arteries, and other complications. They take much more time and need special post-operative care to heal properly.Smoking right after surgery could cause a huge number of complications that can endanger your health. Smoking also greatly hinders the healing process by weakening your immune system, increasing the risk…

Key takeaways Retirement reduces stress, aiding in quitting. Early cessation prevents health issues later on. Saving money and improving health are benefits. Vaping can be helpful but choose wisely. Consult with a GP for valuable guidance. Retirement is a time everyone dreams about – the time when you finally do the things you love and fulfill your dreams (if you haven’t yet). Also, during retirement, people have much more concentration because they no longer have to worry about working.Having more free time is most likely the reason why many retirees have a much easier time quitting smoking for good than…