Smartphone Addiction : Test yourself and get a Solution

Smartphone addiction is a real problem that affect our health and most of us underestimate it. There was a time when only smoking and drinking were considered as addiction. As technology progressed a new type of addiction spread its legs into the human society. That addiction was addiction of electronic equipment. Kids get addicted to electronic games, adults to their smartphone.
Mobile phones were a handy way of communication but as they evolved into smartphones, they became much ore than a mode of communication. It became a camera, a radio, a gaming device, a video player and a social networking device with access to complete internet. It made things a lot easier and handy. Smartphones became one of the best friends of some people, even those who feel shy of talking. But the problem is not with the friendship with phone, the problem is with the over usage.
Most of the smartphone addicts will never confess it that they are addicted to it as they really don't know it. They believe that whatever they are doing with their smartphone is necessary for them to do.

How does Smartphone addiction affect your health ?

• Smartphone addiction decreases your concentration level on other tasks. Most common of such tasks are studying. It results in bad grades in schools and more accidents on roads.
• Most of the accidents on roads happen due to usage of phone while driving. It is not only risky for you but also for others on road.
• Smartphone addict people spend more time watching their phone screen, which damages their sight and they require glasses at an early age.
• Smartphone addict people interact less with other people in real life. Your health is not just your body but also your social life (Social life and social networking are totally different).
• Smartphone addicts watch lesser News / Current Events / Science TV Channels and hence have lesser general knowledge.
• Smartphones also disturb the night life of couples. Even if any one of them is addict then they get lesser time to get intimate, which is a major necessity of good married life.
• Smartphone addicts give less importance to other necessary tasks such as a kid's school function, doing worship, having dinner together and many more. It disconnects them not only from society but also from their own family. 

Smartphone Addiction Test

The answer to following question will help you in understanding if you are an addict or not. If your answer is yes to any of these questions then you are going towards addiction.

• Do you check your phone for messages/chats/facebook every night before sleeping ?
• Do you send jokes to your friends on smartphone even when they are sitting with you in the same room ?
• Do you start feeling uncomfortable if you smartphone battery gets exhausted ?
• Do you check your phone every hour while you are awake ?
• Do you check you phone even while getting intimate with your partner ?
• Do you take calls while having a shower ?
• Do you check your phone on a dinner date ?
• Do you check your phone in a movie theater ?

If your answer is "Yes" to most of these questions then you are an addict.

Draw a line between healthy usage and addiction

However it is hard to draw a line for an addict but you must do it if you feel that you are going towards addiction. Here are some ways to draw a line.

• Don't use your phone after a certain time in night. You may decide an appropriate time yourself, so that you can get a proper good night sleep.
• Attend the calls only when it is appropriate to take calls. Not taking a call or not checking your phone in bathroom, during a school program of your kid, while driving ,or in a movie theater won't make much difference but it will save you from addiction, accidents and embarrassment.
• try to avoid using your smartphone when you are in company of your family, friends or relatives. Real life family and friends are more important rather than thousands of friends on facebook.
• Don't check your phone after every few minutes for some notifications. It won't hurt if you don't check some notification for a while. It is better to mute your notifications tone and just keep ON the ringtone to attend calls.

A number of institutions like schools in US are using Yondr, a small gray pouch that swallow phones and lock them until you get them unlocked before leaving that institution. It not only helps you in concentrating on your work or study, but also saves you from being an addict. Such practices should be followed all over the world.

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World famous Celebrities who Quit Smoking

Smoking is something that even some celebrities can't resist from. Its easier to be a smoker but its harder to quit it and be role model for other. We at betterhealthfacts.com think that those celebrities who quit smoking, not only did something good for themselves but also for the society. Whatever celebrities do and don't do become a trend among the common men. So if your quitting smoking can inspire others to do the same, then it is worth getting some publicity. We have collected a list of some world famous celebrities who quit smoking and choose live a healthy life.

World famous Celebrities who Quit Smoking

• Barack Obama:  The former president of USA was a smoker since teenage. He quit smoking in 2007 and chewed Nicorette to help himself with the withdrawal symptoms. He says that now he smokes occasionally, but never in front of family. In 2009 he passed an anti-smoking bill in order to protect future generations from this addiction.
• Matt Damon: This star worked in movies like The Bourne Identity and The Departed. He quit smoking by using hypnosis.
• Ben Affleck: The Hollywood star who worked in movies like Argo, Good Will Hunting, Gone Girl and The Town was a smoker for 20 years. He finally quit smoking by using hypnosis.
• Catherine Zeta-Jones: The famous actress used electronic cigarettes to quit smoking in 2013.
• Cameron Diaz : She used to smoke upto 20 cigarettes in a day but quit the habit during the shoot of Charlie’s Angels, but got addicted again. She succeeded in quitting it again in 2003 for the sake of her parents, as they don't want her to set a wrong example.
• Anthony Hopkins: This academy award winner actor quit smoking decades ago. However he complains of some occasional craving for smoking but he restricts himself by the reading "The Easy Way to Stop Smoking" by Allen Carr.
• Jennifer Aniston: The "Friends" TV Star quit smoking in 2012.
• Sir Richard Branson: His testimonial on Allen Carr's website says that many of his friends are benefited by Allen Carr's method but we are not sure if he is also among them.
• Ashton Kutcher: This movie star also quit smoking by using Allen Carr's methods.
• Ellen: This star of TV recently announced that she quit smoking after many failed attempts by using Allen Carr's method.

There was a famous dialog in movie Spiderman that "Power comes with great responsibilities". Being a celebrity is a power in itself and if you utilize that power to inspire others for a good cause then you have performed your responsibility as well.
Don't smoke and inspire others to do the same to make earth a better living place for coming generations.

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Hypnosis to Quit Smoking ! Does it work ?

Most of us have seen hypnosis in movies in a negative way, where a person hypnotizes others to get some bad task done. Funny part is that the victim of hypnosis don't even remember what happened to him/her. Real hypnosis in medical terms is not like that. It is just passing of some thoughts to subconscious mind, to make you believe in something or to forget something. Hypnotherapy is being used for speech disorders, weight loss and pain control. It can help in getting rid of some addiction. We will tell you "How", later in this article.

Before you opt for hypnosis treatment to quit smoking, it is better to know some facts about hypnosis and smoking.

• Hypnosis doesn't work for everyone: Everybody is not hypnotizable, but those who are can undoubtedly get benefit from it. Only 25 out of 100 can be hypnotized.
• Intensity of hypnosis differs: Everybody can't be hypnotized up to the same level. Intensity of hypnotism varies from person to person. So the results may vary from person to person among the 25% who are hypnotizable.
• High Chances of again being a smoker: Those who remain successful in quitting smoking through hypnosis are often advised some self-hypnosis method to keep themselves away from smoking, which they don't follow and again become a smoker in some stressful moments.

Some researchers who spoke to some ex-smokers gave a mixed review of hypnosis treatment. Some think that they don't believe that it happened due to hypnosis. However there are some who believe that it worked for them. Some say that it worked for them as long as they attended hypnosis sessions and they again got the smoking habit after some time. Cancer Institute of America don't recognize hypnotherapy as an effective treatment for quitting smoking.

How does hypnosis treatment works for quitting smoking?
Hypnotherapy breaks you thinking pattern associated with smoking. Even if you already believe that smoking is unhealthy, hypnosis will empower that thought and motivates you quit it. During hypnosis you are put in a deep relaxed state, as your mind becomes more open to thoughts and suggestions at that time. Thoughts like "Cigarette is bad for health. It's smell will make you through up or feel sick" are told you again and again. Once your mind starts believing it, you will find that you start disliking the smell of cigarette in real life. For some people just a single session of hypnotherapy is sufficient but some may need follow-up sessions. In the end the hypnotherapist might teach you some self hypnosis methods to help you further in your life

Why do people fail by using hypnosis treatment ?

• Most important reason was said earlier. It is that only 25% people are hypnotizable and intensity of their hypnotism differs among them.
• If you don't want to quit from inside then most probably hypnosis won't work for you.
• If you don't continue the self treatment using the self hypnosis them most probably you will regain the habit that you had quit.

Should one use hypnotherapy to quit smoking ?
It depends on your personal choice and you compatibility (either you are hypnotizable or not). But the good thing about hypnosis is that, it passes just some positive thoughts into your subconscious mind about the merits of quitting and demerits of being a smoker. Even if it is not sufficient as a treatment alone, it can benefit with some other quitting treatment. Positive thoughts are necessary in every form of treatment. So you may go for it along with gradual reduction method to quit smoking.

Note: One thing that i learned while writing this article is that if you think that it is harder to quit then it will be harder, but if you start thinking of it an easy task then it will be easier. Hard or Easy is just a thinking process. This is hypnosis.

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How to Quit Smoking by reducing number of Cigarettes

Gradual Reduction method to quit smoking is not considered best as its success rate is quite low. We provided some facts about it in our last article. But still some people prefer to quit smoking by gradually reducing the number of cigarettes over a period of time. Most people fail in this attempt either due to lack of will or due to lack of preparation. Yes, preparation is necessary to quit smoking. Most people don't prepare and just start the quitting process and get failed. You might think, "what kind of preparation is required to quit smoking ? ". We will tell you further in this article about the required preparation to quit smoking by reducing the number of cigarettes.

There are two types of preparation necessary: Mental and Physical.

Mental Preparation to Quit Smoking

Mental preparation is most necessary. Unless you fill yourself with positive thoughts and will power to quit smoking, you can't succeed. Here are some points that can help you in this preparation.

• You Mind is the Key: Unless you yourself want to quit smoking, you can't do it. If you are doing it under pressure from somebody then most probably your mind will find a way to cheat. So do it for your good.
• Fill your mind with positive thoughts: Positive thoughts include thinking about a better life as an ex-smoker. That better life may be playing without getting tired with your kids or grand kids. Thinking about running a mile without stopping in middle. Thinking of being a role model for others who also want to quit but can't do it due to some reasons.
• Read positive things: Today everybody has got internet access. You may find something positive to read there, such as testimonials of some ex-smokers on different website, where they tell about the positive changes in their life. Some points in such articles will definitely increase your will power.
• Greed for a better health: Sometimes greed is a good thing if done in a positive way. Even if you don't feel lesser than anybody, but still quitting smoking will make your health much better. Greed for that better health. Greed for lesser diseases at an old age.
• Keep your mind engaged: It is better to keep your mind busy for a few weeks when you are quitting smoking. Sometimes a mind with no job to do starts thinking about negative things, such as one puff won't make any difference. Don't fall into such tricks of your mind by preparing in advance. Plan something in advance to do during the quitting process, which can keep you engaged. Something creative will benefit you more as it will keep you mind more busy.

Physical Preparation to Quit Smoking

• Plan you days ahead: It will give you less time to waste in the coming days. The free time during the quitting process may make it harder to spend.
• Make a Smoking Chart: Use a diary, chart or notebook to make a smoking schedule. It should be made in a way where you decrease the number of cigarettes on daily/weekly basis and the interval between cigarettes is increased. One such chart is given at the end of this article. 
• Use a timer: Use a alarm clock or timer to keep track of the interval between cigarettes. It is one of the most important preparation. If you don't have it then your mind may try to fool you by saying that it is almost time for next cigarette while it might be not so. You may use your smartphone for that purpose. The main thing is sticking to the schedule.
• Plan some exercise schedule: It is a good way to quit smoking and getting healthy quickly. Get some equipment that you can afford, as it will motivate you to exercise. You may get some dumbbell and weights. You can also do some free-weight exercise such as push-ups or sit-ups. Some other physical activities such as running, jogging, cycling or swimming can also be included in schedule. Whatever schedule you make, just stick to it.

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How to Quit Smoking ! Instantly or Gradually

There are two ways to quit smoking. First is "Cold Turkey", which means stopping it instantly all together and second is quitting it by gradual reduction, by cutting down the number of cigarettes you smoke daily. The method of gradually quitting by cutting down number of cigarettes seems easy with less withdrawal symptoms. But what seems can't always be true. The cold turkey method of quitting is famous for more withdrawal symptoms and no addicted person want to face those symptoms. Before you choose any of these methods to quit smoking, it is better to understand the pros and cons of these methods and then make an attempt. It is necessary to know because out of every 100 only 50 succeed in quitting and failure rate of one of these methods is quite high.

Quitting Smoking Gradually

Lets tell you the truth. In very rare cases the person trying to quit smoking by gradually decreasing the number of cigarettes get any success. To be precise, out of those 50 people who succeed in quitting on 2 adopted the method of quitting  gradually. It means that its success rate is just 2 to 4%. There are some reasons behind failure of this method. 

• The very important reason behind its failure is the prize that you get for quitting it for few hours. The prize is cigarette itself. You keep waiting just to get one puff.
• Another reason is that the reward value keep increasing. As you increase the time interval between each cigarette, the value of the same cigarette increases in your mind.
• Instead of do doing something creative and utilizing your time, your mind thinks about the next cigarette and you keep watching the clock tickling.
• The continuous thought of cigarette itself is the reason behind the failure of this method.
• No one can always has someone to watch over him/her. If you decide to cheat then no one can stop you. The chances of cheating in this method are quite high as you have access to your addiction.

Who can succeed in quitting smoking gradually ?
Those who succeed by using this method either prepared well or had strong will to quit their addiction. Only if you really want to quit and have some emotional reason to quit then you can quit by using this method. The only benefit of choosing this method is the less occurrence of withdrawal symptoms as your body don't crave much for smoking. By slowly increasing the interval between two cigarettes you fool your own body. If you have a scientific mind, some emotion reason and strong will to quit then you can succeed in quitting smoking gradually.

Quitting Smoking Instantly

This cold turkey method is more successful and more than 95% of the successful candidates choose this method. Some of the features of this method that make it a better method to quit smoking are given below.

• It takes less time. Quitting Smoking Instantly makes a person struggle for a few days but within a week his/her dependency on cigarettes in gone. Withdrawal symptoms may irritate you for 2 to 3 days, but after that you become an ex-smoker who is just making his/her health better. On the other hand it takes months to quit smoking gradually.
• You can utilize your time more easily without cigarettes in your mind. In this method there is no reward for not smoking cigarette for a day, so you don't think about it. Instead you think about a better health and try to concentrate on your work which makes it easier for you to quit smoking.

If you really wish to get rid of smoking addiction the get rid of it instantly. If you go for gradually decreasing the quantity then most probably you won't succeed. Whatever method you choose ! Strong will power is the key. Unless you wish to do it, you can't succeed. So do it yourself.

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Is it impossible to quit smoking after a certain age ?

Some of the smoker senior citizen never had any health issue due to smoking and they feel that leaving this habit now may make some drastic changes in their life and they may not be able to cope up with the withdrawal symptoms. Senior citizens often have a point when they say "what will they get if they quit smoking now ". It takes our body 15 years to fully recover from the negative effects of tobacco smoking. Who knows weather they will survive that long or not. Some of them often say that they are not sure about the physical capacity of their body in dealing with quitting smoking. This thinking can easily ring bells in the ears of their closed ones and they may stop asking them to quit. This thinking creates a confusion ! Is it impossible to quit smoking after a certain age ?

Answer to this question depends on your will. According to doctors there is no age limit to quit smoking. You start getting the benefits of not smoking from the day when you stop smoking. You don't need a strong body to quit smoking. What you need is strong will. If you start believing in yourself then you can do it.

Those who say that they never face any negative consequences due to smoking, they must know that even if they don't get any life threatening disease till now but they may get it soon. Smoke degrades your body from inside. You can't see your body from inside but doctors can tell you how much of your breathing capacity has reduced. You might seem healthy from outside but now you can't run as much as a nonsmoker of your age. Even if you feel healthy, your health might be better than this if you don't smoke. Even a small difference in your health can increase your life span by years, that too with a good health.

What changes can happen in the life of a senior citizen if they quit smoking?

• you can run longer.
• you can watch a movie or drive without need for a smoke break.
• you won't feel dependency on smoking to wake up or to get relief from stress.
• a pack of cigarettes won't remain your lifeline anymore.
• you will enjoy life more without any smoking intervals. 

Some other facts related to your age and quitting smoking.

• According to daily mail if you stop smoking by the age of 44 then you may live the same lifespan as a non-smoker.
• Even if you quit smoking after 60, you will get some add on years in your life. You may spend those extra years watching your grand children grow or getting married.
• Your running stamina starts increasing with a few weeks after quitting smoking, so don't think that it will take years to be healthy again.
• You blood pressure may return to normal within a few days after quitting smoking if it is not attributed to any other medical condition.

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Quitting smoking really worse than Death !

Most of the smokers know it that smoking is degrading their health and making them prone to worst diseases on this planet, but still they continue to smoke with a fear that quitting smoking will be worse than death for them. Is it really so ? Can quitting smoking be really so much painful ? Will that pain continue for whole life ? To know the answer to these questions we need to know what chain smokers think about quitting smoking and what are their fears.

Quitting Smoking : The Fear

A chain smoker is not made is a single day. It takes years of practice. His/her body adapted itself to the nicotine, a very addictive drug. Cigarette becomes a part of their life from waking up in the morning to getting to sleep in the night. Every task in their life become dependent on cigarette. When the get up from sleep in the morning, they feel a little headache and dizziness. A cigarette or two makes them fully awake. All works either its physical or mental need support from cigarette. Even the thinking process become dependent on cigarette. A chain smoker can't think or analyse something in absence of cigarette. Cigarette becomes an extra hand for them, without which they feel handicapped or paralyzed. You will be surprised to know that most of the workplace accidents occur on a No-Smoking Day.

A feel good chemical is released in the brain when a chain smoker smokes a cigarette. They feel more alive with that feeling. They feel that if they quit smoking that feel good feeling will be gone and they won't be able to do anything just like a handicapped person. There will be no meaning to their life and this feeling will continue for whole life. Their thirst for cigarette will always be their on their lips and they might die due to that thirst. This is what an addiction is. Most of the chain smokers are aware of withdrawal symptoms and they don't want to feel those symptoms for their whole life. Therefore most of them don't quit and decide to live a shorter life full of pleasure of cigarette.

Quitting Smoking: The Truth

The truth is that most of the withdrawal symptoms reach their peak with 2 to 3 days and after that they are start to diminish and completely gone in a few weeks. Most of the ex-smokers feel more alive and full of stamina, which they never felt while smoking. The addiction makes your mind believe that you won't be able to survive without cigarette. It is how addiction plays with your mind and makes you believe that you are incomplete without it. But the truth is that addiction is something not only unnecessary, but something that can easily enslave your mind. Only a strong will can make you get rid of that addiction. Getting rid of an addiction can never kill you, instead it makes you life full of freedom, where you can enjoy life playing with your grand children without the fear of giving them secondhand smoke. Quitting smoking increases your physical stamina and increases your lifespan up to 15 years.

Be sure that quitting smoking won't ever kill you and you will feel more alive as an ex-smoker.

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Quitting Smoking : Physical and Emotional Effects Timeline

Quitting Smoking is not just a challenge for your body, it is also a challenge for your mind. When you decide to quit smoking then it becomes both a physical and emotional challenge for you. The very first thought that comes in your mind is that you won't be able to survive without smoking for a longer duration. This is a trick that your mind plays with your emotions and mostly people fall prey to it. There are various physical and emotional effects of quitting smoking which are both short-term and long term. We will discuss these physical and emotional effects in this article.

Emotional effects of Quitting Smoking

During the first 48 hours after quitting smoking the person goes through a lot of emotional changes. However these emotional changes are a result of physical changes in body but a strong will power is necessary to handle those emotions. Unless you have positive attitude towards quitting and believe that quitting smoking will benefit your health, you won't be successful. If you remain successful during first 48 hours, then the period of actual stress is gone. After 48 hours you won't need to go through the emotional stress as the withdrawal symptoms will start to come down. Some common emotional quitting symptoms are given below.

• Anger: You might feel irritated and get angry on small issues. But keep one thing in mind that this anger is not due to issues, but due to irritation your body is feeling due to quitting.
• Mood Swings: Mood swings may occur. At one moment you might be happy and at the next moment you might feel sad.
• Boredom: If you don't engage yourself then you might feel boredom and urge to smoke. So it is better to remain busy and keep some work for you, so that you get much time to think.
• Craving for Cigarette: It is a common symptom, but if you keep waiting for 3 to 5 minutes then it will pass on.
• Depression: It is a common symptom. Think only about success not failure. Only positive thoughts and positive talk can help you during this time. Keep yourself away from those who smoke or ask them to not smoke in front of you.
• Frustration: Deep breathing exercises can help you in dealing with frustration. Some talk with a close one can also help in it. Make sure that the close one know that you are quitting smoking and need emotional support at that time.
• Avoid Loneliness: It is not a symptom, but it is better to avoid being alone. Your mind might provoke you to smoke saying that nobody is watching. Only your strong will or being with someone can help in such time.

Note: You can't quit smoking unless you yourself want to quit. If you are quitting only due to pressure from doctor or spouse then you may get fail.

Physical effects of Quitting Smoking (Timeline)

• Within 20 minutes of quitting smoking your pulse rate and blood pressure will begin to drop.
• Within 2 hours your pulse and blood pressure will be normal and your circulation system will begin to improve. If you had stopping feeling warmth at fingertips then you will start feeling that warmth again. Withdrawal symptoms may also begin to show at this time. These symptoms are craving for smoking, anxiety, increased appetite and sleeplessness.
• In chain smokers carbon-monoxide bonds with blood cells instead of oxygen which reduces the amount of oxygen in blood. After 12 hours of quitting the blood oxygen level will return to normal.
• In 24 hours your risk of getting a heart attack starts decreasing which is quite high in smokers.
• Regular smokes damages the taste buds which are nerve endings on tongue. Such nerve endings begin to regrows after 48 hours of quitting smoking. You might feel increase in your taste and smelling sense.
• In three days the level of nicotine will be severely depleted in your body and your body starts craving and showing some withdrawal symptoms.
• In 2 to 3 weeks your body starts to regenerate itself and you will feel more stamina and ability to run and exercise will be better than before.
• Between one and nine months your body will repair the damaged cilia in lungs which throws out the mucus from lungs and makes you less prone to infections. It increases the capacity and performance of lungs.
• For a few weeks you might feel constipated. So drink plenty of water and roughage to your diet.

According to American Heart Association an average non smoker lives 15 years more than an average smoker. Only due to this reason WHO has labelled smoking as an early ticket to death. The choice is yours, either live a long and disease free life or live a short life being a slave of an addiction.

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Can Quitting Smoking cause Heart Attack ?

Smoking Cessation and Myocardial Infarction‬‬ are often co-related to each other. Smoking Cessation is the process of quitting smoking, while Myocardial Infarction‬‬ is commonly known as heart attack. Most smokers think that they will get a Heart Attack if the try to stop smoking, while its opposite is worth believing. Smoking can eventually lead you to a Myocardial Infarction‬‬.

Here we will provide some in-depth information that we have collected after researching for Smoking Cessation and Myocardial Infarction‬‬.

Recently a study was conducted in US on 2400 heart attack survivors from 377 different hospitals. Only those survivors are selected for research who were above 65 years of age and current or recent smokers. Some surprising facts were found in the research.

Heart Attack Risk Calculator

Age: Years
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Do you have a family history of hypertension / heart attack / stroke ?
Yes No

• 96% of these survivors received a smoking cessation counselling.
• Only 9.8% took any medication to help in smoking cessation within 90 days of discharge.
• This figure rose to 13% within a period of 1 year.
• Whites and Women are more eager to quit smoking.

The above research concludes that either people don't believe in Smoking Cessation Medication or they don't want to quit. There is still great room for improvement in making our Smoking Cessation Counselling a little better. Tobacco smoking is a leading cause of hospitalization in Canada (not very far from US). Risk is twice more than a non-smoker. A better Smoking Cessation Counselling can result in a better success rate.

Smoking Cessation and Myocardial Infarction‬‬

Previously some people used to say that some Smoking Cessation drugs make a person prone to heart attack (Myocardial Infarction‬‬). This is a complete myth. Some researches are present to verify this thing.
Researchers from the Universities of Edinburgh and Dusseldorf published a research report in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. They researched health information of 150,000 smokers in England. they were tracked for 6 months when they started any sort of Smoking Cessation. Some people used nicotine replacement therapy (patches, chewing gum or lozenges) while some took some prescribed medicines like varenicline or buproprion . The risk of hearth attack and mental illness was found same in both groups. So its a myth that Smoking Cessation drugs cause heart attack.

United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a safety warning in relation to varenicline. This safety warning is limiting access to this effective drug. According to Professor Daniel Kotz, from the Medical Faculty of the Heinrich-Heine-University Dusseldorf, "Smokers typically lose three months of life expectancy for every year of continued smoking". According to him varenicline is an effective drug.

Heart Attack may occur itself due to side effects of smoking. But people blame it on drugs. So instead of spreading such rumors we should inspire people for Smoking Cessation, which will not only make our health better but also create a better environment for next generations.

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Alcoholism Signs Symptoms and Treatment

Overview

When Drinking becomes a Problem ?

Signs and Symptoms

Causes

Treatment

Alcoholism Overview

Alcoholism also known by other names like "Alcohol Addiction" or Alcohol Dependence" is a medical condition. This medical condition can easily ruin the life of a person. It can take away the health of a person and social respect of a person. Society often call them by other names such as Drunkard. Those have fallen prey to this problem were often just a moderate social drinkers and they don't even know when they have crossed the line to be an addict. There are various signs and symptoms of this Alcohol Addiction and Alcoholism is a treatable medical condition.

When Drinking becomes a Problem ?

Drinking becomes a problem for you if you notice any of these things.

• If its causing problems in your social life or family life.
• If you are hiding your drinking habit.
• If you face a "black out", where you forget what you did last night after drinking.
• If you often feel ashamed of your drinking habit.
• If you need to drink to feel better.

Alcoholism Signs and Symptoms

Signs of Alcoholism are easy to notice and there is no need for a laboratory test. If you know them they you may cure yourself before drinking becomes a problem for you or some of your closed one. Some common symptoms of Alcoholism are:

• You feel relaxed after drinking and your stress is gone. (Its the beginning)
• If you drive and operate machinery after drinking.
• If you neglect your responsibilities at work and at home.
• If you continue to drink even after knowing that your drinking is causing problems.
• If you have faced some legal actions on account of your drinking.
• If you feel that your drinking capacity has increased and you need more pegs to feel relaxed or buzzed. 
• If you need a drink again in morning to stop the shakes.
• If you have to stop other activities like playing or hanging out with family, just to continue drinking.
• If you don't have control over your drinking habit, even after knowing that its harming you.
• Last and final symptom is "You can't quit it, even if you want to".

Causes of Alcoholism

Causes of alcoholism vary from person to person. Sometimes its genetic factor as well but genetics can be easily overridden if there is a will. Here are some common causes of alcoholism.

• Stressful changes in life can sometimes easily drag a person towards alcohol so much that it becomes an addiction. For example a breakup or losing someone very close can easily take you to this wrong habit.
• Some people start drinking daily, taking it as a status symbol, and they don't even know when they become an addict. When we see our favorite movie stars drinking, we think its cool. Very soon this coolness can make us alcoholic.
• Sometimes our friend circle is responsible for dragging us into that condition. (Sometimes changing your company can save you).

Treatment of Alcoholism

Some Alcoholics remain under the wrong impression that they can quit drinking anytime they want to. But this fact comes out to be wrong when they start to quit it own their own. Therefore here we are discussing some treatment options to treat the problem of Alcoholism.
If you are trying to treat your alcohol problem yourselves then following tips can help you.

• In the beginning you have to understand that treatment of Alcoholism is a gradual process. It can't be done in a day or two.
• Tell yourself the benefits of not drinking, whenever you feel an urge to drink.
• Also tell yourselves the consequences of drinking. (like kidney failure)
• Set some date as you target date to quit drinking completely. In the beginning you make quit drinking on weekdays. Just drink limited on weekends.
• Tell about your goals to your friends and family. It will make you try hard.
• Gradually decrease your consumption and take it to nill.
• Avoid the company of such friends who can ask you to drink.
• Try to get engaged in some other activities in your free time.

There are some withdrawing symptoms of Alcohol.

• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Shaking
• Sweating
• Trouble sleeping or concentrating
• Anxiety and restlessness
• Stomach cramps and diarrhea
• Elevated heart rate and blood pressure

If you feel such things then its better to get some professional help by contacting a doctor. If you feel some severe symptoms like listed below then contact 911 immediately.

• hallucinations
• severe vomiting
• extreme agitation
• confusion and disorientation
• fever
• seizures or convulsions

If you feel that you can't do it on your own then you may opt for some professional treatments.

• Rehab Centers: Some Rehab centers have specialized in Alcohol Addiction. They have different programs for different types of addicts. You may also opt for residential programs in some cases.
• Consultation: If your condition is not very severe then some consultation with some specialist may also help. They can hear your problems and provide you some good solutions to them which can help you in quitting.

Note: People often blame others for their condition but the truth is that you can't get rid of alcoholism unless you start to take responsibility of your own acts.

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Addiction Definition, Types and Effect on Body and Brain

Definition

Types

Effect on Brain

Effect on Body

Effect on Life

Facts

Addiction Definition

Addiction is dependency on some substance or activity upto a level where it becomes our weakness and we start to crave for it. But in medical terminology the term "Addiction" is used for negative substance that become necessity of our body and brain, and in long term usage of those substance is very harmful for our body.

Types and List of Addictions

There are various types of addiction but here we will list only those which are harming our modern generation.

Addiction to Substances

• Alcohol Addiction
• Smoking Addiction
• Tobacco Addiction
• Drug Addiction

Addiction to certain Behavior 

• Gaming Addiction (Usually Video Games)
• Gambling Addiction
• Food Addiction
• Adult Content Addiction
• Exercise Addiction
• Shopping Addiction

Addictions effect on our Brain

Our Brain is one of the most technically advanced organ of our body. Some of its function are beyond our imagination and understanding. Our brain can adapt to different environments and substances and change the way it behaves by changing its circuits and functioning. This feature is there so that it can survive in adverse conditions. Long term usage of tobacco, alcohol and drugs makes our brain change its circuitry to adapt to them. We come to know about this addiction when we are in shortage of that substance and our brain craves for it to work with the adapted circuits. In such situation it produces symptoms like headache, body pain, depression and much more. If you are struggling to get rid of some addiction and unable to it on your own then you should consult a doctor or some addiction rehabilitation center.

Addictions effect on Human Body

Our brain adapts to addiction much faster than other body parts. Its because our brain is most important part of body and our body can't afford to loose it. But other body organs can face a lot due to addictions. For example Alcohol can damage of kidneys, smoking can damage our lungs. Even addiction to behaviors can harm our body. Food Addiction can easily make us obese, exercise addiction can make us weak and create muscle strains.

Addictions effect on Our Life

Addiction to any substance makes our life completely dependent on it. Addiction such as smoking and drinking are easily handled by society, but sometimes even these addictions can take us to adverse conditions where society calls you as drunkards. Addiction can make us alone in life. We should start to rehab before such condition arrives. Addict people often taken as people with less will power. Addict people often get involved in illegal activities just to ensure that they keep getting what they need.

Facts about Addictions

• American Society of Addictions Medicine (ASAM) states sometimes our genes are also responsible for developing an addiction. If its in our genes then there are 50% chances for us to get addicted to that particular addiction.
• Sometime more than one addiction can occur in the same person. However the level of addiction may differ. For Example the same person can be a smoking and drinking addict.
• Addiction often occurs with some other mental health condition
• On an average a drug addict needs $200 per day to support his/her addiction. If he/she is not financially stable then people often steal. It takes $1000 of stolen property to make $200.  
• Addiction is a disease, which is completely treatable.

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Gambling Addiction : Symptoms Causes and Treatment

Overview

Side Effects

Symptoms

Causes

Treatment

Helpline

Gambling Addiction (Problem Gambling)

Gambling Addiction is also known by other names such as Problem Gambling, Compulsive Gambling or Gambling Disorder. It is a condition when you can't stop gambling even when you know that its hurting you and your closed ones. Gambling Addiction is not only related to gambling in Casinos, it can be betting on your favorite team, betting in card games with friends, and gambling online (the latest trend). There are some clear symptoms, causes and treatment to this problem. Mood Disorders and depression are clear indications of Gambling Addiction. Here we will discuss some of these things in detail.

Side Effects of Gambling Addiction

Side effects of Gambling Addiction are not like side effects of other diseases which are visible on our body. Side effects of Gambling are visible in our life and our relationships.

• There is no need to gamble on daily basis to be a gambling addict. Just playing gamble is sufficient to be an addicts, if you are having the symptoms listed below.
• Even if you can afford the gambling losses, you can still be in Gambling Addiction. Only financial loss is not to be worried about in gambling. The time you lose in gambling can cost a lot in your relationships.
• Addict Gamblers often blame their friends that they drive them into gambling, but its just a way of not taking responsibility of their own actions.
• Non-gambler friends often clear the debts of their Addict friend to help them out of the situation. But its not a right thing to do. It will make their addiction worst.

Symptoms of Gambling Addiction

There are some clear symptoms of Gambling Addiction. You can notice these symptoms in any addict gambler.

• When you hide the facts from your family: If you have started to hide the truth about you gambling from your family, then it means that you are going towards the Addiction circle.
• When you can't stop yourselves until to lose each dollar you have got: A healthy gambler will stop after losing upto a certain level, he will never spend every penny in his pocket in the hope to win the last game.
• When you spend money you don't own: Addict Gamblers often play games with credit card money or taking money on interest from some lender. Its the beginning of worst phase of an addict gambler. People suffering from Gambling addiction often think in other way (taking themselves as positive thinker) that they will win and clear all debts very soon. Sometimes some adult gamblers suffering from addiction often spend the inheritance of their grown-up children. Sometime people spend the money for their home loan repayment, theirs kids school fee and the money for their monthly expenditure.
• Mood Disorders and Depression: These symptoms usually remain unnoticed by an addict, but a closed one can easily notice them.

Causes of Gambling Addiction

Some of the causes of Gambling Addiction seems really foolish to healthy people but it happens.

• Gambling Addiction starts from Gambling. A non gambler can't be a problem gambler.
• People often start gambling as a way to kill some time or getting impressed from movies.
• Sometimes too much positive attitude in gambling gives hope to win in the end.
• Sometimes people think themselves of as an intelligent being and can't loosing makes them feel as a foolish person, and in the hope to show their intelligence they keep gambling.
• Some people take win and loose on their ego. Their ego don't let them accept the defeat and they keep playing.
• Some people find themselves as winner in the beginning and in the hope to win a big game they keep playing.
• Some people gamble to give some excitement to their lives.
• Some time the boredom also takes people to gamble.
• The last but not least, some people gamble to solve their money problems. 

Treatment of Gambling Addiction

There are two types of treatment for Gambling Addiction. First is Personal Treatment and second in Professional Treatment. Professional treatment is meant for those where it can't be cured by personal treatment.

Personal Treatment of Gambling Addiction

• Have company of family or friends: Isolation can very easily take you back to gambling. So try not to be isolated. Always spend your free time with your some friends or family.
• Engage yourself: Don't let yourself be free or getting bored. Get engaged in some sports or gym. You may also spend your time in any hobby such as watching movies or reading novels or doing something creative.
• Visualize yourself Loosing: Even after implementing last two steps if you feel an urge to gamble, then visualize yourself loosing a gamble and how you feel after you have lost everything in your pocket. It will discourage you from going for gamble.
• Postpone: If you still feel the urge then tell yourself that you will go after sometime, and then keep postponing the gamble and engage in some other task.
• Reduce Internet Usage: If you are online gambling addict then reducing the internet usage can also help you in keeping yourself away from it.

Professional Treatment of Gambling Addiction

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): This therapy specially focuses on gambling addicts by changing their thoughts and false beliefs.
• The Four Steps Program: Four steps of this program are re-label, reattribute, refocus, and revalue.
• Group Based Recovery Programs; Such programs have some patients who are going through the same process as you. It helps by sharing thoughts and motivating each other for giving up gambling.
• Residential Treatment Centers: In such type of treatment you have to live like a hospitalized patient. In such centers you go through various therapies and never get a chance to play a gamble.
• Luxury Gambling Addiction Facilities: These centers are just like the previous residential treatment centers apart from the fact that they are meant for those who can afford it. Here you get all therapies with the luxury of a good hotel or resort.
• Executive Gambling Addiction Programs: Its for those who can't afford to live away from their work for weeks or months. Such programs are usually live weekend classes, where therapies are given only on weekends. 
• Outpatient Gambling Rehab: Its just like OPD in a hospital, where you don't need to get admitted. Here you just need to visit on regular basis for some therapies. Sometimes after attending a residential rehab program you need to attend Outpatient Gambling Rehab for some weeks or months. It helps in monitoring your progress.

Gambling Addiction Helpline and Hotline

• National Council on Problem Gambling, US: 1-800-522-4700
• California Council on Problem Gambling: 1-800-Gambler (426-2537)
• Gambling Helpline New Zealand: 0800 654 655, 8006 for texting
• Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ): 800-GAMBLER
• National Council on Problem Gambling, Singapore: 1-800-666-8668

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